| beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA | -OOCCH2C(OH)(CH3)CH2COS-CoA;a key intermediate in the synthesis of ketone bodies and of steroids. Synonym: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-lyase, an enzyme, found primarily in liver and rumen epithelium that catalyses the formation of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate from beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA; a key step in ketogenesis; a deficiency of this enzyme leads to episodes of severe metabolic acidosis without ketosis. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-reductase, an enzyme that catalyses the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA + 2NADPH + 2H+ → mevalonate + 2NADP+ + coenzyme A. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-synthase, an enzyme in mitochondria that catalyses the reaction of acetyl-CoA with acetoacetyl-CoA and water to form beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA and coenzyme A, a step required for both ketogenesis and steroidogenesis to occur. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| beta-n-acetylglucosaminylglycopeptide beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase | <enzyme> An enzyme that catalyses the transfer of galactose from udp-galactose to a specific glycoprotein receptor, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucosyl-glycopeptide, during glycopeptide synthesis. Chemical name: UDPgalactose:N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminylglycopeptide beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase Registry number: EC 2.4.1.38 (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta, or beta-value | <radiobiology> Ratio of plasma kinetic pressure to magnetic-field pressure, proportional to the ratio of plasma kinetic energy density to magnetic field energy density. Beta is usually measured relative to the total, local field (loosely called beta toroidal), but sometimes the plasma pressure relative to only the poloidal component of the field (beta poloidal) or relative to some external field (like the maximum field at the magnetic coils) is more useful. There is also a normalised beta (beta_N) of interest when discussing the beta limit. (lots of help from Art Carlson with the above.) Because the cost of a reactor is strongly influenced by the strength of the magnetic field that must be provided, beta values are directly related to the economics of fusion power production. Beta is usually expressed as a percentage, with 5% generally believed to be the minimum value required for an economical fusion reactor. See: pressure, kinetic pressure, magnetic pressure, second stability. (09 Oct 1997) |
| UDP-GalNAc-beta-galactose beta 1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase | <enzyme> Consider also EC 2.4.1.92 Registry number: EC 2.4.1.- Synonym: beta-1,4-n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, 4-galnactransferase, udp-n-acetylgalactosamine-beta-galactose beta 1,4-n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, (1-4)-n-acetyl-beta-d-galactosaminyltransferase, galnact-1 (26 Jun 1999) |
| 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol 6 alpha-hydroxylase | <enzyme> Requires NADPH, found in rat prostatic microsomes Registry number: EC 1.14.13.- Synonym: artdl 6 alpha-hydroxylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| 5 alpha-androstane 3 beta,17 beta-diol 7 alpha-hydroxylase | <enzyme> Requires NADPH, found in rat prostate microsomes Registry number: EC 1.14.13.- Synonym: artdl 7 alpha-hydroxylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| acetylcholine receptor antibodies | <neurology, investigation> A test used to measure the amount of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors on nerve endings. This is a diagnostic test for myasthenia gravis. A normal value is no antibodies in the bloodstream. Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) binding autoantibodies (i.e. Antibodies reactive with several epitopes other than the binding site for acetylcholine or alpha-bungarotoxin) are present in approximately 88% of patients with generalised myasthenia gravis, 70% of ocular myasthenia and in approximately 80% of myasthenia gravis in remission. Although serum concentrations of AChR binding autoantibodies do not in general correlate well with severity of weakness, there is typical decrease in concentration as weakness improves with immunosuppressive therapy. AChR blocking autoantibodies (i.e., antibodies reactive with the AChR binding site) are present in about 50% of patients with myasthenia gravis, 30% with ocular myasthenia gravis and 20% of myasthenia gravis in remission, AChR blocking autoantibodies are the only AChR autoantibodies present in about 1% of myasthenia gravis. AChR modulating autoantibodies (i.e., autoantibodies which cross-link AChRs and cause their removal from muscle membrane surfaces) are present in more than 90% of myasthenia gravis and occasionally are the only AchR autoantibodies detectable in mild, recent onset or ocular-restricted myasthenia gravis. Results for AChR modulating autoantibodies can be transiently false-positive due to curare-like drugs used during general anesthesia. AChR autoantibodies of one or more types are found in at least 80% of ocular myasthenia gravis. Although generally absent in neurological conditions other than myasthenia gravis(and consequently unlikely to cause confusion in neurodiagnosis), false-positive results for AChR autoantibodies occasionally occur in primary biliary cirrhosis, tardive dyskinesia, autoimmune thyroiditis, the elderly, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients treated with cobra venom and patients with thymoma in the absence of myasthenia gravis. Approximately 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with D-penicillamine develop AChR autoantibodies and myasthenia gravis, both of which disappear when the drug is discontinued. Babies born to ~10% of myasthenia gravis mothers have a transient neonatal form of myasthenia gravis that responds well to anticholinesterase therapy and usually remits within 1 month as maternal IgG disappears. (29 Dec 1997) |
| amino acid receptor | <biochemistry> Ligand gated ion channels with specific receptors for amino acid transmitters. An extended protein superfamily that also includes subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| AMPA receptor | <cell biology> Glutamate operated ion channel. See: excitatory amino acid receptor channels. (05 Feb 1998) |
| ANP receptor | <molecular biology> Family of 3 receptors for atrial natriuretic peptide. ANP A and ANP B have intracellular guanylate cyclase and protein kinase like domains. ANP C, shares the extracellular ligand binding and transmembrane domains, but lacks the functional intracellular domains and is not thought to be involved in signal transduction. (18 Nov 1997) |
| asialoglycoprotein receptor | A surface receptor found in hepatocytes that binds galactose-terminal glycoproteins; thus, this receptor removes those proteins from circulation and they are in turn acted upon by hepatocyte lysosomes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| auditory receptor cells | Columnar cell's in the epithelium of the organ of Corti, having hairs (stereocilia) on their apical ends. See: Corti's cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cAMP receptor protein | catabolite (gene) activator protein |
| GABA receptor | <physiology> Ligand gated chloride ion channel forming receptor opened by gamma aminobutyric acid. Two distinct types: A and B. A receptor: One of a family of neurotransmitter receptors with fast intrinsic ion channels that includes the glycine receptor and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Distinct from another major receptor family, the muscarininc acetylcholine receptor and rhodopsin, with no intrinsic ion channel. The A receptor is specifically blocked by bicuculline. It consists of two pairs of protein chains forming an A2B2 complex, the A chains bind benzodiazepine and the B chains bind GABA. The 4 subunits are thought to form a tight group with the chloride channel in the middle. There is considerable similarity between the amino acid sequences of the receptor subunits and those of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor suggesting that both receptors are derived from some evolutionary ancestor. See: amino acid receptor superfamily. B receptor: Brain receptor (80 kD) for the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma amino butyric acid. Differs from the A receptor both in agonist specificity (baclofen is a specific agonist) and its effects on cells. It modulates intracellular calcium levels through a Go mediated effect on N type calcium channels and also lowers intracellular cAMP levels by an effect on adenylyl cyclase, thereby reducing the secretion of catecholamines. (05 Jan 1998) |
| p60 tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated kinase | <enzyme> Interacts with and causes phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of the tnf receptor Registry number: EC 2.7.10.- Synonym: p60 tnf receptor-associated kinase, p60-trak (26 Jun 1999) |