lytic
Causing cellular breakdown
Lytic describes something that causes or relates to lysis—the breaking down or destruction of cells.
In biology and medicine, lytic agents rupture cell membranes: lytic enzymes, a lytic virus.
The bacteriophage's lytic cycle destroys the host cell upon releasing new viral particles.
In medical contexts, lytic lesions are areas where bone has been destroyed, often by cancer.
Thin tissue sheet
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- osmoticConcerning membrane diffusion
- necrosisLocalized cell death
apoptosis · cell · death · disintegration · leakage · swelling · complement · pore
Protein-cleaving enzyme
- lipaseFat-dissolving enzyme
- nucleaseDNA-cleaving enzyme
- hydrolaseEnzyme cleaving via water
- autolysisCell's enzymatic self-destruction
proteolysis · hemolysis · cytolysis · glycolysis · lipolysis · catalysis · substrate · cleavage
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- osmoticConcerning membrane diffusion
necrosis · apoptosis · cell · death · disintegration · leakage · swelling · complement · pore · destruction
protease
Protein-cleaving enzyme
autolysis · proteolysis · hemolysis · cytolysis · glycolysis · lipolysis · catalysis · substrate · cleavage · degradation
bacteriophage
Virus infecting bacterial cells
burst · host · infection · replication · cycle · tail · transduction · temperate · lambda · T4
phage
Bacteria-infecting virus
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- bacteriophageVirus infecting bacterial cells
- treatmentCare for an ailment
antiviral · immunotherapy · tumor · targeting · cancer · clinical · remission · efficacy · cytotoxic · selective
lyticlatent
Present but inactive
dormant · temperate · integrated · quiescent · persistent
lyticintact
Not damaged or altered
constructive · preservative · synthetic · anabolic · stable