termination factor


re·leas·ing fac·tors (RF),

1. any substance, usually of hypothalamic origin, capable of accelerating the rate of secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland; 2. factors required in the termination phase of either RNA biosynthesis or protein biosynthesis. Synonym(s): termination factor3. colloquial shortened form for the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors used as antihyperlipidemic agents, whose generic names end with the suffix statin. Synonym(s): statins Synonym(s): liberins, releasing hormone

termination factor

one of a group of special proteins that mediates termination of protein synthesis by recognizing a TERMINATION CODON in mRNA and bringing about the release of the ribosomal subunits. Also called release factor (RF). see TRANSLATION.