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Home >> Dictionary of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology >> C Jun N Terminal Kinase (JNK1, JNK2) - Calcification
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C-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1, JNK2)
An enzyme that activates the transcription factor AP-1 (identical to the oncogene product jun) by addition of phosphate groups to certain N-terminal amino acids.
C-oncogene
A normal cellular gene also called proto-oncogene that can be activated by mutation, amplification, or overexpression to produce a cancer-causing oncogene. The c-oncogene has viral oncogene (v-oncogene), which is a tumour-producing homologue.
C-terminus
Carboxyl terminus defined by the –COOH group of an amino acid or protein
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C-value paradox
The observation that the size of the genome is not always related to complexity. Although in general the C-value increases with biological complexity of the species, there are several exceptions. For example, some insect genomes are larger than mammalian genomes and some flowering plants have the largest genome size.
This paradox may be explained by the organisation of different DNA sequence components in various genome and is related to the repetitive sequences. See C-value.
C0t value
A value that describes the rate at which complementary strands of DNA reassociate with each other to form double-stranded DNA. The relationship between C0t and reassociation is important in DNA probe hybridization. C0t is the product of the two variables: C0t = (DNA concentration) x
(the time allowed for reassociation).
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C3 cycle
The Calvin cycle. A photosynthesis reaction in which carbon dioxide is fixed to form a three-carbon compound that is subsequently converted into a six-carbon sugar.
C4 cycle
The Hatch-Slack pathway, which fixes CO2 used by plants growing in hot dry climates with low CO2 levels.
C5 convertase
A molecule that activates complement C5
C600
A strain of E.coil commonly used in genetic experiments and as a host for cloned plasmids.
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase)
A protein kinase that mediate the effects of Ca2+ by phosphorylation of other proteins. Its activity is regulated by the binding of Ca2+ -activated calmodulin.
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cabinet
See growth cabinet.
cachexia
Weight loss and wasting seen in chronic diseases.
cadherins
A family of proteins with more than 100 members. They are the primary cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in adherens junctions and desmosomes where they mediate Ca2+ -dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion. Most cadherins are single-pass transmembrane glycoproteins. They associate in the plasma membrane to form dimers or oligomers.
The extracellular domain is generally folded into 5 or 6 cadherin anchor proteins. Cadherins play a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion, cell signaling and tissue development and differentiation.
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Caenorhabditis elegans
A nematode worm extensively used as a model organism for Studies on genetics, cell differentiation and apoptosis.
caeruloplasmin
An α2-globulin found in plasma that transports copper. It has eight binding sites for Cu+ or Cc2+. It functions as a ferrooxidase and converts Fe2+ to Fe3+ thereby promotion incorporation of ferric ions into transferrin and apoferritin. Caerculoplasmin inhibits iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and formation of hydroxyl radical from H2O2. It also possesses weak superoxide scavenging activity.
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In Wilson’s disease, plasma caeruloplasmin levels are decreased with increase in plasma levels of copper. Copper is deposited in the liver and lenticular nucleus of he brain leading to hepatolenticular degeneration. Deposition of copper in the cornea results in Kayser-Fleischer rings. There is increased excretion of copper associated with aminoaciduria Caeruloplamin is an acute phase protein and increased levels are seen in infections, myocardial infarction, rheumatoid arthritis, viral hepatitis and collagen disorders.
C1 INH
C1 inhibitor, a regulatory molecule that inhibits complement C1 activity.
C3 convertase
A molecule that activates complement C3.
CAAT box
A conserved sequence present within the promoter region of the protein encoding genes in eukaryotes. It has the consensus sequence GGCCAATCT and is located approximately 75 bases upstream of the transcription start site. It is one of the sites for recognition and binding of transcription factors. This sequence enhances transcriptions. Also called CAT box.
C-value
A value that represents the total amount of DNA in base pairs in the haploid genome of a particular species. It is expressed in base pairs or molecular mass. The C-values range from 3.5 x103 bp for coliphage MS2, the smallest virus to 1011 bp for some amphibians and flowering plants.
caesium chloride gradient centrifugation
A method used for the separation and/or purification of nucleic acids. The nucleic acids to be separated are mixed with cesium chloride of appropriate density, and centrifuged at high speeds for hours to days. The cesium chloride establishes a density gradient during centrifugation and the nucleic acid molecules are separated based on their buoyant density in the gradient
caffeine
(1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) A mehylated purine found in coffee.
caged molecule
An organic molecule that is designed in such a way that it changes into an active form when irradiated with light of a particular wavelength (eg. caged ATP).
calcification D
A calcium-binding protein in the enterocytes.
calcidiol
The major circulating metabolite of vitamin D
calcification
Deposition of calcium salts in bone. While this is a normal process in the bone, it is abnormal if it occurs in other organs. For example, calcification of the aortic value causes aortic stenosis (narrowing).
calcitonin
A hormone synthesized by parafollicular or C cells of the thyroid gland that regulates calcium homeostasis. It is a single polypeptide of 32 amino acid residues. The target organs for the actions of calcitonin are bone and kidney. Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption by decreasing mobilization of calcium and phosphate, thereby increasing their urinary excretion. Calcitonin mediates its biological effects by stimulation of adenylate cyclase and formation of cAMP in bone and renal tubule cells.
calcitriol
(1, 25-dihydroxycholecaliferol, 1,25(OH)2D3) The active metabolite of vitamin D, required for the intestinal absorption of calcium. Calcitriol stimulates the production of calcium-binding proteins in the intestinal cells. In addition, calcitriol also regulates synthesis of calcium-dependent ATPases involved in active calcium transport and alters the membrane viscosity of intestinal cells thereby increasing calcium absorption.
The synthesis or calcitriol is regulated by plasma levels of calcium, phosphate, PTH and calcitriol itself. The activity of 1α-hydroxylase is stimulated by low plasma phosphate concentration and increase in plasma PTH levels. Hypocalcaemia stimulates enzyme activity via PTH, whereas calcitriol exerts a feedback inhibitory effect on 1α-hydroxylase activity.
Calcitriol
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