PHORBOL DIESTERS Meaning and
Definition
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Phorbol diesters are a type of organic compounds that belong to the class of phorbol esters. These compounds are derived from the natural product phorbol, which itself is a diterpene obtained from the seeds of certain tropical plants, including the Croton and Jatropha species. Phorbol diesters possess a unique chemical structure, characterized by a tetracyclic diterpenoid core, substituted with ester groups at specific positions.
Phorbol diesters are well-known for their biological activity as potent tumor promoters. Their ability to induce cellular changes, such as cell division, differentiation, and growth, has made them valuable tools in various areas of research, including cancer biology and signal transduction studies. These compounds are often used as experimental models to study the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), a crucial signaling molecule involved in many cellular processes.
Phorbol diesters exert their effects by binding to and activating PKC enzymes, leading to the activation of downstream signaling pathways. This activation can result in various cellular responses, such as gene expression, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and secretion of certain molecules. However, it is important to note that phorbol diesters can have diverse biological effects and their specificity depends on the type of cells and the particular PKC isoforms present.
In summary, phorbol diesters are a class of organic compounds derived from phorbol and are known for their potent biological activity as tumor promoters. Their ability to bind and activate PKC enzymes makes them valuable tools in studying cellular processes and signal transduction pathways.
Common Misspellings for PHORBOL DIESTERS
- ohorbol diesters
- lhorbol diesters
- -horbol diesters
- 0horbol diesters
- pgorbol diesters
- pborbol diesters
- pnorbol diesters
- pjorbol diesters
- puorbol diesters
- pyorbol diesters
- phirbol diesters
- phkrbol diesters
- phlrbol diesters
- phprbol diesters
- ph0rbol diesters
- ph9rbol diesters
- phoebol diesters
- phodbol diesters
- phofbol diesters
- photbol diesters
Etymology of PHORBOL DIESTERS
The word "phorbol" is derived from "phorbol esters", which are a type of chemical compound. The term "phorbol" was coined in 1955 by the chemist Ulrich Förstermann and is derived from the Greek word "phorbe" meaning "feeding" or "fodder", due to its earlier use as a larvicide in agriculture. "Diesters" refers to the chemical structure of the compound, which consists of two ester groups. So, "phorbol diesters" describes a specific type of chemical compound with a phorbol backbone and two ester groups.
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