| 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) |
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| 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) |
| calmodulin-binding proteins | Proteins which bind calmodulin. They are found in many tissues and have a variety of functions including f-actin cross-linking properties, inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and calcium and magnesium atpases. (12 Dec 1998) |
| 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) |
| gonadal steroid-binding globulin | A protein that transports 65% of the testosterone in plasma. Synonym: sex steroid-binding globulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| periplasmic binding proteins | Transport proteins located within the periplasmic space. Some act as receptors for bacterial chemotaxis, interacting with MCPs. Their mode of action is unclear. (18 Nov 1997) |
| ribosome binding site | The region of a messenger RNA molecule that binds the ribosome to initiate translation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| RNA-binding proteins | Proteins which bind to RNA molecules. Certain structure motifs are common to several of the proteins, such as arginine (arg)-rich tracts, typically consisting of alternating arg-asp, arg-ser, or arg-gly residues. These proteins also tend to have a common ribonucleotide sequence domain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| competitive binding assay | General term for an assay in which a binder competes for labelled versus unlabelled ligand; following separation of free and bound ligand, the ligand (the analyte assayed) is quantitated by relating bound and unbound ratios to known standards. See: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioreceptor assay, immunoassay, enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique, radioimmunoassay. Synonym: displacement analysis, saturation analysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complement binding assay | A test for the detection of immune complexes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Con A binding site | <biochemistry> A common misuse of the term receptor. Con A binds to the mannose residues of many different glycoproteins and glycolipids and the binding is therefore not to a specific site. It could be argued that the receptor is the Con A and cells have Con A ligands on their surfaces: certainly this would be less confusing. (05 Jan 1998) |
| corticosteroid-binding globulin | <chemical> Chemical name: Transcortins (12 Dec 1998) |
| progesterone-binding globulin | A glycoprotein migrating as alpha 1-globulin, molecular weight 70,000 to 120,000. The protein, which is present in increased amounts in the plasma during pregnancy, binds mainly progesterone, with other steroids including testosterone competing weakly. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heparin binding growth factor | <growth factor> Acidic fibroblast growth factor (alpha FGF, HBGF 1) and basic FGF (beta FGF, HBGF 2) are the two founder members of a family of structurally related growth factors for mesodermal or neuroectodermal cells. Synonym: heparin binding growth factor. Acronym: FGF (18 Nov 1997) |