NTR: activator

[cthoyt]

As an opposite to inhibitor (CHEBI:35222), I think it would be good to have a term for activator.

The definition for inhibitor is

A substance that diminishes the rate of a chemical reaction.

Therefore, a similar definition for activator could be

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

The parent term for activator should be effector (CHEBI:35224).

Some example terms that are activators:

CURIE	Label	Notes
CHEBI:77324	UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activator
CHEBI:91189	VEGF activator
CHEBI:71033	carbamylphosphate synthetase I
CHEBI:90374	histone acetyltransferase activator
CHEBI:73966	nitric oxide synthase activator
CHEBI:77731	p53 activator
CHEBI:76022	soluble guanylate cyclase activator
CHEBI:85053	EC 2.7.11.31 {[hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (NADPH)] kinase} activator
CHEBI:50912	cardiotoxic agent	Activates cardiotoxicity process, also arguable
CHEBI:50927	angiogenesis inducing agent	There could be a case made that an inducer isn't the same as an activator
CHEBI:68495	apoptosis inducer	see previous row comment
CHEBI:72571	pro-angiogenic agent	Activates angiogenesis

[amalik01]

A new term for activator (CHEBI:195251) has now been created.

[cthoyt]

Woohoo! Thanks @amalik01. Should we close this issue then?

[amalik01]

I have given activators the parent term 'biological role' instead of 'effector'.

Effectors are compounds which usually bind to the allosteric binding site of a protein so this may not hold true for all activators as some may even bind to the substrate binding site and still activate the enzyme.

[cthoyt]

I saw, maybe you can imagine a new term that can be a parent to both activator/inhibitor that gives some insight into them being generic "regulators"?

for example, a compound might be known to have an effect but not in what direction