Leading authorities examine the possible role of brain lipids in the development of conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's disease and personality disorders and violence. A better understanding of the underlying causes of these debilitating medical disorders is of utmost importance and may contribute towards a means of prevention, amelioration and cure. The book is intended to stimulate further interest and lead to increased research in this important development area.

The liver is responsible for a wide range of critical functions essential to life, and is composed of several different cell types. In Liver Proteomics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods that are used to study the live. These methods include the most up-to-date strategies being used to characterize the liver proteome at the global, cellular, subcellular, post translational and functional level.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, Liver Proteomics: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further study of this crucially important organ.

In an ever-increasing domain of activity Amino Acids Peptides and Proteins provides an annual compilation of the world's research effort into this important area of biological chemistry. Volume 32 provides a review of literature published during 1999. Comprising a comprehensive review of significant developments at this biology/chemistry interface each volume opens with an overview of amino acids and their applications. Work on peptides is reviewed over several chapters ranging from current trends in their synthesis and conformational and structural analysis to peptidomimetics and the discovery of peptide-related molecules in nature. The application of advanced techniques in structural elucidation is incorporated into all chapters whilst periodic chapters on metal complexes of amino acids peptides and beta-lactams extend the scope of coverage. Efficient searching of specialist topics is facilitated by the sub-division of chapters into discrete subject areas allowing annual trends to be monitored. All researchers in the pharmaceutical and allied industries and at the biology/chemistry interface in academia will find this an indispensable reference source.

This volume examines a number of different proteases, a type of enzyme, that are required in order for the change to a biologically active mature protein to occur. The discussion of these various proteases is rarely undertaken in one volume and will serve as a great resource for scientists studying the group of proteases on signal peptide processing as well as those working on propeptide processing. These areas of research do not normally overlap, and yet they are each of common importance to the same cell processes.

Fatty acids play an important role in the barrier function of skin and represent a major source of proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and other lipids in inflammatory skin disorders. This book combines the two major functions of fatty acids in skin biology. In the first part the biosynthesis of fatty acids in skin with its role in barrier function as well as the role of dietary fatty acids on skin cell function and in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases is presented. The second part deals with skin as a source of proinflammatory eicosanoids, especially with the keratinocyte as a major cellular source. Metabolism of eicosanoids in skin, its role in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis as well as pharmacological inhibition of eicosanoid biosynthesis is reviewed. The book finishes with a chapter describing the methods used for quantification of fatty acids and derivatives in skin inflammation. Anyone interested in skin physiology would benefit from the overviews about the two sites of fatty acids' function in skin integrity and in skin inflammation.

This publication summarizes the current status of our understanding of RNA, with particular emphasis on the chemistry of this key biological molecule. The various RNAs covered are messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA and RNA enzymes (ribozymes). The different chapters detail biophysical and chemical methods to investigate RNA structure and function, the synthesis of native and modified RNAs and the latest advances in our understanding of the vast array of biological processes in which RNA is involved.

This volume and its companion, Volume 337, supplement Volume 310, . These volumes provide a contemporary sourcebook for virtually any kind of experimental approach involving biofilms. They cover bioengineering, molecular, genetic, microscopic, chemical, and physical methods.

A cofactor is a component part of many enzymes and functions by uniting with another molecule in order to become active.
The use of cofactors to supplement the native amino acids of a protein is essential to maintain the chemical capabilities necessary for organisms to survive. This volume focuses on the significant advances of the past decade in identifying and describing new cofactors--either small molecules or those derived posttranslationally.

This volume, new to The Receptors series, focuses on several areas, including the birth, maturation, and structure of Chemokines; Neutrophil, Dendritic, and Lymphocyte trafficking; and Chemokine Receptors in diseases such as AIDs and lung cancer. In particular the book contains cutting-edge information ranging from basic molecular and cellular mechanisms to physiological and pathological roles of chemokines.

Man's use of enzymes dates back to the earliest times of civilization. Important human activities such as the production of certain types of foods and beverages, and the tanning of hides and skins to produce leather for garments, serendipitously took advantage of enzymes. Important advances in our understanding of the nature of enzymes and their action were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seeding the explosive expansion from the 1950s and 60s onward to the present billion dollar enzyme industry. Recent developments in the fields of genetic engineering and protein chemistry are bringing ever more powerful means of analysis to bear on the study of enzyme structure and function that will undoubtedly lead to the rational modification of enzymes to match specific requirements and also the design of new enzymes with novel properties.

Highly experienced researchers describe in step-by-step detail methods that have proven most useful in delivering genes to mammalian cells. Volume 1: Nonviral Gene Transfer Techniques focuses on gene delivery by a variety of chemical and physical methods, including ultrasound, biolistics, peptides, PNA clamps, liposomes, microinjection, electroporation, particle bombardment, dendrimers, and hydrodynamics. An accompanying volume, Volume 2: Viral Gene Transfer Techniques, details procedures for delivering genes to cells in vitro and in vivo, including the use of lentiviral vectors.

Leading practitioners detail revolutionary new spectrometric techniques for the identification and covalent structural characterization of macromolecules, proteins, glycoconjugates, and nucleic acids. Based on the Fourth International Symposium on Mass Spectrometry in the Health and Life Sciences held in San Francisco in 1998, this invaluable book contains tested strategies for solving many significant biomedical research problems. The techniques use mass spectrometry, automated computer processing of spectral information, and gene, protein, and EST databases for genomic and proteomic correlations. Mass Spectrometry in Biology and Medicine offers a unique opportunity to explore and apply these new techniques of mass spectrometry that are revolutionizing the identification and structural characterization of proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.

This volume describes chemical approaches to assess ion channel structure, function and pharmacology. Topics discussed include the use of engineered ionizable side chains to obtain information on permeation pathways and the local environment; the modification of engineered cysteine side chains, including cysteine scanning mutagenesis and the attachment of fluorescent probes and bio-reactive tethers; and the nascent use of genetic code expansion, evaluating its applications to ion channel and membrane proteins. This comprehensive text provides multifaceted perspectives on the great diversity of state-of-the-art methods which take advantage of the ever-expanding chemical toolbox to study ion channel biology. Capturing the contributions and innovations of renowned laboratory researchers in transmembrane protein study for the first time, this book is comprehensive in scope. It covers a wide array of experimental approaches: photochemistry, novel biological tools, and innovative spectroscopy, all combined with traditional techniques of electrophysiology and molecular biology. Novel Chemical Tools to Study Ion Channel Biology, part of the bestselling Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology series is ideal for researchers and advanced students interested in biochemistry, biophysics, fluorometry, electrophysiology, and chemical biology. .

This volume and its companion, Volume 339, supplement Volumes 176, 177, 239, and 261. Chapters are written with a "hands-on" perspective. That is, practical applications with critical evaluations of methodologies and experimental considerations needed to design, execute, and interpret NMR experiments pertinent to biological molecules.

The last fifteen years have witnessed the birth and maturation of many original methods and the development of protocols specific to single molecule measurements and their analysis, including techniques involving optical imaging, electron microscopy, optical and magnetic trapping, and developments in atomic force microscopy. In "Single Molecule Enzymology: Methods and Protocols," experts in the field provide procedures which enable the extraction of detailed information about enzyme work cycles, their static and kinetic properties, and information about their location and activity within cells. The detailed volume offers practical advice on many aspects of single molecule enzymology and includes strategic overviews of interconnected methods involved in sample preparation, single molecule measurements, and data analysis. Written in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology " series format, chapters contain 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 up-to-date, "Single Molecule Enzymology: Methods and Protocols" is intended for use within the diverse community of molecular biologists, biochemists, and biophysicists studying enzymes in detail and can be used by researchers planning their first single molecule study or to aid more experienced researchers in further developing their existing studies."

The subject of this volume is a comprehensive examination of the biochemistry and biology of all classes of known PAS proteins, with the intention that readers will find insight into their own work and ideas from study of the multitude of PAS protein functions. PAS proteins control numerous physiological and developmental events, and span phylogeny from bacteria to man. Bacterial and plant PAS proteins act as sensors of environmental stimuli, including light, oxygen, and energy status.

Not surprising, given these roles, there is intense investigation of the roles of bHLH-PAS proteins in issues of human health including: (1) cancer induction, (2) cancer growth and vascularity, (3) birth defects, including Down syndrome, (4) appetite control and obesity, (5) sleep rhythm disorders, and (6) mental health disorders such as social interactions and learning.

PAS proteins encompass many fields of biology, and scientists who work in these fields (circadian rhythms, oxygen regulation, toxin metabolism, bacterial sensors, and development) are an audience, particularly those who actively work on PAS proteins and researchers interested in transcriptional control, signal transduction, and evolution.

The papers in this volume are from the workshop on Protein Flexibility and Folding held in Traverse City, Michigan from August 13 - 17, 2000. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together diverse people interested in protein folding and flexibility from theoretical, computational and experimental perspectives and to encourage discussion on new approaches and challenges in the field. The workshop was held in the Park Plaza Hotel with 43 participants, including 24 invited speakers. The small size of the group made for easy exchanges, and many of the presentations by the invited speakers appear in this volume. There was also a very lively poster session.
The three-day workshop was organized so that the first day covered Flexibility and Dynamics, the second day Folding and Unfolding, and the third day Evolution and Design. This area of science is particularly appealing as it spans a range of questions from very fundamental - as to how proteins fold in such short times with such reliability - to applications such as the role of flexibility in screening for new ligands to a protein. Protein flexibility and folding have attracted the attention of scientists from many disciplines, ranging from mathematics to molecular biology. The scientists at the workshop represented the breadth of challenges in theory and applications that keep this field so fascinating and dynamic.
The present volume is organized along these same lines.

Stepping ahead of the general front, Volume 41 in the series "Advances in Enzyme Regulation" moves the studies of mammalian enzymic and metabolic regulation forward.

This volume was dedicated on the centenary of his birth to Sir Hans A. Krebs who gave the Special Symposium lectures for 15 years. George Weber spoke on the joint work he carried out in Oxford with Krebs and his associates, entitled "Cancer and Clinical Targeting."

Much of the Symposium centered on novel aspects of signal transduction, including Inositol Signaling and on phosphatidylinositol 3'kinase and kinase B. The Special Symposium Lecture was given on Inositol Lipid Signaling in the Nucleus.
The location and regulation of protein kinases were discussed.
Clinical aspects of enzyme regulation were presented featuring studies on dihydrophyrimidine dehydrogenase, development, citrullinemia and human melanoma heparanase.
Drug targeting and resistance were reviewed featuring etoposide and tumor vasculature. Regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and abrogration of cytokine-dependency were analyzed. Challenging results on mRNA stability and apoptosis were presented covering cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, lysosomal cathepsins, human breast tumors and actin reorganization. The contents listed below provide a complete overview of topics and speakers.

Regulated turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of tissue homeostasis. In recent years, the enzymes that participate in, and control ECM turnover have been the focus of research that touches on development, tissue remodeling, inflammation and disease. This volume in the Biology of Extracellular Matrix series provides a review of the known classes of proteases that degrade ECM both outside and inside the cell. The specific EMC proteases that are discussed include cathepsins, bacterial collagenases, matrix metalloproteinases, meprins, serine proteases, and elastases. The volume also discusses the domains responsible for specific biochemical characteristics of the proteases and the physical interactions that occur when the protease interacts with substrate. The topics covered in this volume provide an important context for understanding the role that matrix-degrading proteases play in normal tissue remodeling and in diseases such as cancer and lung disease. The series Biology of Extracellular Matrix is published in collaboration with the American Society for Matrix Biology.

Directed evolution comprises two distinct steps that are typically applied in an iterative fashion: (1) generating molecular diversity and (2) finding among the ensemble of mutant sequences those proteins that perform the desired fu- tion according to the specified criteria. In many ways, the second step is the most challenging. No matter how cleverly designed or diverse the starting library, without an effective screening strategy the ability to isolate useful clones is severely diminished. The best screens are (1) high throughput, to increase the likelihood that useful clones will be found; (2) sufficiently sen- tive (i. e. , good signal to noise) to allow the isolation of lower activity clones early in evolution; (3) sufficiently reproducible to allow one to find small improvements; (4) robust, which means that the signal afforded by active clones is not dependent on difficult-to-control environmental variables; and, most importantly, (5) sensitive to the desired function. Regarding this last point, almost anyone who has attempted a directed evolution experiment has learned firsthand the truth of the dictum "you get what you screen for. " The protocols in Directed Enzyme Evolution describe a series of detailed p- cedures of proven utility for directed evolution purposes. The volume begins with several selection strategies for enzyme evolution and continues with assay methods that can be used to screen enzyme libraries. Genetic selections offer the advantage that functional proteins can be isolated from very large libraries s- ply by growing a population of cells under selective conditions.

This book will provide latest insights in the functional potentials of ribonucleic acids in medine and the use of Spiegelmer and Spiegelzyme systems. It will also deal with a new type of delivery systems for cellular targeting.

This volume emphasizes the involvement of all facets of biology in the analysis of environmentally controlled movement responses. This includes biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology and as an integral part of any approach to a closer understanding, physiology. The initial euphoria about molecular biology as the final solution for any problem has dwindled and the field agrees now that only the combined efforts of all facets of biology will at some day answer the question posed more than hundred years ago: "How can plants see?." One conclusion can be drawn from the current knowledge as summarized in this volume. The answer will most likely not be the same for all systems.

Blurb for Volume 2
Hans Vogel and a panel of leading researchers review the protein chemistry and behavior of this significant class proteins, and provide a comprehensive collection of proven experimental techniques for studying it both in vitro and in vivo. This second volume focuses on cutting-edge experimental techniques for studying the solution structure, stability, dynamics, calcium-binding properties, and biological activity of calcium-binding protein in general. In addition to enzymatic assays and more routine spectroscopic and protein chemistry techniques, there are also NMR approaches, thermodynamic analyses, kinetic measurements such as surface plasmon resonance, strategies for amino acid sequence alignments, and fluorescence methods to study the distribution of calcium and calcium-binding proteins in cells. The first companion volume, Reviews and Case Histories sets the stage for this volume by introducing the various classes of intra- and extra-cellular calcium-binding proteins and their mode of action.
Single Blurb for Both Volumes
Hans Vogel and a panel of leading researchers review the protein chemistry and behavior of this significant protein class, and provide a comprehensive collection of proven experimental techniques for their study both in vitro and in vivo. The first volume discusses the role of calcium in intracellular secondary messenger activation mechanisms, including unique aspects of calcium chemistry and its utilization in dairy proteins and blood clotting. Detailed case studies provide a wealth of valuable information about protein purification and characterization strategies, X-ray crystallography, and specific calcium-binding proteins andtheir modes of action. The second volume focuses on cutting-edge experimental techniques for studying the solution structure, stability, dynamics, calcium-binding properties, and biological activity of calcium-binding protein in general. In addition to enzymatic assays and more routine spectroscopic and protein chemistry techniques, there are also NMR approaches, thermodynamic analyses, kinetic measurements such as surface plasmon resonance, strategies for amino acid sequence alignments, and fluorescence methods to study the distribution of calcium and calcium-binding proteins in cells.

This book describes cutting-edge science and technology of the characterization, breeding, and development of yeasts and fungi used worldwide in fermentation industries such as alcohol beverage brewing, bread making, and bioethanol production. The book also covers numerous topics and important areas the previous literature has missed, ranging widely from molecular mechanisms to biotechnological applications related to stress response/tolerance of yeasts and fungi. During fermentation processes, cells of yeast and fungus, mostly Saccharomyces and Aspergillus oryzae spp., respectively, are exposed to a variety of fermentation "stresses". Such stresses lead to growth inhibition or cell death. Under severe stress conditions, their fermentation ability and enzyme productivity are rather limited. Therefore, in terms of industrial application, stress tolerance is the key characteristic for yeast and fungal cells. The first part of this book provides stress response/tolerance mechanisms of yeast used for the production of sake, beer, wine, bread, and bioethanol. The second part covers stress response/tolerance mechanisms of fungi during environmental changes and biological processes of industrial fermentation. Readers benefit nicely from the novel understandings and methodologies of these industrial microbes. The book is suitable for both academic scientists and graduate-level students specialized in applied microbiology and biochemistry and biotechnology and for industrial researchers and engineers who are involved in fermentation-based technologies. The fundamental studies described in this book can be applied to the breeding of useful microbes (yeasts, fungi), the production of valuable compounds (ethanol, CO2, amino acids, organic acids, and enzymes) and the development of promising processes to solve environmental issues (bioethanol, biorefinery).

This Volume features protocols for investigating the hydrocarbon- and lipid-specific activities of microbes. They include methods for studying chemotaxis, the colonisation of hydrocarbon surfaces, hydrocarbon uptake, respiration, nitrogen fixation, sulphate reduction, membrane stabilisation through cis-trans isomerisation of membrane fatty acids, and the production of biosurfactants and biopolymers in response to the presence of hydrocarbons. A protocol for studying the ability of microbes to control the concentration of hydrocarbons in their aqueous environment is also described, and phenotyping methods to reveal microbes' more general metabolic activities are presented. Several protocols for investigating acid production in connection with oil souring and biocorrosion by microbes in oil well, oil transportation and storage settings are presented. Lastly, protocols for measuring methanogenesis, as an example of microbial hydrocarbon production, are described.< Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ProtocolsThere are tens of thousands of structurally different hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives and lipids, and a wide array of these molecules are required for cells to function. The global hydrocarbon cycle, which is largely driven by microorganisms, has a major impact on our environment and climate. Microbes are responsible for cleaning up the environmental pollution caused by the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs and will also be pivotal in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels by providing biofuels, plastics and industrial chemicals. Gaining an understanding of the relevant functions of the wide range of microbes that produce, consume and modify hydrocarbons and related compounds will be key to responding to these challenges. This comprehensive collection of current and emerging protocols will facilitate acquisition of this understanding and exploitation of useful activities of such microbes.