Resources

List by Alphabet: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

a Related Biological Terms:

alpha1 α1)-cysteine proteinase inhibitor

An enzyme inhibitor that also functions as a kininogen; specifically H-kininogen and, in the rat, also T-kininogen. (see also cystatin)

alpha2 (α2)-cysteine proteinase inhibitor

(= L-kininogen; see kininogen)

altered-self hypothesis

The proposal that helper T-cells recognize a foreign material, e.g. a viral antigen, when it is presented on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell as a complex with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II glycoprotein. This is contrasted with a less favoured explanation, the intimacy or dual-recognition model, which postulates that helper T-cells must simultaneously recognize both the foreign antigen and the separate MHC complex. By a simple extension, the altered-self hypothesis further proposes that a chemically altered MHC may also be recognized by helper T-cells.

alternative splicing

The production of more than one mRNA from a single pre-mRNA due to differences in the excision of introns and/or the use of stop codons. Black, D.L. (2000) Cell 103, 367-370

amber mutation

A nonsense mutation; the formation of a non-functional protein due to the premature appearance in mRNA of the terminator codon UAG. (see also ocher mutation; opal mutation)

ambidexteran

An aggregate of glycosaminoglycans that, unless prevented by steric hindrance or over- or under-sulphation, presents one or both surfaces of their tape-like shape to the complementary surface of another; this results in linear polymers if aggregation is on only one surface, or sheets if aggregation can occur on both surfaces. Scott, J.E. (1992) FASEB J. 6, 2639-2645

ambo

A prefix denoting a (not necessarily equal) mixture of D- and L-isomers, e.g. in an amino acid sequence, Ala-ambo-Glu-Gly=Ala-Glu-Gly+Ala-D-Glu-Gly.

aminimide

A peptide analogue in which an amino nitrogen substitutes the -amino group of an amino acid residue; this forms a stable, soluble product.

amino acid

Usually an -amino acid, in which a carboxy and an amino (or imino) group are attached to the -carbon; triple- and single-letter codes are shown: alanineAlaAarginineArgRasparagineAsnNaspartic acidAspDcysteineCys Cglutamic acidGluEglutamineGlnQglycineGlyGhistidineHisHisoleucineIleIleucineLeuLlysineLysKmethionineMetMphenylalaninePheFprolineProPserineSerSthreonineThrTtryptophanTrpWtyrosineTyrYvalineValVaspartic acid or asparagineAsxBany residue that upon acid hydrolysis yieldsglutamic acid (Glu, Gln, Glp, Gla)GlxZ 4-carboxyglutamic acidGlahydroxyprolineHyppyroglutamic acidPgl, ;Glu, Glpunknown or unspecifiedXaa

amino acyl site

The part of a ribosome that binds one amino acyl-tRNA where it will accept the peptidyl group held at the peptide site in the form of its tRNA ester. (see also peptide site)

< 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 > Total Pages 412

If you know of any terms that have been omitted from this glossary that you feel would be useful to include, please send detail to the Editorial Office at GenScript: website@genscript.com

If your term is adopted, we will send 1,000 EzCoupon points to your GenScript account.