The antitryptic index measures the ability of serum to inhibit the enzyme trypsin, which is involved in the digestion of proteins. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription: /ænˌtaɪˈtrɪptɪk ˈɪndeks/. The first syllable has the short "a" sound, followed by the "n" and "t" sounds. The second syllable features the diphthong "ai" and the "t" and "r" sounds. The final syllable has the short "i" sound and the "n," "d," "e," "k," and "s" sounds.
The antitryptic index refers to a numerical value that measures the inhibitory capacity of a substance or agent towards the enzyme trypsin. Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins by cleaving peptide bonds. The antitryptic index evaluates the effectiveness of a compound in preventing or inhibiting the activity of trypsin.
A higher antitryptic index indicates a greater ability of the substance to inhibit trypsin, while a lower value reflects a less potent or weak inhibitory effect. This index is commonly used in the field of biochemistry and enzymology to determine the inhibitory potential of compounds on trypsin activity.
The antitryptic index can be determined through various methodologies, such as spectrophotometric measurements of enzymatic activity. By comparing the activity of trypsin in the presence and absence of a substance, the inhibitory effect can be quantified, and the antitryptic index can be calculated.
This index is particularly relevant in the context of studying specific compounds or substances that may have therapeutic or pharmaceutical applications. It assists researchers in evaluating the potential of these substances to interfere with trypsin activity, which can have implications in various biological processes and diseases. Ultimately, the antitryptic index provides valuable insights into the inhibitory power of a substance against trypsin, facilitating the understanding of its potential role in physiological or pathological conditions.
• The relative retardation in loss of viscosity of a solution of casein incubated with trypsin to which a drop of abnormal blood-serum (as from a cancerous patient) has been added compared with that in a similar solution to which normal serum has been added; if the former drips through the tube of the viscosimeter in 100 seconds, and the latter in 104 seconds, the antitryptic index is 4.
• See antitryptic.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "antitryptic index" is a scientific term used to measure the activity of antitryptic substances in the body, specifically related to the inhibition of the enzyme trypsin. The word can be broken down into two parts: "anti-" meaning against, and "trypsin" referring to the enzyme trypsin.
The word "anti-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "anti", meaning "against" or "opposed to". It is commonly used in English to convey opposition or reversal, such as "antibiotic" (against bacteria) or "anti-inflammatory" (against inflammation).
The word "trypsin" comes from the Greek word "trypsein", which means "to wear down" or "to rub away". Trypsin is an enzyme found in the digestive system that breaks down proteins, specifically cleaving peptide bonds between certain amino acids.