| brain-derived growth factor | <growth factor> Small basic protein purified from pig brain, a member of the family of neurotrophic factors that also includes Nerve Growth Factor and neurotrophin 3. In contrast to nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor is predominanantly (though not exclusively) localised in the CNS. It supports the survival of primary sensory neurons originating from the neural crest and ectodermal placodes that are not responsive to NGF. In the brain brain-derived neurotrophic factor has a trophic action on retinal, cholinergic, and dopaminergic neurons, and in the peripheral nervous system it acts on both motor and sensory neurons. Acronym: BDGF (12 Dec 1998) |
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| capon-comb-growth test | A test for androgenic activity, based upon the stimulation of comb growth in capons (castrated cockerels) or immature roosters. Synonym: capon-comb-growth test, cock's comb test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radial growth phase | The early pattern of growth of cutaneous malignant melanoma, in which tumour cells spread laterally in the epidermis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vascular endothelial growth factor | A growth factor that is responsible for the growth of blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mammary derived growth inhibitor | Fatty acid binding protein that inhibits proliferation of mammary carcinoma cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| receptors, epidermal growth factor-urogastrone | Glycoproteins of about 170 kD that have protein kinase activity and span the plasma membranes of growing cells, including tumours. They are activated by the binding of epidermal growth factor-urogastrone which then initiates DNA and protein synthesis. They are not found on mitotically quiescent cells except in the stomach where they control the synthesis and release of digestive enzymes and gastric acid. Transforming growth factor alpha also binds to and activates these receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, fibroblast growth factor | Specific molecular sites or structures on cell membranes that react with fibroblast growth factors (both the basic and acidic forms), their analogs, or their antagonists to elicit or to inhibit the specific response of the cell to these factors. These receptors frequently possess tyrosine kinase activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, growth factor | Cell surface receptors that bind growth or trophic factors with high affinity, triggering intracellular responses which influence the growth, differentiation, or survival of cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, insulin-like-growth factor I | Specific proteins on or in cells to which insulin-like growth factor I (somatomedin c) binds and thereby modifies the function of the cells. These receptors contain transmembrane and cytosolic domains, bind igf-I preferentially, and have high-affinity sites for igf-II. The alpha-subunit has a mw of 130 kD and the beta subunit possesses tyrosine kinase activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, insulin-like-growth-factor II | Specific proteins on or in cells to which insulin-like growth factor II and mannose-6-phosphate bind and thereby modify the function of the cells. These receptors have a mw of 250 kD and possess no tyrosine kinase activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, nerve growth factor | Cell surface receptors that bind nerve growth factor (ngf) and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Nerve growth factor receptors mediate the effects of nerve growth factor on the survival and growth of neurons. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, platelet-derived growth factor | Specific molecular sites or structures on cell membranes that react with platelet-derived growth factor, its analogs, or antagonists, to elicit or to inhibit the specific response of the cell to this factor. Pdgf binds with different affinities and specificities to two structurally related receptors, the alpha-receptor and the beta-receptor. Both of these receptors are transmembrane proteins with an intracellular, ligand-stimulatable protein kinase domain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, transforming growth factor beta | Cell-surface proteins that bind transforming growth factor beta and trigger changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Two types of transforming growth factor receptors have been recognised. They differ in affinity for different members of the transforming growth factor beta family and in cellular mechanisms of action. Transforming growth factor alpha binds to the same receptors as epidermal growth factor (see receptors, epidermal growth factor-urogastrone). (12 Dec 1998) |
| vertical growth phase | Spread of melanoma cells from the epidermis into the dermis and later the subcutis, from which site metastasis may take place. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cell growth | <cell biology> Usually used to mean increase in the size of a population of cells though strictly should be reserved for an increase in cytoplasmic volume of an individual cell. (26 Mar 1998) |