IN VITRO

“generated” (e.g., from data available about compounds actually created in a laboratory in the past), and computer modeling is then utilized to:

1.Assess their impact on “generated” specific cells, tissues, etc. (from data available about that chemical-type of molecule’s impact on that type of cell/tissue when actually tested on it in a laboratory in the past).

2.Generate an analogous chemical compound, that is likely to be more efficacious or have fewer undesirable side effects.

3.Repeat the process.

For example, when screening compounds for potential usefulness as a pharmaceutical, the goal is to assess (modeled/predicted) differences between diseased (untreated) and treated cells; thus enabling prediction of (better) pharmaceutuical candidate compounds for eventual actual testing on real cells/tissues. Some of the more sophisticated in silico screening software can even model ADME properties for selected pharmaceutical candidate compounds. See also RATIONAL

DRUG DESIGN, IN SILICO BIOLOGY, RECEPTOR MAP-

PING, CELL, BIOCHIPS, HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREEN-

I N G (H T S ), C O M B I N A T O R I A L C H E M I S T R Y,

PHARMACOGENOMICS, PROTEOMICS, QUANTITA-

TIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP (QSAR),

ADME TESTS, TARGET (OF A THERAPEUTIC AGENT),

TARGET (OF A HERBICIDE OR INSECTICIDE).

In situ In the natural or original position (e.g., inside the body).

In vitro In an unnatural position (e.g., outside the body, in the test tube). In vitro is Latin for in glass. For example, the testing of a substance, or the experimentation in (using) a “dead” cell-free system. See also

SELECTION.

In vitro Selection A search process (e.g., for a new pharmaceutical) that first involves the construction of a large “pool” of polynucleotide sequences (at least some of which are likely to possess the desired pharmaceutical properties), synthesized by a totally random process. This is followed by repeated cycles of screening (for those sequences possessing

desired properties) and/or enriching, and amplification (of the screened/enriched sequences). Common amplification techniques include Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR), Selfsustained Sequence Replication (SSR), Q-beta Replicase Technique, and Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA). See also

IN VITRO , AMPLIFICATION, GENE AMPLIFICATION,

POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR), Q-BETA

REPLICASE TECHNIQUE, NUCLEOTIDE, DEOXYRIBO-

NUCLEIC ACID (DNA), SYNTHESIZING (OF DNA

MOLECULES), OLIGONUCLEOTIDE, DNA PROBE,

GENE MACHINE, COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY.

In vivo Latin for “in living”; e.g., the testing of a new pharmaceutical substance or exper-

imentation in (using) a living, whole organ- I ism. An in vivo test is one in which an experimental substance is injected into an

animal such as a rat in order to ascertain its effect on the organism. See also MODEL

ORGANISM.

In-vitro Evolution See IN VITRO SELECTION. In-vitro Selection See IN VITRO SELECTION.

Inclusion Bodies See REFRACTILE BODIES (RB).

IND “Investigational New Drug” application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to begin clinical studies of a new pharmaceutical. See also “TREATMENT”

IND, IND EXEMPTION, PHASE I CLINICAL TESTING,

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA).

IND Exemption A permit by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin clinical trials on humans (of a new pharmaceutical) after toxicity data have been reviewed and approved by the FDA. See also KEFAUVER

RULE, IND, PHASE I CLINICAL TESTING.

Indian Department of Biotechnology T h e governmental body in India that regulates all recombinant DNA research. It is the Indian counterpart of the American government’s Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC), the Australian government’s Gene Technology Regulator (GTR), and the French government’s Commission of Biomolecular Engineering. See also RECOMBINANT DNA ADVI-

SORY COMMITTEE (RAC), ZKBS (CENTRAL COMMIS-

S I O N O N B I O L O G I C A L S A F E T Y ), G E N E T I C

ENGINEERING, RECOMBINANT DNA (rDNA), RECOM-

BINATION, BIOTECHNOLOGY, GENE TECHNOLOGY

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APTAMERS,

IN SITU .

OFFICE, COMMISSION OF BIOMOLECULAR ENGI-

NEERING, GENE TECHNOLOGY REGULATOR (GTR).

Induced Fit A substrate-induced change in the shape of an enzyme molecule that causes the catalytically functional groups of the enzyme to assume positions that are optimal for catalytic activity to occur. See also

ENZYME.

Inducers Molecules that cause the production of larger amounts of the enzymes involved in the uptake and metabolism of the inducer (such as galactose). Inducers may be enzyme substrates. See also ENZYME, INDUCIBLE

ENZYMES, SUBSTRATE (CHEMICAL).

Inducible Enzymes Enzymes whose rate of production can be increased by the presence

Iof certain chemical molecules.

Industrial Biotechnology Association (IBA)

An American trade association of companies involved in biotechnology. Formed in 1981, the IBA tended to consist of the larger firms involved in biotechnology. In 1993, the Industrial Biotechnology Association (IBA) was merged with the Association of Biotechnology Companies (ABC) to form the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

See also ASSOCIATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES (ABC), BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGA-

NIZATION (BIO), BIOTECHNOLOGY.

Informational Molecules Molecules containing information in the form of specific sequences of different building blocks. They include proteins and nucleic acids. See also

HEREDITY, GENE, GENETIC CODE, GENOME, GEN-

OTYPE, NUCLEIC ACIDS, MESSENGER RNA (mRNA),

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA), RIBONUCLEIC

ACID (RNA).

Ingestion Taking a substance into the body. For example, the amoeba surrounds a food particle, then ingests the particle.

Inhibition The suppression of the biological function of an enzyme or system by chemical or physical means. See also

ENZYME, PROTEIN TYROSINE KINASE INHIBITOR.

Initiation Factors Specific proteins required to initiate synthesis of a polypeptide on ribo-

somes. See also RIBOSOMES, PROTEIN, POLYPEP-

TIDE (PROTEIN).

Inositol See PHYTATE.

Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP-6) See PHYTATE.

Insertional Knockout Systems S e e G E N E

SILENCING.

Insitu See the link. See also

Insulin A protein hormone normally secreted by the beta (β) cells of the pancreas (when stimulated by glucose, and the parasympathetic nervous system). Insulin and glucagon are the most important regulators of fuel (food) metabolism. In essence, insulin signals the “fed” state to the body’s cells, which stimulates the storage of energy (fuel) in the form of fat; and the synthesis of proteins (i.e., tissue building/repair) in a variety of ways.

The disease known as diabetes results from a body’s inability to produce insulin, or its insensitivity to the insulin that is produced. That inability/insensitivity, and thus the disease, can result from several different causes: Type I (also known as childhood or juvenile or early-onset) diabetes results when the body’s insulin-making tissue is destroyed by autoimmune disease. See also

the entry for INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

MELLITIS (IDDM) below. Type II diabetes results when the body’s insulin-utilizing tissues become insensitive to insulin.

The too-high sugar content in bloodstream that results from diabetes, causes creation of free radicals (high-energy oxygen atoms bearing an “extra” electron) which can damage the eyes, kidneys, and extremity arteries (sometimes necessitating limb amputation) in one haplotype (i.e., genetic subgroup) of people (i.e., those possessing the larger-size molecules of haptoglobin — a blood protein). Some research indicates that consumption of amylose (starch only) or inulin (fructose oligosaccharide) in human diet as the primary carbohydrate source, instead of glucose (or other sugars that the human body converts to glucose) can help the human body avoid Type II diabetes by avoiding gluconeogenesis.

In 1922, Canadian scientists Frederick Banting, Charles Best, J. J. R. MacLeod, and J. B. Collip succeeded in extracting insulin from the pancreas of slaughtered livestock (cows, pigs) in a form that could be injected into diabetes patients as a substitute for human insulin. The English biochemist Fred

© 2002 by CRC Press LLC

Sanger was first to determine the complete	Integrated Pest Management (IPM) A holis-
amino acid sequence of the insulin molecule.	tic (system) approach, initially developed as
In 1977, the American scientist Howard	a methodology by Ray Smith and Perry
Goodman, collaborating with William Rut-	Adkisson, that is utilized by some farmers
ter, announced the first cloning of insulin	to try to control agricultural pests (tobacco
genes. This led to human insulin production	budworm, European corn borer, soybean
by genetically engineered microorganisms	cyst nematode, weevils, etc.).
(approved by FDA in 1982). See also BETA	IPM also helps control plant diseases. For
CELLS, ISLETS OF LANGERHANS, HORMONE, PRO-	example, farmers can plant buckwheat near
TEIN, GLUCOSE (GLc), AMINO ACID, POLYPEPTIDE	their cornfields in order to help control Euro-
(PROTEIN), SEQUENCE (OF PROTEIN MOLECULE),	pean corn borer (ECB), a serious pest of corn
GENETIC ENGINEERING, GLUCAGON, INSULIN-	(maize) Zea mays L. plants. Green lacewing
DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITIS (IDDM), G-PRO-	beetles (Chrysoperla carnea), which prey on
TEINS, CARBOHYDRATES, PANCREAS, AUTOIM-	European corn borers, are attracted by the
M U N E D I S E A S E , I N U L I N , F R E E R A D I C A L ,	buckwheat and consume ECB in the corn
HAPLOTYPE, OXIDATIVE STRESS, HAPTOGLOBIN,	while they live in the buckwheat areas.
TYPE I DIABETES, TYPE II DIABETES.	Because European corn borer is a vector	I
Insulin - dependent Diabetes Mellitis	(carrier) of disease and/or mycotoxin-pro-
(IDDM) An autoimmune disease in which	ducing microorganisms such as the fungi
the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas	Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus,
(i.e., beta cells, also known as Islets of	and Fusarium spp., this lacewing beetle
Langerhans) are attacked and destroyed by	(IPM) control of ECB also helps reduce
the cytotoxic T cells of the body’s immune	those plant diseases and mycotoxins. Often
system. See also AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, INSU-	utilized in conjunction with no-tillage crop
LIN, ISLETS OF LANGERHANS, BETA CELLS, CYTO-	production. See also WEEVILS, HELIOTHIS VIRE-
TOXIC T CELLS, HAPTOGLOBIN, DIABETES, TYPE I	SCENS (H. VIRESCENS), EUROPEAN CORN BORER
DIABETES.	(ECB), FUNGUS, MYCOTOXINS, AFLATOXIN, LOW-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) A pro-	TILLAGE CROP PRODUCTION, NO-TILLAGE CROP
tein hormone produced by the body’s bone	PRODUCTION, SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODES (SCN),
cells (when those bone cells have been stim-	CORN, SOYBEAN PLANT, BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS
ulated by parathyroid hormone and/or estro-	(B.t.).
gen), that is a promoter of bone formation	Integrins A class of proteins found on the sur-
and follicle development (in ovaries).	face (membranes) of cells, and that function
Another function of IGF-1 is to facilitate the	as cellular adhesion receptors. For example,
transport of amino acids into cells, and fur-	integrin avb3 is a receptor on the surface of
ther inhibit protein breakdown in cells. If the	endothelial cells in tumors. It binds angio-
body is injured, IGF-1 works with platelet-	genic endothelial cells, enabling them to
derived growth factor (PDGF) to stimulate	form new blood vessels. See also ADHESION
fibroblast and collagen cell division/metab-	MOLECULES, PROTEIN, GLYCOPROTEINS, CELL,
olism to cause healing of wounds and bones.	RECEPTORS, LECTINS, SELECTINS, SIGNAL TRANS-
IGF-1 also occurs naturally in cow’s milk.	DUCTION, ANGIOGENESIS, TUMOR, ENDOTHELIAL
See also FIBROBLASTS, AMINO ACID, COLLAGEN,	CELLS, PLASMA MEMBRANE.
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS, DIGESTION (WITHIN	Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM)
ORGANISMS), METABOLISM, PROTEIN, MESSENGER	See ADHESION MOLECULE.
RNA (mRNA), UBIQUITIN.	Interferons A family of small (cytokines) pro-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 (IGF-2) See	teins (produced by vertebrate cells following
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 (IGF-1).	a virus infection) possessing potent antiviral
Integrated Crop Management See INTEGRATED	effects. Secreted interferons bind to the
PEST MANAGEMENT.	plasma membrane of other cells in the organ-
Integrated Disease Management See I N T E -	ism and induce an antiviral state in them
GRATED PEST MANAGEMENT.	(conferring resistance to a broad spectrum

© 2002 by CRC Press LLC

of viruses). Three classes of interferons have been isolated and purified, so far: α-inter- feron (originally called leukocyte interferon); β-interferon (beta interferon or fibroblast interferon); and γ-interferon (gamma interferon or immune interferon, a lymphokine).

These proteins have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), which has enabled large quantities to be produced for evaluation of the interferons as possible antiviral and anticancer agents. To date, interferons have been used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma, hairy cell leukemia, venereal warts, multiple sclerosis, and hepatitis.

See also ALPHA INTERFERON, BETA INTERFERON,

ICYTOKINES, PROTEIN, LYMPHOKINES, ESCHERICHIA COLIFORM (E. COLI).

Interim Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (IOGTR) The regulatory body of Australia’s government that was responsible for approvals of new rDNA products (e.g., new genetically engineered crops) before they could be introduced in Australia, during 1999–2001. IOGTR replaced/superceded Australia’s Gene Technology Office (in this role) in 1999, and was itself scheduled to be replaced by the Gene Technology Regulator (GTR) in 2001. See also GENE TECHNOLOGY

REGULATOR (GTR), GENE TECHNOLOGY OFFICE,

GENETIC MANIPULATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(GMAC), rDNA, DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA),

GENETIC ENGINEERING, RECOMBINANT DNA ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC), COMMISSION OF BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING, INDIAN DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) A cytokine (glycoprotein) released by activated macrophages, during the inflammatory stage of immune system response to an infection, which promotes the growth of epithelial (skin) cells and white blood cells. Recent research has indicated that too much IL-1 is linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases. See also MACROPHAGE,

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, ADHESION MOLECULE,

TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR (TNF), CYTOKINES,

GLYCOPROTEIN, WHITE BLOOD CELLS, ISLETS OF

LANGERHANS, EPITHELIUM, INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEP-

TOR ANTAGONIST (IL-1ra).

Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1ra)

A glycoprotein (produced by macrophages in response to presence of Interleukin-1, and endotoxin in tissues) that preferentially binds to those cell receptors in the body that typically bind the lymphokine, Interleukin-1 (IL-1). When manufactured by man (via genetic engineering) and injected into the body in large quantities, IL-1ra can block the deleterious effects of (too much) Inter- leukin-1. See also INTERLEUKIN-1 (IL- 1),

RECEPTORS, RECEPTOR FITTING, GLYCOPROTEIN,

MACROPHAGE, ENDOTOXIN, ADHESION MOLE-

CULE, CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSE, PROTEIN,

LYMPHOKINES, ANTAGONISTS.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) Known as T cell growth factor. A cytokine (glycoprotein) secreted by (immune system response) stimulated helper T cells which promotes the proliferation/differentiation of more helper T cells, and promotes the growth of lymphocytes to combat an infection. Interleukin-2 also stimulates the lymphocytes to produce gamma interferon. It is gamma interferon that prompts the cytotoxic T cells to attack virus-infected cells and kill the virus within them. The structure of the gene that codes for synthesis of IL-2 (by immune system cells) was determined by Tadatsugu Taniguchi in 1983. See

also IMMUNE RESPONSE, HUMORAL IMMUNITY,

CYTOKINES GLYCOPROTEIN, CYTOTOXIC T CELLS,

T CELLS, HELPER T CELLS, T CELL RECEPTORS,

INTERFERONS.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) A hematologic growth factor (glycoprotein) cytokine that stimulates the proliferation of a wide range of white blood cells (to combat an infection).

See also HEMATOLOGIC GROWTH FACTORS (HGF),

CYTOKINES, WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) A cytokine (glycoprotein) that stimulates production of antibodyproducing B cells, Immunoglobulin-E (IgE), and promotes cytotoxic T cell (i.e., killer T cells) growth. See also ANTIBODY, CYTOTOXIC

T CELLS, B CELLS, GLYCOPROTEIN, CYTOKINES.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) A cytokine (glycoprotein) that stimulates eosinophil growth. See

also EOSINOPHILS, PROTEIN, GLYCOPROTEIN,

CYTOKINES, CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSE.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) A cytokine (glycoprotein) that is pleiotropic (i.e., stimulates

© 2002 by CRC Press LLC