Category: A

Endocrine components (proteins) that act to regulate blood pressure, as well as water and electrolyte homeostasis within the body. Atrial peptides are made by the heart in response to elevated blood pressure levels; and they stimulate the kidneys to excrete water and sodium into the urine, thus lowering blood pressure. They also slow the heartbeat.…

An atrial peptide hormone that may regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance within the body. An example is a peptide hormone. A peptide secreted by the atrial tissue of the heart in response to an increase in blood pressure. It influences blood pressure, blood volume, and cardiac output. It increases the excretion of sodium and…

Adenosine triphosphatase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes (clips the bond between two phosphates in) ATP to yield ADP, phosphate, and energy. The reaction is usually coupled to an energy-requiring process. ATP is hydrolyzed in the act of shivering and the energy produced is converted into heat to increase body temperature. This type of heat production involves…

An enzyme complex that forms ATP from ADP and phosphate during oxidative phosphorylation in the inner mitochondrial membrane (in animals), in chloroplasts (in plants), and in cell membranes (in bacteria). This is an energy-producing reaction in that ATP is a high-energy compound used by cells to maintain their living condition.  

A human blood factor that promotes clotting. A deficiency of AT-III can be inherited, resulting from certain surgical procedures, certain illnesses, and sometimes use of certain oral contraceptives.  

An American trade association of companies involved in biotechnology and services to biotechnology companies (e.g., accounting, law, etc.). Formed in 1984, the ABC tended to consist of the smaller firms involved in biotechnology (and service firms that worked for all biotechnology companies). In 1993, the Association of Biotechnology Companies (ABC) was merged with the Industrial…

A sequence of DNA that will support autonomous replication (sequence, ARS).  

Single-celled life forms that can live at extreme ocean depths (i.e., high pressure) and in the absence of oxygen. Enzymes robust (i.e., sturdy) enough for industrial process utilization have been isolated by scientists from Archaea.  

A small weed plant possessing 70,000 kilobase pairs in its genome, with very little repetitive DNA. This makes it an ideal model for studying plant genetics. At least two genetic maps have been created fox Arabidopsis thaliana (one using yeast artificial chromosomes). Because of this a large base of knowledge about it has been accumulated…

Oligonucleotide molecules that bind (i.e., “stick to”) other, specific molecules (e.g., proteins). Aptamer is from the Latin aptus (“to fif). For example, in 1992, Louis Bock and John Toole isolated aptamers that bind and inhibit the blood-coagulation enzyme, thrombin. Since thrombin is crucial to the formation of blood clots (coagulation), such aptamers may be useful…