| 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... |
| LPF | leukocytosis-promoting factor; leukopenia factor; lipopolysaccharide factor; localized plaque format... |
| MIF | macrophage inhibitory factor; melanocyte[-stimulating hormone]-inhibiting factor; maximum inspirator... |
| enamel cleavage | The splitting of enamel in a plane parallel to the direction of the enamel rods. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| equal cleavage | Cleavage producing blastomeres of like size. (05 Mar 2000) |
| equatorial cleavage | Cleavage in which the plane of cytoplasmic division is at right angles to the axis of the ovum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| yolk cleavage | Segmentation of the vitellus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unequal cleavage | Cleavage producing blastomeres of different sizes at the two poles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| freeze cleavage | Method of specimen preparation for the electron microscope in which rapidly frozen tissue is cracked so as to produce a fracture plane through the specimen. The surface of the fracture plane is then shadowed by heavy metal vapour, strengthened by a carbon film and the underlying specimen is digested away, leaving a replica that can be picked up on a grid and examined in the transmission electron microscope. The great advantage of the method is that the fracture plane tends to pass along the centre of lipid bilayers and it is therefore possible to get en face views of membranes that reveal the pattern of Integral membrane proteins. The E face is the outer lamella of the plasma membrane viewed as if from within the cell, the P face the inner lamella viewed from outside the cell. Fracture planes also often pass along lines of weakness such as the interface between cytoplasm and membrane, so that outer and inner membrane surfaces can be viewed. Further information about the structure can be revealed by freeze etching. Extremely rapid freezing followed by deep etching has allowed the structure of the cytoplasm to be studied without the artefacts that might be introduced by fixation. (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) |
| animal protein factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antialopecia factor | A member of the vitamin B complex necessary for growth of yeast and of mice, absence from the diet causes hair loss and dermatitis in mice. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antianaemic factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |