| RP | radial pulse; radiopharmaceutical; rapid processing [of film]; Raynaud phenomenon; reactive protein;... |
|---|---|
| CBG | capillary blood gases; coronary bypass graft; corticosteroid-binding globulin; cortisol-binding glob... |
| FABP | fatty acid-binding protein; folate-binding protein |
| IBC | Institutional Biosafety Committee; iodine-binding capacity; iron-binding capacity; isobutyl cyanoacr... |
| IBP | insulin-like growth factor binding protein; International Biological Program; intra-aortic balloon p... |
| transitional element | <cell biology> Region at the boundary of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi. Transport vesicles are responsible for the transfer of secretory proteins from this part of the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi system. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| enhancer element | <molecular biology> A DNA sequence, present in the genomes of higher eukaryotes and of various animal viruses, which can increase the transcription of genes into messenger RNA. These control element frequently found 5' to the start site of a gene, when bound by a specific transcription factor, enhance the levels of expression of the gene, but are not sufficient alone to cause expression. Distinguished from a promoter, that is alone sufficient to cause expression of the gene when bound, in practice, the two terms merge. Enhancers usually can function in either orientation and at various distances from a promoter. Compare: promoter. (03 Jul 1999) |
| transposable element | <molecular biology> Small, mobile DNA sequences that can replicate and insert copies at random sites within chromosomes. They have nearly identical sequences at each end, oppositely oriented (inverted) repeats and code for the enzyme, transposase, that catalyses their insertion. Bacteria have two types of transposon, simple transposons that have only the genes needed for insertion and complex transposons that contain genes in addition to those needed for insertion. Eukaryotes contain two classes of mobile genetic elements, the first are like bacterial transposons in that DNA sequences move directly. The second class (retrotransposons) move by producing RNA that is transcribed, by reverse transcriptase, into DNA which is then inserted at a new site. (13 Nov 1997) |
| extrachromosomal element | Any heritable element not associated with the chromosome. It is usually a plasmid or the DNA of organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| androgen binding protein | A protein secreted by testicular Sertoli cells along with inhibin and mullerian inhibiting substance. Androgen binding protein probably maintains a high concentration of androgen in the seminiferous tubules. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antigen-binding site | <immunology> In immune network theory, an idiotope, an antigenic site of an antibody that is responsible for that antibody binding to an antigenic determinant (epitope). Also used of the site on a ligand molecule to which a cell surface receptor binds. (18 Nov 1997) |
| binding | <biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology> The adherence of molecules to one another, for example, enzymes to substrates, antibodies to antigens, DNA strands to their complementary strands. Binding occurs because the shape and chemical natures of parts of the molecules surfaces are complementary. A common metaphor is the "lock-and-key," used to describe how enzymes fit around their substrate. (14 Nov 1997) |
| binding constant | <chemistry> Reciprocal of dissociation constant. A measure of the extent of a reversible association between two molecular species at equilibrium. (18 Nov 1997) |
| binding energy | <chemistry, radiobiology> The binding energy of a nucleus is the minimum energy required to dissociate it into its component neutrons and protons. Neutron or proton binding energies are those required to remove a neutron or proton, respectively, from a nucleus. Electron binding energy is that required to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. (16 Dec 1997) |
| binding sites | The reactive parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule. (12 Dec 1998) |
| binding sites, antibody | Local surface sites on antibodies which react with antigen determinant sites on antigens. They are formed from parts of the variable regions of the fab fragment of the immunoglobulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| calcium-binding protein | <biochemistry> There are two main groups of calcium binding proteins, those that are similar to calmodulin and are called EF hand proteins and those that bind calcium and phospholipid (e.g. Lipocortin) and that have been grouped under the generic name of annexins. Many other proteins will bind calcium, although the binding site usually has considerable homology with the calcium-binding domains of calmodulin. They can act as transport proteins, regulator proteins or activator proteins. There is also a vitamin D-dependent variant which is a protein that plays a fundamental role in the vitamin d mediated transport of calcium in reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. It is found in the intestine, kidneys, egg shell gland, brain, and possibly other organs. Its molecular weight is species dependent. (12 May 2002) |
| cap binding protein | <molecular biology, protein> Protein (24 kD) with affinity for cap structure at 5' end of mRNA that probably assists, together with other initiation factors, in binding the mRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit. Translation of mRNA in vitro is faster if it has a cap binding protein. (18 Nov 1997) |
| galactose binding protein | <protein> A bacterial periplasmic protein, most studied in E. Coli, that acts both as a sensory element in the detection of galactose as a chemotactic signal and in the uptake of the sugar. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Raji cell binding test | <investigation> A test for the detection of soluble IgG antigen complexes. Raji cells are a line of EBV transformed lymphocytes with surface Fc receptors. Complexes are detected by their ability to compete with a radiolabelled aggregated IgG for binding to the cells. (18 Nov 1997) |