kallikrein

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κᾰλλίκρεᾰς (kallíkreas, “sweetbread, pancreas”) +‎ -in, from κᾰλλί- (kallí-, “beautiful”) +‎ κρέᾰς (kréas, “flesh, meat”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌkæl.əˈkɹiː.ɪn/, /kəˈlɪk.ɹi.ɪn/

Noun

kallikrein (countable and uncountable, plural kallikreins)

1. (biochemistry) A hypotensive protease that liberates kinins from blood plasma proteins and is used therapeutically for vasodilation.

   Synonyms: kallidinogenase, kininogenin

Derived terms

• prekallikrein

 

Related terms

• anophensin
• ecallantide
• haemaphysalin
• kinin

 

Translations

a protease

• Italian: callicreina (it)
• Spanish: calicreína

References

• “kallikrein”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.