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Home >> Dictionary of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology >>Jak STAT Singnalling Pathway Juxtacrine Signalling
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J 1. Joining segment. 2. Joule.
J chain A polypeptide chain found in polymeric immunoglobulins, such as lgA and lgM.
J/m2; J m-2 (joules per square metre). A unit of light measurement.
Jacob, Francois (b.1920) A French scientist who was awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with Andre Lwoff and Jacques Monod. Jacob and Monod proposed the operon hypothesis to explain regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes based on their research on the lactose operon.
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Jak-STAT-signalling pathway A signaling pathway by which some extracellular signals (eg.interferon) stimulate gene expression. This involves cell surface receptors and cytoplasmic Janus kinases (Jaks) as well as signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs).
JAKs (Janus kinases) A family of protein tyrosine kinases. Dimerisation stimulates autophosphorylation of reciprocal JAKs, with activation and phosphorylation of the receptor. Phosphotyrosine residues on the receptor recruit STATs through their SH2 domains followed by STAT phosphorylation, dimerisation and translocation to the nucleus where they regulate transcription.
Jamaican vomiting sickness A condition caused by ingestion of unripened ackee fruit which contains hypoglycin A, an inhibitor of b-oxidation which raises fatty acid levels leading to fatty liver.
Janus kinases See JAKs.
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Jaundice A liver disease caused by elevation in plasma bilirubin levels. It is classified into retention and regurgitation jaundice. Retention jaundice characterised by increased amounts of unconjugated bilirubin in circulation, is caused by excessive haemolysis, defective hepatic uptake or decreased conjugated bilirubin with decreased formation of urobilin and pale stools. It occurs due to impaired hepatic excretion of bilirubin or cholestasis.
Java An object-oriented programming language the is designed to run on most platforms. Java programmes are supplied as an applet.
JavaScript A scripting language designed for web-based applications.
JC virus A member of the papova viruses that is related to the monkey virus SV40. It was first isolated from the brain tissue of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
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Jeffreys, Alec The scientist who developed the technique of DNA fingerprinting.
Jelly roll A complex supersecondary structure in proteins in which four Greek key motifs adopt a barrel structure. This structure is found in influenza virus haemagglutinin.
Jiffy potTM Pots made from wood pulp and peat that are commonly used for the transplantation of tissue-culture-derived into soil medium.
JIVET See juvenile in vitro embryo technology.
Job effect An effect observed in colorimetry. The linearity of the Beer-Lambert calibration curve does not operate beyond the colour reagent limit and forms a plateau indicating that the reagent is nor sufficient to form a colour.
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Joining gene (j gene) ADNA segment in the immunoglobulin gene cluster that joins the constant and variable regions of the immunoglobulin molecule during B cell maturation. A constant region can join with a large number of variable regions generating antibody diversity.
Joule (SI symbol: J). The amount of energy required to apply a force of 1 Newton over a distances of 1 metre.
Jumping genes See transposable elements.
Jumping library See chromosome jumping.
Jun An oncogene transduced by a chicken retrovirus responsible for inducing fibrosarcomas. The jun proto-oncogene is homologous with the transcription regulation factor AP-1.
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Junction adhesion molecules (JAMs) Proteins present in tight junctions that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). These molecules contain a single transmembrane a-helix and are responsible for homophilic adhesion.
Junctional diversity Diversity in immunoglobulin (Ig) or T cell receptor (TCR) structure produced by the incorrect splicing of gene segments into a complete gene for Ig or TCR chains during B cell or T cell development.
Junin virus A member of the tacaribe subgroup of the arena viruses that causes haemorrhagic fever. The virus is carried by bats and rodents.
Junk DNA Aterm used to describe the noncoding DNA that is involved in encoding RNA or proteins. Although these sequences are noncoding, these regions are involved in gene regulation, and other as yet unidentified functions.
Juvenile hormone A hormone secreted by insects from a pair of endocrine glands that are close to the brain. It the brain. It inhibits metamorphosis and maintains larval features.
Juvenile in vitro embryo technology (JIVT; JIVET) A technology that involves collection of immature ova from young animals, followed by in vitro maturation of the ova, in vitro fertilization, and finally, transfer of the embryos into recipient females. This method achieves rapid generation turnover.
Juvenility The early phase of development in which an organism is juvenile and incapable of sexual reproduction.
Juxtacrine signaling Macromolecular signals associated with the extracellular matrix or displayed on the surface of neighbouring cells.
Juxtaglomerular apparatus The structure located between the distal convoluted tubule and the afferent arteriole in the nephron. The juxtaglomerular apparatus elaborates renin, which together with aldosterone regulates sodium water balance.
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