Lexicon — words and phrases at the growing edge

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Lexicon - - Words and Phrases at the Growing Edge Contributions, corrections, suggestions and comments are invited. The aim is to be concise," eg word, definition in one sentence, reference to an article where more can be found. Contributions by F Vella

Acidosome A biochemically discrete organeile in the amoeba Dictylostelium discoideum which is rich in vacuolar proton pumps (V-H +ATPases) and is responsible for acidification of endocytic vacuoles. (NoRa K V e t a l J Biol Chem 266, 18318-18323, 1991)

Acidotropic protein kinases Protein kinases that have requirements for negatively charged groups in the vicinity of the modified residue. (Roach P J J Biol Chem 266, 14139-14142, 1991)

Adseverin [Synonym: Scinderin] A 74kDa calcium- and phospholipidmodulated actin-binding protein. (Sakurai T et al J Biol Chem 266, 15979-15983, 1991)

Antho-K Amide The neuropeptide L-3-phenyllactyl-Phe-Lys-Ala-NHz from the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. (Nothacker H P e t al Biochem Biophys Res Commun 179, 1205-1211, 1991)

Basotropic protein kinases Protein kinases that have requirements for positively charged groups in the vicinity of the modified residue. (Roach P J J Biol Chem 266, 14139-14142, 1991)

Biglycan A small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan closely related in structure to the small proteoglycans decorin and fibromodulin. Its gene is located on the q arm of the human Xchromosome. The protein is thought to contain two attached glycosaminoglycan chains in the secreted form. (Fisher L W et al J Biol Chem 266, 14371-14377, 1991)

Calgizzarin A calcium-binding protein isolated from chicken gizzard smooth muscle and also abundant in rabbit lung. Sequencing of a cDNA clone indicates a polypeptide of 102 residues homologous to S-100ct, S-10013 and annexin II light chain. (Watanabe M et al Biochem Biophys Res Commun 181,644-649, 1991)

Coatomer The cytosolic complex of presumptive proteins which form the coat of non-clathrin-coated vesicles. (Hurtley S M TIBS 16, 165166, 1991) c-di-GMP Cyclic diguanylic acid, or bis(3'-5')cyclic guanylic acid. A potent activator of cellulose synthase in the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum. (Mayer R et al Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 88, 54725476, 1991)

Dermaseptin A 34-residue antimicrobial peptide derived from amphibian skin. (Mor A et al Biochemistry 30, 8824-8830, 1991)

Ecotin A periplasmic protein of E coli that inhibits the pancreatic serine proteases chymotrypsin, trypsin and elastase. Its deduced amino

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 20(2) 1992

acid sequence consists of 162 amino acid residues which include a 20-residue signal sequence. (Lee H R et al FEBS Letters 287, 5356, 1991)

Ezrin [Synonyms: p 81, cytovillin] A protein component of the cytoskeleton of intestinal brush border microvilli. It undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation after activation of specific growth factor receptors. It is a membrane-to-cytoskeleton linker that may play a key role in assembly of apical microvilli in parietal cells and in regulation of acid secretion. (Hanzel D et al E M B O Journal 10, 2362-2373, 1991)

PFP Acronym for cytotoxic pore forming peptide or proteins. Such peptides include: staphylococcal ~-toxin, alamethicin, magainius and cecropins. Proteins include: staphylococcal a-toxin, streptolysin O, cnidarian toxins, perforin and aerolysin. (Ojcius D M and Young J D-E TIBS 16, 225-229, 1991)

Sorbin A heat-stable basic protein of 153 amino acid residues isolated from porcine upper intestine which increases water and sodium absorption in vitro of guinea pig gall bladder. (Vague-Descroix M et al Eur J Biochem 201, 53-59, 1991)

Stathmin A ubiquitous, phylogenetically conserved cytoplasmic protein which occurs in a variety of unphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms. Its expression and phosphorylation are regulated throughout development and in response to extracellular signals which regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and functions. It may be a general relay protein in signal transduction, possibly integrating diverse signals from a cell's environment. (Sobel A TIBS 16, 301-305, 1991)

Systemin An endogenous polypeptide of 18 amino acid residues of tomato leaves which induces synthesis of two wound-inducible proteinase inhibitor proteins when supplied to young tomato plants. (Pearce G e t al Science 253, 895-898, 1991)

Telokin The carboxyl terminus of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase expressed as an independent protein. Its sequence deduced from eDNA predicts 155 residues. (Gailagher P J and Herring B P J Biol Chem 266, 23945-23952, 1991)

Tetratricopeptide repeat ( T P R ) A degenerate consensus sequence of 34 amino acids found in multiple copies in several fungal proteins and which participate in RNA synthesis regulation, protein import and Drosophila development. Each sequence has two regions which are stereochemically complementary in the c~-helical conformation and form a 'hole' and a 'knob' which are surrounded by hydrophobic residues. The sequences may act as associating domains. (Goebl M and Yanagida M TIBS 16, 173-177, 1991)

Tuftelin A novel acidic enamel protein of bovine teeth which contains 389 amino acids and has a composition similar to that of 'tuft' proteins. (Deutsch D et al J Biol Chem 266, 16021-16028, 1991)

Undulin A large glycoprotein of the interstitial extracellular matrix. Devoid of coilagenous sequences, it seems to be a member of the fibronectin-tenascin family of extracellular glycoproteins. (Just M et al J Biol Chem 266, 17326-17332, 1991)