| limiting factor | Environmental factor that limits the growth or activities of an organism or that restricts the size of a population or its geographical range. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| lipotropic factor | <biochemistry> Esterified in the head group of phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) and in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Otherwise a biological source of methyl groups. (18 Nov 1997) |
| liver filtrate factor | Former term for pantothenic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver Lactobacillus casei factor | <biochemistry> Pteridine derivative that is abundant in liver and green plants and is a growth factor for some bacteria. The biochemically active form is tetrahydrofolate (see folate). (12 Nov 1997) |
| L-L factor | <chemical> Fibrin stabilizing factor. It is a glycoprotein activated by thrombin in the presence of calcium to form factor xiiia. Factor xiii is found evenly distributed between plasma and platelets. Its function is to stabilise the formation of the fibrin polymer (clot) which culminates the coagulation cascade. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor XIII (12 Dec 1998) |
| load factor | Load factor is the ratio of average demand to maximum demand or to capacity. (05 Dec 1998) |
| low affinity platelet factor IV | Cytokine, produced from platelet basic protein, that acts as a growth factor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| luteinising hormone releasing factor | A decapeptide releasing hormone (1182D) that stimulates release of luteinising hormone. (18 Nov 1997) |
| luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone-releasing factor | gonadotrophin-releasing hormone |
| luteinizing hormone-releasing factor | Former name for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph node permeability factor | A substance, released by lymphocytes when stimulated or damaged, that increases capillary permeability and the accumulation of mononuclear cells. (05 Mar 2000) |