Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A protein in killer cells and natural killer cells that causes lysis of target cells on contact.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry A cytolytic protein found in natural killer cells

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[perfor(ate) + –in.]

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Examples

  • To date, five mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in cytotoxicity of lymphocytes, namely perforin (causing FHL2), Munc13-4

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Claudia A. Nold-Petry et al. 2010

  • To date, five mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in cytotoxicity of lymphocytes, namely perforin (causing FHL2), Munc13-4

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles 2010

  • T-cells and killer cells release a molecule called perforin which creates small holes in the cell membrane.

    Scientific Blogging 2008

  • T-cells and killer cells release a molecule called perforin which creates small holes in the cell membrane.

    Scientific Blogging 2008

  • T-cells and killer cells release a molecule called perforin which creates small holes in the cell membrane.

    Scientific Blogging 2008

  • T-cells and killer cells release a molecule called perforin which creates small holes in the cell membrane.

    Scientific Blogging 2008

  • T-cells and killer cells release a molecule called perforin which creates small holes in the cell membrane.

    Later On 2008

  • Our previous studies suggest that several effector mechanisms, such as perforin, granzymes, or complements, may be involved in the killing of cancer cells.

    BioMed Central - Latest articles Anne Sanders 2010

  • Instead, these are members of a novel and very interesting gene family with perforin-like structure.

    The sea urchin genome - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • Twenty-eight gene models were identified that encode MAC- perforin domains, but none of these had the additional domains expected for terminal complement factors C6 through C9.

    The sea urchin genome - The Panda's Thumb 2006

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