| alpha-acetolactic acid | An intermediate in pyruvic acid catabolism and valine biosynthesis; CH3COC(OH)(CH3)-COOH. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| alpha-actinin | An F-actin binding protein in vertebrate cells that cross-links actin filaments into regular parallel arrays. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-adrenergic blocking agent | An agent that competitively blocks alpha-adrenergic receptors; used in the treatment of hypertension. Synonym: alpha-blocker. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-adrenergic receptors | Adrenergic receptor's in effector tissues capable of selective activation and blockade by drugs; conceptually derived from the ability of certain agents, such as phenoxybenzamine, to block only some adrenergic receptor's and of other agents, such as methoxamine, to activate only the same adrenergic receptor's. Such receptor's are designated as alpha-receptors. Their activation results in physiological responses such as increased peripheral vascular resistance, mydriasis, and contraction of pilomotor muscles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha alcoholism | Jellinek's term for a still controllable and strictly psychological dependence on alcohol, as to relieve emotional or physical pain, with resulting interference with interpersonal relationships. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-allocortol | 5alpha-Pregnane-3a,11b,17,20a,21-pentaol;the 5a enantiomer of alpha-cortol; a metabolite of hydroxycortisone found in the urine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-allocortolone | 3a,17,20a,21-Tetrahydroxy-5alpha-pregnane-11-one;the 5a enantiomer of alpha-cortolone; a metabolite of hydrocortisone found in urine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-allopregnanediol | 5alpha-Pregnane-3a,20alpha-diol;a metabolite of progesterone and adrenocortical hormones, found in urine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-amanitin | <drug> A highly toxic, heat-stable bicyclic oligopeptide derived from the Amanita phalloides mushroom. It inhibits transcription by interfering with the function of certain RNA polymerases. (14 Aug 2000) |
| alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid | <chemical> Alpha-amino-2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-oxo-4-isoxazolepropanoic acid. An ibotenic acid homolog and glutamate agonist. The compound is the defining agonist for the ampa subtype of glutamate receptors (receptors, ampa). It has been used as a radionuclide imaging agent but is more commonly used as an experimental tool in cell biological studies. Pharmacological action: excitatory amino acid agonists. Chemical name: 4-Isoxazolepropanoic acid, alpha-amino-2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-oxo- (12 Dec 1998) |
| alpha-amino acid | Typically, an amino acid of the general formula R-CHNH2-COOH (i.e., the NH2 in the a position); the l forms of these are the hydrolysis products of proteins. In rarer usages, this class of molecules also includes alpha-amino phosphoric acids and alpha-aminosulfonic acids. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-amino acid esterase | <enzyme> Converts alpha-amino acid esters and water to alpha-amino acids and alcohol Registry number: EC 3.1.1.43 Synonym: alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase (26 Jun 1999) |
| alpha-aminoacyl-peptide hydrolases | <enzyme> Registry number: EC 3.4.11. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alpha-aminoadipic acid | 2-amino-1,6-hexanedioic acid;an intermediate of lysine biosynthesis in higher fungi and bacteria, but not in algae and higher plants. Also in degradation of lysine in mammals. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-aminoadipyl-cysteinyl-valine synthetase | <enzyme> As of 9/27/95 this has been separated from isopenicillin n synthetase Registry number: EC 6.3.2.- Synonym: acv synthetase, aa-cysteine synthetase, delta-(alpha-aminoadipyl)-cys-val synthetase, delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipyl)-l-cyteinyl-d-valine synthetase, pcbab gene product, acva gene product (26 Jun 1999) |