This handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of the emerging field of glycomics, defined as the study of all complex carbohydrates in an organism or cell ("the glycome"). Beginning with analytic approaches and bioinformatics, this work provides a detailed discussion of relevant databases, data integration, and analysis. It then moves on to a discussion of specific model organism and pathogen glycomes followed by therapeutic approaches to human disorders of glycosylization. Structure and function of glycomes are included along with state-of-the-art technologies and systems approaches to the analysis of glycans.
* Synthesizes contributions from experts in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, and medicine
* Highlights chapters devoted to chemical synthesis, cancer glycomics and immune cell glycomics
* Includes discussions of proteomics, mass spectrometry, NMR, array technology, and transcriptomics analytic approaches

Structural genomics is the systematic determination of 3-dimensional structures of proteins representative of the range of protein structure and function found in nature. The goal is to build a body of structural information that will predict the structure and potential function for almost any protein from knowledge of its coding sequence. This is essential information for understanding the functioning of the human proteome, the ensemble of tens of thousands of proteins specified by the human genome.
While most structural biologists pursue structures of individual proteins or protein groups, specialists in structural genomics pursue structures of proteins on a genome wide scale. This implies large scale cloning, expression and purification. One main advantage of this approach is economy of scale.
Key Features
*Examines the three dimensional structure of all proteins of a given organism, by experimental methods such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy
* Looks at structural genomics as a foundation of drug discovery as discovering new medicines is becoming more challenging and the pharmaceutical industry is looking to new technologies to help in this mission

Increasing interest in mitochondrial bioenergetics is being driven by the impact of drug and environmental chemical-induced disturbances of mitochondrial function as well as hereditary deficiencies and the progressive deterioration of bioenergetic performance with age. These initiatives have fostered the investigation of genetic and environmental influences on bioenergetics. In Mitochondrial Bioenergetics: Methods and Protocols, researchers in the field detail the practical principles and assays designed to derive quantitative assessment of each set of parameters that reflect different aspects of mitochondrial bioenergetics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls Authoritative and practical, Mitochondrial Bioenergetics: Methods and Protocols helps elevate the quality and rate of investigative discoveries regarding disease states associated with environmental or genetic influences on mitochondrial bioenergetics.

The use of thermodynamics in biological research can be equated to an energy book-keeping system. While the structure and function of a molecule is important, it is equally important to know what drives the energy force. These methods look to answer: What are the sources of energy that drive the function? Which of the pathways are of biological significance? As the base of macromolecular structures continues to expand through powerful techniques of molecular biology, such as X-ray crystal data and spectroscopy methods, the importance of tested and reliable methods for answering these questions will continue to expand as well. This volume presents sophisticated methods for estimating the thermodynamic parameters of specific protein-protein, protein-DNA and small molecule interactions.

* Elucidates the relationships between structure and energetics and their applications to molecular design, aiding researchers in the design of medically important molecules * Provides a "must-have" methods volume that keeps MIE buyers and online subscribers up-to-date with the latest research * Offers step-by-step lab instructions, including necessary equipment, from a global research community

This book describes applications of acridines for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and various prion diseases, and discusses the potential of acridines in neuro-regenerative medicine. Using modern data-mining software, it presents structures of acridines with nucleic acids and proteins and compares them with the native structures. Furthermore, the book presents modern methods of acridine synthesis, comparing them with the most useful conventional methods. Acridines interact with both nucleic acids and proteins, and due to their direct interactions with various enzymes, they can be suitable for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, immunological disorders, and protozoal diseases. The characteristic spectral properties of acridines can be employed in labeling proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and even cells and their compartments. Moreover, they can be applied in photodynamic therapy.

This volume of "The Enzymes" features high-caliber thematic articles on the topic of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins.
* Contributions from leading authorities
* Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

The book presents a comprehensive, systematic and authoritative survey of information about a family of chemically related, but functionally diverse, naturally occurring polysaccharides--the (1-3)-glucans. International contributors describe the chemical and physicochemical properties of these glucans and their derivatives and the molecular biological and structural aspects of the enzymes involved in their formation and breakdown. A detailed analysis of their physiological roles in the various biological situations in which they are found will be provided. Additionally, evolutionary relationships among the family of these glucans will be described.
* Topics of medical relevance include detailing the glucans' interactions with the immune system and research for cancer therapy applications
* Web resource links allow scientists to explore additional beta glucan research
* Separate indexes divided into Species and Subject for enhanced searchability

Kinetic studies of enzyme action provide powerful insights into the underlying mechanisms of catalysis and regulation. These approaches are equally useful in examining the action of newly discovered enzymes and therapeutic agents.
Contemporary Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanism, Second Edition presents key articles from Volumes 63, 64, 87, 249, 308 and 354of Methods in Enzymology. The chapters describe the most essential and widely applied strategies. A set of exercises and problems is included to facilitate mastery of these topics.
The book will aid the reader to design, execute, and analyze kinetic experiments on enzymes. Its emphasis on enzyme inhibition will also make it attractive to pharmacologists and pharmaceutical chemists interested in rational drug design.
Of the seventeen chapters presented in this new edition, ten did not previously appear in the first edition.
Key Features
* Transient kinetic approaches to enzyme mechanisms
* Designing initial rate enzyme assay
* Deriving initial velocity and isotope exchange rate equations
* Plotting and statistical methods for analyzing rate data
* Cooperativity in enzyme function
* Reversible enzyme inhibitors as mechanistic probes
* Transition-state and multisubstrate inhibitors
* Affinity labeling to probe enzyme structure and function
* Mechanism-based enzyme inactivators
* Isotope exchange methods for elucidating enzymatic catalysis
* Kinetic isotope effects in enzyme catalysis
* Site-directed mutagenesis in studies of enzyme catalysis"

Exploring these type II trans-membrane proteins, The TNF Superfamily: Methods and Protocols focuses on various techniques to investigate aspects of the TNF Superfamily members in health and disease. Opening with protocols to understand the signaling process of TNF family members, this detailed volume continues with technical examples of investigating the role of TNF family members in physiopathologies, protocols on modulation of TNF signaling by pathogens, experimental applications of TNF-reporter mice, as well as methodologies for various assays of TNF family members and the production of recombinant molecules. Written for the Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and ready to use, The TNF Superfamily: Methods and Protocols will aid researchers investigating this key family of proteins, involved in vital processes such as providing signals for activation, differentiation, survival and death of cells, modulation of immune response and inflammation, hematopoiesis and osteoclastogenesis.

Microbial natural products have been an important traditional source of valuable antibiotics and other drugs but interest in them waned in the 1990s when big pharma decided that their discovery was no longer cost-effective and concentrated instead on synthetic chemistry as a source of novel compounds, often with disappointing results. Moreover understanding the biosynthesis of complex natural products was frustratingly difficult. With the development of molecular genetic methods to isolate and manipulate the complex microbial enzymes that make natural products, unexpected chemistry has been revealed and interest in the compounds has again flowered. This two-volume treatment of the subject will showcase the most important chemical classes of complex natural products: the peptides, made by the assembly of short chains of amino acid subunits, and the polyketides, assembled from the joining of small carboxylic acids such as acetate and malonate. In both classes, variation in sub-unit structure, number and chemical modification leads to an almost infinite variety of final structures, accounting for the huge importance of the compounds in nature and medicine.
* Gathers tried and tested methods and techniques from top players in the field.
* Provides an extremely useful reference for the experienced research scientist.
* Covers biosynthesis of Polyketides, Tarpenoids, Aminocoumarins and Crabohydrates

This edited volume concerns a group of devastating neurological disorders that share a common pathological mechanism, namely the aggregation and deposition of insoluble, proteinaceous lesions, termed 'amyloid'. Examples of cerebral amyloid disorders include common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease-related dementia and Parkinson's disease, as well as other less prevalent conditions like Huntington's disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and the transmissible prion disorders. A disease-modifying therapeutic agent is still lacking for all these diseases, and there are no approved therapies that target amyloid formation directly. Nevertheless, a large and complex group of natural aromatic compounds known as polyphenols are rapidly emerging as potentially potent anti-amyloidogenic agents. This book collectively presents a considerable body of experimental and epidemiological evidence from peer-reviewed scientific publications that support a role for natural compounds and herbal extracts in the chemoprevention and therapy of amyloidogenic disorders. Each contribution is written by scientific experts in the relevant field; chapters are devoted to Mediterranean diet and olive oil phenols, traditional Chinese medicine, herbal extracts, polyphenols (with a particular emphasis on epigallocatechin-3-gallate) and bi-flavonoids, amongst others. The topic of this book is relevant to a wide audience, from academia and university students in the biological and chemical sciences, to physicians and allied health professionals, as well as people working in the nutraceutical industry.

This book presents in an easy-to-read format a summary of the important central aspects of microbial glycobiology, i.e. the study of carbohydrates as related to the biology of microorganisms. Microbial glycobiology represents a multidisciplinary and emerging area with implications for a range of basic and applied research fields, as well as having industrial, medical and biotechnological implications.
Key Features and Benefits
* Individual chapters provided by leading international scientists in the field yield insightful, concise and stimulating reviews.
- Provides researchers with an overview and synthesis of the latest research
* Each chapter begins with a brief 200 word Summary/Abstractdetailing the topic and focus of the chapter, as well as the concepts to be addressed.
- Allows researchers to see at a glance what each chapter will cover
* Each chapter includes a Research Focus Box
- Identifies important problems that still need to be solved and areas that require further investigation"

This volume of Current Topics in Membranes focuses on Membrane Protein Crystallization, beginning with a review of past successes and general trends, then further discussing challenges of mebranes protein crystallization, cell free production of membrane proteins and novel lipids for membrane protein crystallization.
This publication also includes tools to enchance membrane protein crystallization, technique advancements, and crystallization strategies used for photosystem I and its complexes, establishing Membrane Protein Crystallization as a needed, practical reference for researchers.

"Molecular Biology of RGS Proteins," a volume of "Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science," will include historical discussion of RGS proteins, the role of RGS proteins in addiction, depression and Parkinson's disease and the biology and functional regulation of RGS9 isoforms. This publication further discusses RGS proteins in cellular signaling, protein control in lymphocyte function, and alternative splicing of RGS transcripts and nuclear RGS proteins, offering the latest in research of RGS proteins.

Interfacial electrochemistry of redox metalloproteins and DNA-based molecules is presently moving towards new levels of structural and functional resolution. This is the result of powerful interdisciplinary efforts. Underlying fundamentals of biological electron and proton transfer is increasingly well understood although with outstanding unresolved issues. Comprehensive bioelectrochemical studies have mapped the working environments for bioelectrochemical electron transfer, supported by the availability of mutant proteins and other powerful biotechnology. Introduction of surface spectroscopy, the scanning probe microscopies, and other solid state and surface physics methodology has finally offered exciting new fundamental and technological openings in interfacial bioelectrochemistry of both redox proteins and DNA-based molecules.Inorganic Bioelectrochemistry provides a thorough and didactic overview of state-of-the-art bioelectrochemistry with prospects for forthcoming development. The book is organized in eight chapters written by leading international experts and covers crucial relevant topics such as electron and proton transfer in metalloprotein systems, electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of redox enzymes, and electrochemistry of DNA-based molecules.

This thesis describes the first and long-sought successful synthesis of a new pyrazole-expanded porphyrin, a higher analog of porphyrin. This "Siamese-Twin Porphyrin" provides two conjoined porphyrin-like coordination spheres, thus being able to accommodate two metal ions within the same ligand. In her thesis, Lina Blusch not only explains the challenging synthesis and characterization of the ligand system, but also its application to the synthesis of homo- and hetero-bimetallic Ni and Cu complexes. She observes interesting metal-metal-interactions in the complexes, that lead to a non-innocent multistep redox chemistry. The ligand system and its complexes show an intriguing twisted geometry, giving rise to helical chirality and other fascinating properties. This study explores the first steps and opens up a new chemistry of expanded porphyrins with the potential to biomimetic applications.

The third edition of this long-serving successful reference work is a 'must-have' reference for anyone needing or desiring an understanding of the structure, chemistry, properties, production and uses of starches and their derivatives.

* Includes specific information on corn, wheat, potato, rice, and new chapters on rye, oat and barley (including waxy barley) starches

* Covers the isolation processes, properties, functionalities, and uses of the most commonly used starches.

* Explores the genetics, biochemistry, and physical structure of starches

* Presents current and emerging application trends for starch

In this book, the molecular recognition of DNA using small molecules is discussed, with a study of the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA. The purposes of the study were to develop small molecules for regenerative medicine, to develop a method to detect the recognition site of small molecules, and to detect the most important biological phenomena using the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA. The study began with the design and development of small molecules that can induce pluripotency genes. To deal with the important issue of cell permeability of the original compound, a new analogue of the original with improved gene expression was designed and synthesized. Using the photochemistry of BrU-labeled DNA, crucial biological phenomena such as cooperativity between transcription factors were detected. For the first time, the cooperativity was examined by excess electron transfer assay. DNA was also studied very carefully in order to understand the mechanism of the double-strand break in the UVA micro-irradiation technique. The mechanism of the double strand remained untouched. Nevertheless, the double-strand break mechanism was clearly demonstrated by Hoechst dye, as shown in this book.

Microbial natural products have been an important traditional source of valuable antibiotics and other drugs but interest in them waned in the 1990s when big pharma decided that their discovery was no longer cost-effective and concentrated instead on synthetic chemistry as a source of novel compounds, often with disappointing results. Moreover understanding the biosynthesis of complex natural products was frustratingly difficult. With the development of molecular genetic methods to isolate and manipulate the complex microbial enzymes that make natural products, unexpected chemistry has been revealed and interest in the compounds has again flowered. This two-volume treatment of the subject will showcase the most important chemical classes of complex natural products: the peptides, made by the assembly of short chains of amino acid subunits, and the polyketides, assembled from the joining of small carboxylic acids such as acetate and malonate. In both classes, variation in sub-unit structure, number and chemical modification leads to an almost infinite variety of final structures, accounting for the huge importance of the compounds in nature and medicine.
* Gathers tried and tested methods and techniques from top players in the field.
* In depth coverage of ribosomally-synthesised and Non-ribosomally-synthesised peptides.
* Provides an extremely useful reference for the experienced research scientist.

Nicola Salvi's thesis offers a remarkably cogent view of highly sophisticated NMR methods. Salvi developed these methods in order to characterize the amplitudes and frequency ranges of local motions in biomolecules such as proteins. These local motions play an essential role since they can explain many of the remarkable properties of proteins and enable them to carry out all sorts of vital functions, from enzymatic catalysis to intermolecular recognition and signalling in cells. Salvi's work has led to numerous publications in high-impact journals.

This volume highlights the role of proteostasis in human health and associated disease model systems, reflecting its rising importance which has led to the development of new technologies to obtain insight into underling protein mechanistic events. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Proteostasis: Methods and Protocols aims to become a reference book on proteostasis in human health.

Carbohydrate Chemistry provides review coverage of all publications relevant to the chemistry of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a given year.
The amount of research in this field appearing in the organic chemical literature is increasing because of the enhanced importance of the subject, especially in areas of medicinal chemistry and biology. In no part of the field is this more apparent than in the synthesis of oligosaccharides required by scientists working in glycobiology. Clycomedicinal chemistry and its reliance on carbohydrate synthesis is now very well established, for example, by the preparation of specific carbohydrate- based antigens, especially cancer-specific oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Coverage of topics such as nucleosides, amino-sugars, alditols and cyclitols also covers much research of relevance to biological and medicinal chemistry.
Each volume of the series brings together references to all published work in given areas of the subject and serves as a comprehensive database for the active research chemist.
Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

The field of protein NMR spectroscopy has rapidly expanded into new areas of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology research that were impossible to study as recently as ten years ago. This third edition of Protein NMR Techniques, expands upon the previous editions with current, detailed authoritative but down-to-earth descriptions of new methodologies. These include techniques for NMR sample preparation, solution and solid state NMR methodologies and data processing. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Protein NMR Techniques,Third Edition, seeks to aid scientists in understanding the latest innovations in the field of protein NMR.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.