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Home >> Dictionary of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology >> Anaphase Promoting Complex APC Androgen Binding Protein ABP
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Anabolism Biosynthetic pathways of metabolism.
Anaemia A condition characterised by low red cells or haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in diminished oxygen transport. Anaemia may be caused by deficiency of iron, vitamin B-12, or folate, bleeding, abnormal haemoglobin formation (e.g., sickle cell anaemia), rupture of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia), and bone marrow diseases.
Anaerobe An organism that can grow in the absence of oxygen.
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Anaerobic glycolysis Glycolysis in the absence of oxygen. The end product of anaerobic glycolysis is lactate. Anaerobic glycolysis yields only 2 molecules of ATP.
Anaerobic jar A tightly sealed chamber from which oxygen is removed or replaced with a gas such as hydrogen that does not affect the growth of bacteria. This is used for the culture of anaerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic respiration Respiration in which foodstuffs are partially oxidised, with the release of chemical energy, in the absence of oxygen.
Analbuminaemia A rare genetic disorder in which the plasma albumin level is exceedingly low. The condition is benign and only mild oedema is seen.
Analogues 1. Compounds that are similar in structure and function. 2. Nonhomologous proteins that have similar folding architecture, or similar functional sites that may have arisen through convergent evolution.
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Analogy Reasoning by which the function of a novel gene or protein sequence may be deduced from comparisons with other gene or protein sequences of known function. Identifying analogous or homologous genes via similarity searching and alignment is one of the chief uses of bioinformatics. See also alignment, similarity search.
Anamnesis An elevated response to a second or subsequent administration of an antigen to an immune animal. Also termed immunologic memory.
Anaphase The stage of mitosis or meiosis during which the daughter chromosomes move from the equatorial plane ot opposite poles of the cell. Anaphase follows metaphase and precedes telophase.
Anaphase-promoting complex (APC) A complex of several proteins that is activated during mitosis to initiate the separation of sister chromatids during metaphase to anaphase transition in mitosis. The APC is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that promotes proteasomal degradation of several proteins. These include i) mitotic cyclins, resulting in the inactivation of M-CdK (mitotic cyclin-dependent kinase) complexes promoting exit from mitosis, ii) cohesion, the protein complex that binds sister chromatids together, and iii) securing that inhibits separase, which cleaves cohesins allowing anaphase onset.
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Anaphylactoid reaction A pseudoanaphylactic reaction that is similar a anaphylaxis but not generated by antigen-antibody reactions.
Anaphylatoxin A substance released by the body in response to a foreign antigen as part of an immunological response. These substances release histamines, which cause tissue inflammation.
Anaphylaxis An immediate hypersensitive reaction seen in vertebrates that results from previous exposure of antigen into the body which causes sensitization of mast cells by cytotropic antibodies.
Anaplasis Loss of cell differentiation, a characteristic property of tumour cells.
Anaplerotic Reactions capable of replenishing the intermediates in the citric acid cycle.
Anchor gene A gene that has been positioned on the physical map and the linkage map of a chromosome.
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Anchorage dependence The requirement of normal eukaryotic cells for a solid surface to attach to in order to grow in culture. Malignant cells show anchorage independence and can grow even in semi-solid medium.
Anchoring junction Cell junctions that attach cells and their cytoskeletons to adjacent cells or to the extracellular matrix. These include adherens junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes.
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Andersens disease (amylopectinosis, glycogen storage disease type IV)A very rare, autosomal recessive, usually fatal, glycogen storage disease due to a defect in the branching enzyme with accumulation of abnormal glycogen containing few branch points. The disease is characterised by hepatomegaly, failure to thrive, cirrhosis, hepatic failure, myotonia and weakness without hypoglycaemia.
Anaerobic An environment or condition in which molecular oxygen is not available for chemical, physical or biological processes.
Anaerobic digestion Digestion of materials in the absence of oxygen. Microbial fermentation of organic matter top methane and carbon dioxide in the absence of air.
Androgen A hormone that stimulates the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, and plays a role in the regulation of sexual activity in vertebrate animals.
Androgen-binding protein (ABP) A protein synthesised by the Sertoli cells. ABP is similar to SHBG in physicochemical characteristics. It binds to testosterone and is involved in the transport of testosterone from the Leydig cells to the site of spermatogenesis.
Androgenotes Zygotes containing two male nuclei.
Anencephaly A congenital neural tube defect that results from failure of the upper end of the neural tube to close during embryonic development.
Anergy Lack of immune response.
Aneuploidy Deviation from an exact multiple of the haploid number of chromosomes due to loss or gain of chromosomes. An individual with normal complement of two sets of each chromosome is diploid. Monosomy is a condition in which there is a loss of one chromosome whereas in trisomy there is gain of an extra chromosome.
Aneusomy Possessing an incorrect number of copies of a given chromosome.
Angina pectoris Pain in the chest that may radiate to the arms or jaw, due to a lack of oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Angiogenesis The growth of new blood vessels that occurs in both health and disease. Physiological angiogenesis occurs during would healing, tissue repair and pregnancy. Pathological angiogenesis is seen in macular degeneration of the eye, diabetic retinopathy, endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tumour growth and metastasis.
Angiography Imaging of the coronary arteries using an x-ray based technique following administration of a contrast medium. This is done to identify the location and severity of any obstructions.
Angiokeratoma A skin disease characterised by warts epidermal thickening.
Angioneurotic oedema Tissue swelling due to complement activations as a result of a deficiency of the complement regulatory protein C1 inhibitor.
Angiotensin I A decapeptide that is released by the action of rennin which cleaves a leu-leu bond from the plasma α2-globulin known as rennin substrate or angiotensinogen. A converting enzyme present in the lungs converts angiotensin I to the biologically active octapeptide angiotensin II.
Angiotensin II An octapeptide that stimulates the following: vasoconstriction with consequent increase in blood pressure, aldosterone biosynthesis by the adrenal cortex leading to renal tubular reabsorption of sodium and water, release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla, and thirst.
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