M
M Single letter code for methionine.
m119 See Mig.
Mab See monoclonal antibody.
MAC (1) Membrane attack complex. See complement
and C9. (2) In plants, the MAC complex probably
regulates defense responses through transcriptional
control and is essential for plant innate immunity. See
PRL #2.
Mac-1 The αMβ2 integrin of leucocytes (CR3, CD11b/
CD18). See LFA-1.
MacArdle’s disease See glycogen storage diseases.
MacConkey’s agar Agar-based selective medium
used for isolation of Gran-negative bacteria from
faeces, etc. The presence of crystal violet and bile
salts inhibit growth of Gram-positive bacteria.
Contains lactose and neutral red as an indicator so
that lactose fermenting bacteria producing an acidic
end-product will form red-pink colonies.
macedocin An anticlostridial bacteriocin lantibio-
tic (22aa) produced by Streptococcus macedonicus,
a natural cheese isolate. Inhibits a broad spectrum of
lactic acid bacteria, as well as several food spoilage
and pathogenic bacteria.
Mach-Zehnder system Interferometric system
of microscopy in which the original light beam is
divided by a semi-transparent mirror: object and ref-
erence beams pass through separate optical systems
and are recombined by a second semi-transparent
mirror. Interference fringes are displaced if the opti-
cal path difference for the reference beam is greater,
and this can be compensated with a wedge-shaped
auxiliary object. The position of the wedge allows
the phase-retardation of the object to be measured.
The Mach-Zehnder system was used in a microscope
designed by Leitz.
Machupo virus A member of the Arenaviridae
that may cause a severe haemorrhagic fever in
humans. The natural hosts are rodents and transmis-
sion from human to human is not common.
macro domain A conserved protein domain found
in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and some positive-
strand RNA viruses; may have various roles,
amongst them the binding of ADP-ribose. See
LRP16.
macrocytes Abnormally large red blood cells,
numerous in megaloblastic anaemia (pernicious
anaemia).
The Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384931-1.00013-1
r 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
microglia A general term for glial cells other than
microglia; oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.
macroglobulin Globulin such as IgM that has a
high molecular weight: 400 kDa in the case of IgM,
725 kDa in the case of alpha-2-macroglobulin.
macrolactin An antibacterial polyketide from a
Bacillus subtilis isolate that inhibits a number of
multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial patho-
gens. Abstract: http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/short/
50/5/1701
macrolide antibiotics Broad-spectrum bacterio-
static antibiotics active against most aerobic and
anaerobic Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative
anaerobes. Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by
blocking the 50S ribosomal subunit. Examples
are erythromycin, lincomycin, azithromycin, and
clindamycin.
macromolecule Non-specific and rather imprecise
term covering proteins, nucleic acids and polysac-
charides, but probably not phospholipids.
macronucleus The larger nucleus (or sometimes
nuclei) in ciliate protozoans. Derived from the
micronucleus by the formation of polytene chromo-
somes. The DNA in the macronucleus is actively
transcribed but the macronucleus degenerates before
conjugation.
macrophage Relatively long-lived phagocytic cell
of mammalian tissues, derived from blood mono-
cyte. Macrophages from different sites have dis-
tinctly different properties. Main types are peritoneal
and alveolar macrophages, tissue macrophages
(histiocytes), Kuppfer cells of the liver, and osteo-
clasts. In response to foreign materials may become
stimulated or activated. Macrophages play an impor-
tant role in killing of some bacteria, protozoa, and
tumour cells, release substances that stimulate other
cells of the immune system, and are involved in
antigen presentation. May further differentiate
within chronic inflammatory lesions to epithelioid
cells or may fuse to form foreign body giant cells
or Langhans’ giant cells. Classically activated (M1)
macrophages are proinflammatory and kill patho-
gens, and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages
produce anti-inflammatory factors.
macrophage activation syndrome A serious
disorder in which there is excessive activation of well-
differentiated macrophages. It is associated with Still’s
disease and may be autoimmune disease-associated
reactive haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.