| brain-derived neurotrophic 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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| branching factor | 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme. (05 Mar 2000) |
| BT factor | <biochemistry> _ Hydroxy _ trimethyl aminobutyric acid. Compound that transports long chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane in the form of acyl carnitine. Sometimes referred to as Vitamin Bt or Vitamin B7. (18 Nov 1997) |
| CAMP factor | A test to identify Group B beta-streptococci based on their formation of a substance (CAMP factor) that enlarges the area of haemolysis formed by streptococcal beta-haemolysin. Origin: Christie, Atkins, and Munch-Petersen, developers of the t. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capacity factor | <physics> This is the ratio of the average power output from an electric power plant to the plant's rated capacity. A capacity factor is ideally unity, but invariably less. Capacity factors vary widely between types of electric plants (for example, nuclear, solar, coal, etc.), and can even vary widely for a single type of power plant. <radiobiology> Index (typically in percent) indicating the average power supplied by an energy plant, relative to its maximum rated capacity. Synonym: plant factor, load factor. (13 Jan 1998) |
| capillary permeability factor | A mixture of bioflavonoids extracted from plants (especially citrus fruits). It reduces the permeability and fragility of capillaries and is useful in the treatment of certain cases of purpura that are resistant to vitamin C therapy. See: hesperidin, quercetin, rutin. Synonym: capillary permeability factor, citrin, permeability vitamin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| galactagogue factor | <endocrinology> A factor in extracts of the posterior lobe of the hypophysis that, by stimulating the smooth muscle of the lobulo-alveolar system of the mammary gland, causes a flow of milk from the nipple. (05 Mar 2000) |
| galactopoietic factor | <protein> Pituitary lactogenic hormone (23 kD) Synthesised on endoplasmic reticulum bound ribosomes as preprolactin that has an N terminal signal peptide that is cleaved from the mature form. The conversion of preprolactin to prolactin has been much used as an assay for membrane insertion. (18 Nov 1997) |
| macrophage-activating factor | An agent that stimulates macrophages to attack and ingest cancer cells. They are secreted by stimulated lymphocytes that prime macrophages to become non-specifically cytotoxic to tumours. They also modulate the expression of macrophage cell surface ia antigens. One maf is interferon-gamma (interferon type II). Other factors antigenically distinct from ifn-gamma have also been identified. (12 Dec 1998) |
| macrophage colony-stimulating factor | <growth factor> A glycoprotein growth factor that causes the committed cell line to proliferate and mature into macrophages. A cytokine synthesised by mesenchymal cells that stimulates pluripotent stem cells of bone marrow into differentiating towards the production of monocytes (mononuclear phagocytes). The compound stimulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of haematopoietic cells of the monocyte-macrophage series. It is a disulfide-bonded glycoprotein dimer with a mw of 70 kD and binds to a single class of high affinity receptor which is identical to the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene. See: colony-stimulating factors. Chemical name: Colony-stimulating factor 1 Acronym: M-CSF (12 Dec 1998) |
| macrophage inhibition factor | <cytokine> A group of lymphokines (including a 14 kD glycoprotein) produced by activated T lymphocytes that reduces macrophage mobility and probably increases macrophage macrophage adhesion. (18 Nov 1997) |
| radiation weighting factor | In radiation protection, a factor weighting the absorbed dose of radiation of a specific type and energy for its effect on tissue. See: equivalent dose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maise factor | <molecular biology, plant biology> A naturally occurring cytokinin, originally isolated from maize seeds. Its riboside is also a cytokinin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| vascular endothelial growth factor | A growth factor that is responsible for the growth of blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |