Note: Autolysis occurs to tissues of higher animals when they are detached from the organism. [WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
autolysis — [ô täl′ə sis] n. [ AUTO + LYSIS] the destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes, as after death or in some diseases autolytic [ôt΄ə lit′ik] adj … English World dictionary
Autolysis — The enzymatic digestion of cells by enzymes present within them. The cells most susceptible to autolysis tend to be dying or dead cells. Pronounced aw tol´i sis. * * * 1. Enzymatic digestion of cells (especially dead or degenerate) by enzymes… … Medical dictionary
Autolysis (biology) — In biology autolysis may refer to the destruction of a cell through the action of its own enzymes. It may also refer to the digestion of an enzyme by another molecule of the same enzyme. The term derives from the Greek words αυτό ( self ) and… … Wikipedia
autolysis — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: 1902 breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self produced enzymes • autolytic adjective … New Collegiate Dictionary
autolysis — the breakdown of proteins, fats and other body components of fish after death caused by the action of enzymes. The rate depends on temperature … Dictionary of ichthyology
autolysis — n. [Gr. autos, self; lysis, loosen] The degradation of tissues after death of a cell by the contained autogenous enzymes. autolytic a; see heterolysis … Dictionary of invertebrate zoology
autolysis — Spontaneous lysis (rupture) of cells or organelles produced by the release of internal hydrolyic enzymes. Normally associated with the release of lysosomal enzymes … Dictionary of molecular biology
autolysis — autolytic /awt l it ik/, adj. /aw tol euh sis/, n. Biochem. the breakdown of plant or animal tissue by the action of enzymes contained in the tissue affected; self digestion. [1900 05; AUTO 1 + LYSIS] * * * … Universalium
autolysis — noun a) The destruction of an organisms cells by enzymes produced by the organism itself. b) The autodigestion of the tissues of an organism … Wiktionary
autolysis — n. breakdown of tissue as a result of digestive enzymes present in the tissue (symptom of malnutrition) … English contemporary dictionary
