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Home >> Dictionary of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology >> Integrins - Intermittent Branced Chain Ketonuria

Integration vector
 A vector designed to integrate cloned DNA into the host cell chromosomal DNA.

Integrins
A family of transmembrane heterodimeric integral membrane proteins that function as adhesion receptors, mediating cell-matrix interactions. They function as signal transducers that activate various intracellular signalling pathways when activated by matrix binding. Humans contain a number of integrin heterodimers composed of 24 types of α and 9 types of β subunits in different combinations. A single β-chain can interact with and one α-chain giving rise to combinatorial diversity.

Integromics
 The use of high-throughput, multiplexed technologies including microarrays in combination to obtain an integrated picture at the DNA, RNA, protein, tissue, and pharmacological levels. This will help in the development of new diagnostics and new therapeutic agents. It involves creating, splicing together, and mining large databases of information on the molecular structures, patterns to activity, and biochemical targets to potential anticancer agents.

Intellectual property
An area of law that encompasses patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and protection of plant varieties and living organisms.

Intensifying screen
A plastic sheet that is impregnated with a rare-earth compound (e.g. calcium tungstate) which absorbs β radiation and emits light. The intensifying screen when placed on one side of an X-ray film with a radioactive sample on the other side captures some of the β emissions passing through the film, blackening the X-ray film. This greatly enhances the sensitivity of detection. An intensifying screen is used in Southern and Northern blotting.

Interactome
Refers to a comprehensive set of protein-protein interactions.

Interactomics
The study of the products of the genes and the way they interact.

Interallelic complementation
A change in the properties of a heteromultimeric protein resulting from interaction of subunits coded by two different mutant alleles. The mixed protein may have greater or lesser activity than the protein containing subunits of only one type.

Interbands
Relatively dispersed regions of polytene chromosomes present between the bands.

Intercalary regeneration
A type of regeneration that fills in the missing tissue when two mismatched regions of a structure are grafted together.

Intercalating agent
A chemical that inserts itself between adjacent base pairs in a DNA molecule.

Intercalating mutagen
A mutagen that inserts itself between successive bases in a nucleic acid, inducing a frameshift mutation.

Intercalation
Insertion between two successive bases in a nucleic acid.

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)
An adhesion molecule that allows prolonged cell-cell contact during leukocyte activation or migration.

Intercistronic complementation
See positive complementation.

Intercistronic region
The distance between the termination codon of one gene and the initiation codon of the next gene.

Interdigitating dendritic cells
Leukocytes with long processes (dendrites) that present antigen to T cells.

Interference
 Crossing over at one point that alters the probability of another crossing-over occurring in an adjacent region. This can be detected by studying the pattern of crossing-over with three or more linked genes. Interference may be positive or negative based on whether the probability of another crossing-over nearby is reduced or increased, respectively.

Interferon  
A family of small proteins that induces viral resistance in cells. Interferons are capable of enhancing and modifying the immune response.

Interferon alpha (IFNα)
A cytokine produced in response to viral infection that interferes with viral replication.

Interferon beta (IFN β)
A cytokine produced in response to viral infection that interferes with viral replication.

Interferon gamma (IFNγ)
A cytokine secreted by some T cells after activation. IFN-γ enhances the antiviral response and macrophage activation.

Intergeneric
A cross between two different genera.

Intergenic regions
DNA sequences present between genes. They form a large percentage of a genome and have no known function.

Interkinesis
The period between the first and second meiotic division when no DNA synthesis occurs.

Interleukins
A group of proteins that transmit signals between immune cells and are required for eliciting normal immune responses.

Intermediary metabolism
Enzyme-catalysed reactions in the cell that utilise chemical energy from nutrients to synthesise and assemble cell components.

Intermediate component
A DNA sequence component that shows reassociation kinetics that is between the fast (repetitive DNA) and slow (unique sequence DNA) components. This component contains moderately repetitive DNA.

Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL)
Transient intermediates containing both cholesterol and triacylglycerols formed during conversion of VLDL to LDL. They are undetectable in normal plasma.

Intermediated filament
 A fibrous protein filament of approximately 10 nm diameter that forms rope-like networks in animal cells.

Intermittent acute porphyria (IAP)
The most common of the acute porphyrias that has an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The disorder is due to a deficiency of PBG deaminase, which results in decreased synthesis of haem, derepression of ALA synthase and overproduction of ALA and porphobilinogen.

Intermittent branched chain ketonuria
A variant of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) in which the deficiency of the enzyme α-keto acid decarboxylase is less severe. The affected individuals retain the capacity to metabolise the branched chain amino acids-leucine, isoleucine and valine although not as efficiently as in normal subjects. The clinical symptoms of MSUD therefore occur only intermittently and late in life.

Intermolecular
Interaction between two different molecules.

Internal energy
The energy associated with the system by virtue of the molecules.

Internal guide sequence (IGS)
See guide sequence.

Internal image
A spatial configuration of the combining site of an anti-idiotype antibody that resembles the epitope to which the idiotype is directed.

Internal ribosome entry sites (IRES)
Motifs that form secondary structures allowing internal initiation of protein synthesis.

International Normalised Ratio (INR)
The method of choice for measuring prothrombin time, an index of coagulation status that may be used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of anticoagulants, such as warfarin. The INR is a method for standardizing prothrombin time results so as to minimise variability between laboratories.

Internet
An international computer network governed by a set of protocols termed TCP/IP.
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