2010 Annual Report - Institute for Molecular Bioscience - University ...

imb annual report 2010
100
Golgi An organelle that packages and
distributes chemicals within and outside
the cell.
GPCRs G protein-coupled receptors, the
largest family of membrane receptors.
Gram-negative A type of bacteria with a
double cell wall, which lessens the effect
of some antibiotics.
Haemoglobin The molecule in blood that
carries oxygen around the body.
Heterocycles Compounds containing a
ring of atoms of different elements.
Heteromeric Made up of different
subunits.
Heterogeneous Consisting of varied
constituents.
Histone deacetylase An enzyme
that can catalyse the inhibition of gene
transcription.
Homeostasis A condition where the
body uses negative feedback processes
to maintain its systems at a constant
equilibrium.
Homology Similarity due to common
ancestry.
Homozygous Having the same two
copies of alleles at a gene.
Hormone Any of a type of chemical
secreted by one tissue that has an effect
on another tissue.
Hypercholesterolemia High blood
cholesterol.
Immuno-precipitation The process
whereby an antigen is formed in a solution
using a specific antibody.
In toto Totally.
In vitro A process occurring in an artificial
environment that would normally occur in
an organism.
Informatics The science of using
technology to better process, store and
analyse information.
Ion A particle or atom with a charge.
Ion channels Protein pores in the
membrane that control the flow of ions
into and out of the cell.
Isothermal calorimetry A technique
of measuring the heat and heat capacity
of chemical reactions; often used to
characterise potential drug candidates.
Keratinocytes Cells that make keratin,
a substance found in hair and nails (hard
keratin) and skin (soft keratin).
Kinase An enzyme that catalyses the
transfer of a phosphate group from a
donor to a target molecule.
Knockouts Organisms in which specific
genes have been made inactive, so
scientists can determine their effect.
Ligands A chemical that binds to a larger
molecule/receptor.
Lipid Any of a group of heterogeneous fat
or fat-like compounds that are insoluble
in water.
Lipodystrophies Disorders that result in
the abnormal accumulation or loss of fat
in different areas of the body.
Lipogenic Related to the production of
fat.
Lipopolysaccharides A molecule made
up of a lipid (fat) and a polysaccharide (a
type of carbohydrate) found in the cell wall
of Gram-negative bacteria.
Liposomes Artificial vesicles capable of
delivering drugs to target tissues.
LXR Liver X receptor, which regulates
cholesterol, fat and sugar levels.
Lymphatic system The circulatory
network of vessels that produce and store
the cells that fight infection.
Lymphedema A condition that occurs
when excess lymph fluid collects in a
localised area.
Lysosome An organelle capable of
digesting microorganisms and cellular
debris.
Macrophage A large cell that engulfs
and absorbs waste material, harmful
microbes or other foreign bodies in the
bloodstream and tissues.
Macropinocytosis The formation of
fluid-filled macropinosomes.
Macropinosomes Large,
heterogeneous, dynamic vesicles.
Mass spectrometry A technique for
determining the chemical constituents and
structure of a sample.
Mechanosensing Responsive to
mechanical (as opposed to eg. chemical)
stimuli.
Melanin Skin and hair pigment.
Melanoblast Precursor of a melanocyte.
Melanocyte A cell that produces
melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair
and eyes their colour.
Membrane A thin layer of tissue
surrounding a cell and separating it from
the rest of the environment.
Mesoderm The middle layer of cells in
the early embryo.
Metastasis Migration of cancer cells
from their original site to other parts of the
body.
Microarray A technique for studying how
large numbers of genes interact and how
a cell’s regulatory network controls vast
amount of genes simultaneously.
MicroRNAs Also known as MiRNA,
microRNAs are RNA molecules around
20 nucleotides long that regulate gene
expression.
Mimetics Artificial molecule that mimics
the structure of a natural molecule.
Monoculture A culture (preparation) in
which only one type of cell is grown.
Monomer A molecule that can be
bound to others to form polymers (large
molecules consisting of repeating smaller
molecules).
mRNA Messenger RNA. The type of RNA
that carries the instructions for coding
proteins from DNA to the ribosomes,
where proteins are assembled.
MRSA Metacillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus. A species
of bacteria that is resistant to broadspectrum
antibiotics and thus can cause
infections that are difficult to treat.
Munc A protein essential for the process
of secreting neurons.
Murine Relating to mice or rats.
Mutagenesis The process of
intentionally creating mutations in an
organism’s DNA.
Myosins A protein, along with actin,
responsible for muscle contraction.
Nanometre One billionth of a metre.
Neisseria A family of bacteria, two
species of which cause diseases
in humans (N. meningitides and N.
gonorrhoeae).
Nephron Tubes within the kidney that act
as filters.
Neuropathic Pain from nerves
themselves, as opposed to injured or
diseased body parts.
Neurosecretion The production and
secretion of hormones by neurons.