Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A chemical compound that only becomes a toxin after it is altered in some way. For example, the B.t. protoxins (e.g., Cry9C, CrylA (b), CrylA (c), etc.) only become toxic after they are chemically altered by the alkaline environment inside the gut of certain insects.  

A structure consisting of the cell membrane and all of the intracellular components, but devoid of a cell wall. This (removal of cell’s outer wall) can be done to plant cells via treatment with cell-walldegrading enzymes or electroporation. Under specific conditions (e.g., electroporation), certain DNA sequences (genes) prepared by man, can enter protoplasts. The cell…

A general term referring to the entire contents of a living cell; living substance. The essential material of all plants and animal cells is composed of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and inorganic salts. A substance like a jelly which makes up the largest part of each cell. A thick, mucuslike substance that constitutes the…

Enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis (breakdown) of proteins or peptides. Proteins (enzymes) that destroy the structure (by peptide bond cleavage) and hence the function of other proteins. These other proteins may or may not themselves be enzymes. Enzymes which split proteins into simpler compounds during digestion. An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of proteins into…

A polypeptide chain may take on a certain structure in and of itself because of the amino acid monomers it contains and their location within the chain. The chain may furthermore interact with other polypeptide chains to form larger proteins known as oligomeric proteins. In what follows, the levels of protein structure normally encountered will…

The complex interactions of a polypeptide molecular chain with its environment and itself and other protein entities, which cause the polypeptide molecule to fold up into a highly organized, tightly packed, three-dimensional structure. Proven to occur spontaneously, by Christian B. Anfmsen during the 1960s; for protein molecules outside of living cells. This ability of polypeptide…

The selective, deliberate (re)designing and synthesis of proteins. This is done in order to cause the resultant proteins to carry out desired (new) functions. Protein engineering is accomplished by changing or interchanging individual amino acids in a normal protein. This may be done via chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA technology (i.e., genetic engineering). “Protein engineers”…

A protein that is thought to regulate important activities in the body and brain by inhibiting specific enzymes and interacting with certain body cells. PN-II is formed from a precursor molecule known as beta-amyloid, via metabolic processing of the betaamyloid. Recent research indicates that incorrect metabolic processing of beta-amyloid by the body results in amyloid…

A protein that acts as an inhibitor of protease.  

An antigen whose concentration increases significantly five to ten years prior to the diagnosis of prostate cancer. This means that PSA level measurements could lead to a diagnosis of prostate cancer before symptoms appear. However, a series of tests is required in order to accurately gauge the probability of cancer because PSA levels can also…