statolon
/ˈstatəlɒn/(also statalon) Physiology
noun
A substance obtained from filtrates of cultures of the mould Penicillium stoloniferum which stimulates the production of interferon in experimental animals and in cultured cells.
- The active principle of statolon was originally believed to be a complex polysaccharide, but was later identified as double-stranded RNA, probably originating from a mycovirus..
Origin
1960s. Probably a blend of -static and scientific Latin stoloniferum.