A substance frequently derived from plants that stimulates mitosis and lymphocyte transformation; includes not only lectins such as phytohemagglutinins and concanavalin A, but also substances from streptococci (associated with streptolysin S) and from strains of α-toxin-producing staphylococci. SYN: transforming agent (1). [mitosis + G. -gen, producing]
- pokeweed m. (PWM) a m. (lectin) from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed) which stimulates chiefly B lymphocytes.
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mi·to·gen 'mīt-ə-jən n a substance that induces mitosis
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n.
any substance that can cause cells to begin division (mitosis).
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mi·to·gen (miґto-jən) a substance that induces blast transformation; DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis; and proliferation of lymphocytes, e.g., concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, or lipopolysaccharide.Medical dictionary. 2011.