Lability

Lability

Lability refers to something that is constantly undergoing change or something that is likely to undergo change. Biochemically this is an important concept as far as kinetics is concerned in metalloproteins. This can allow for the rapid synthesis and degradation of substrates in biological systems. Biologically, labile cells refers to cells that constantly divide by entering and remaining in the cell cycle. An important example of this is in the epithelium of the cornea, where cells divide at the basal level and move upwards and the top most cells die and fall off. In medicine, the term "labile" means susceptible to alteration or destruction. For example, a heat-labile protein is one that can be changed or destroyed at high temperatures. The opposite of labile in this context is "stable."


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  • Lability — La*bil i*ty, n. 1. Liability to lapse, err, or apostatize. [Archaic] Coleridge. [1913 Webster] 2. The property of changing readily. [PJC] 3. (Chem.) The property of being labile[3]; of chemical compounds; as, the lability of some natural products …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lability — labilumas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Greitas kitimas keičiantis sąlygoms. atitikmenys: angl. lability rus. лабильность; неустойчивость …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • lability — labilumas statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. lability vok. Labilität, f rus. лабильность, f pranc. labilité, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • lability — ləˈbiləd.ē noun ( es) : the quality or state of being labile believe that a fall in population level … might enhance evolutionary lability N.E.Collias & C.H.Southwick * * * labilˈity noun • • • Main Entry: ↑labile …   Useful english dictionary

  • lability — noun see labile …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lability — See labile. * * * …   Universalium

  • lability — noun a) The state of being labile b) A susceptibility to change; instability …   Wiktionary

  • lability — The state of being labile. * * * la·bil·i·ty (lə bilґə te) 1. the quality of being labile. 2. in psychiatry, emotional instability; rapidly changing emotions …   Medical dictionary

  • lability — n. tendency to change, instability; ability to change states (Chemistry) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • lability — la·bil·i·ty …   English syllables

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