| TF | free thyroxine; tactile fremitus; tail flick [reflex]; temperature factor; testicular feminization; ... |
|---|---|
| MAF | macrophage activation factor; macrophage agglutinating factor; maximum atrial fragmentation; minimum... |
| DF | decapacitation factor; decontamination factor; deferoxamine; deficiency factor; defined flora [anima... |
| GRF | gastrin-releasing factor; genetically related macrophage factor; gonadotropin-releasing factor; grow... |
| HSF | heat shock factor; hepatocyte stimulatory factor; histamine sensitizing factor; human serum esterase... |
| trans-activation (genetics) | Increased rate of gene expression directed by either viral or cellular proteins. These regulatory factors (diffusible gene products) act in trans -- that is, act on homologous or heterologous molecules of DNA. (cis-acting factors act only on homologous molecules.) (12 Dec 1998) |
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| energy of activation | Energy that must be added to that already possessed by a molecule or molecules in order to initiate a reaction; usually expressed in the Arrhenius equation relating a rate constant to absolute temperature. (05 Mar 2000) |
| enzyme activation | Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1) activation by ions (activators); 2) activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3) conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme. (12 Dec 1998) |
| juxtacrine activation | Activation of target cells by membrane anchored growth factors, also used for activation of leucocytes by PAF bound to endothelial cell surface. (18 Nov 1997) |
| feedback activation | The activation of an enzyme by an end product of a biochemical pathway in which that enzyme plays a part. For example, the activation of factors VIII and V by thrombin during blood clotting. (05 Mar 2000) |
| feed-forward activation | The activation of an enzyme by a precursor of the substrate of that enzyme. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upstream activation site | A DNA sequence that regulates transcription like an enhancer but does notwork if its located downstream from a promoter. (09 Oct 1997) |
| low-activation materials | <radiobiology> In fission reactors, one is forced to deal with the radioactive byproducts of the fission process, but in fusion reactors one generally has a choice of what materials to expose to neutrons produced by the fusion process. A major problem for fusion reactors is developing materials (such as for the reactor vacuum vessel structure) which can be exposed to high levels of neutron bombardment without becoming permanently radioactive. Candidate structural materials which have relatively low induced radiactivation (generally relative to stainless steel) are known as low-activation materials, these include titanium, vanadium, and silicon-carbide. (09 Oct 1997) |
| lymphocyte activation | <haematology> The change in morphology and behaviour of lymphocytes exposed to a mitogen or to an antigen to which they have been primed. The result is the production of lymphoblasts, cells that are actively engaged in protein synthesis and that divide to form effector populations. Should not be confused with transformation of the type associated with oncogenic viruses and activation is therefore perhaps a better term. (18 Nov 1997) |
| accelerator factor | <chemical> Heat- and storage-labile plasma glycoprotein which accelerates the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in blood coagulation. Factor v accomplishes this by forming a complex with factor xa, phospholipid, and calcium (prothrombinase complex). Deficiency of factor v leads to owren's disease. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor V (12 Dec 1998) |
| acetate replacement factor | <biochemistry> 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid. Regarded as a coenzyme in the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of the citric acid cycle. Involved generally in oxidative decarboxylations of _ keto acids. A growth factor for some organisms. (18 Nov 1997) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotropic releasing factor | Hormone produced by hypothalamus that causes pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| a-factor | <molecular biology> A protein which is found in the bacterial genus Streptomyces that helps start the production of streptomycin and the process of morphological differentiation. It is used in biotechnology to induce these functions in mutant strains of Streptomyces that cannot produce it themselves. (09 Feb 1998) |
| angiogenesis factor | Substance causing proliferation of new blood vessels. It is found in tissues with high metabolic requirements, such as the retina, and in certain cancers. The factor is also released by hypoxic macrophages at the edges or outer surfaces of wounds and initiates revascularization in wound healing. (12 Dec 1998) |