This volume focuses on methods related to allosteric enzymes and receptors, including fluorescent proves, spectroscopic methods and quantitative analysis as well as on cooperativity in protein folding. NMR and mass spectrometry methods are discussed.
*Allosteric Enzymes and Receptors
*Cooperativity in Protein Folding and Assembly

In one volume this book provides useful and innovative protocols developed specifically for the proteomic profiling of human tissues. The book provides high-throughput gel-based techniques, microarrays and a number of other methods used in proteomic research. This important book will prove indispensable to investigators of biomarker discovery and therapeutic response profiling, as well as those forging new paths in the fields of theranostics and personalized medicine.

A multiplicity of biotrophic micro-organisms interact with plants in nature, forming symbiotic relationships that range from mutualism to antagonism. Microorganisms that have adopted biotrophy as a lifestyle are able to colonize the plant and often to cross the plant cell boundaries by forming intracellular structures that are the site of nutrient uptake/exchange. To establish themselves within plant tissues, both mutualistic and pathogenic biotrophs need to overcome the plant defense response through an exchange of molecular signals. Our knowledge of the nature of these signals and their function in the interaction has rapidly increased over the last few years. This volume focuses on the genetic, molecular and cellular components involved in the communication between partners of well-known symbioses, but also reports on the advances for less studied systems.

Protein Transcription is a key element of cellular and organ regulation. This volume covers structure and function of all major elements associated with transcription.
*Mechanism of RNA polymerase I Transcription
*Structure and function of RNA Polymerase II
*Structure and function of the TFIID complex
*Functional properties of Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes
*Posttranslational modification

This latest volume summarizes the current state of knowledge of membrane assembly. It covers subjects germane to most membranes as well as to membranes of different organelles for prokaryote, plant, and animal cells.

DNA in the nucleus of plant and animal cells is stored in the form of chromatin. Chromatin and the Chromatin remodelling enzymes play an important role in gene transcription.

Quinones are members of a class of aromatic compounds with two oxygen atoms bonded to the ring as carbonyl groups. This volume covers more clinical aspects of quinines, such as anticancer properties, as well as their role in nutrition and in age-related diseases.
*Mitochondrial Ubiquinone and Reductases
*Anticancer Quinones and Quinone Oxido-Reductases
*Quininone Reductases: Chemoprevention, Nutrition
*Quinones and Age-Related Diseases

This volume on iron-sulfur proteins includes chapters that discuss how microbes, plants, and animals synthesize these complex prosthetic groups, and why it is important to understand the chemistry and biogenesis of iron sulfur proteins. In addition to their vital importance in mitochondrial respiration, numerous iron sulfur proteins are important in maintenance of DNA integrity. Multiple rare human diseases with different clinical presentations are caused by mutations of genes in the iron sulfur cluster biogenesis pathway. Understanding iron sulfur proteins is important for understanding a rapidly expanding group of metabolic pathways important in all kingdoms of life, and for understanding processes ranging from nitrogen fixation to human disease.

Recent major advances in our understanding of modulating protein functions has led to the development of new methods and algorithms to predict and decipher how amino acid sequences shape three-dimensional structures. Protein Design: Methods and Applications presents the most up-to-date protein design and engineering strategies so that readers can undertake their own projects with a maximum chance of success.
The authors present integrated computational approaches that require various degrees of computational complexity, and the major accomplishments that have been achieved in the design and structural characterization of helical peptides and proteins. Other topics of discussion include: design of structural elementary motifs, entire proteins, and interfaces of protein complexes, and of amyloidogenic polypeptides and amyloid inhibitors.
Authoritative and cutting-edge, Protein Design: Methods and Applications will be of major interest to protein scientists, biochemists, and all experimentalists selecting the strategy most adaptable for their design problem.

In Protein Dynamics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail both experimental and computational methods to interrogate molecular level fluctuations. Chapters detail best-practice recipes covering both experimental and computational techniques, reflecting modern protein research. 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 Dynamics: Methods and Protocols describes the most common and powerful methods used to characterize protein dynamics.

Integrins play pivotal roles not only across a wide range of physiological processes including tissue morphogenesis, immune responses, wound healing, and regulation of cell growth and differentiation, but also in numerous pathological phenomena such as autoimmunity, thrombosis, and cancer metastasis/progression. Therefore, investigations on integrins often demand multi-disciplinary approaches, making researchers long for a handy collection of comprehensive and practical protocols that detail experimental methods for studying integrin and related cell adhesion molecule functionality. "Integrin and Cell Adhesion Molecules: Methods and Protocols "aims to provide readers not only with basic protocols in studying integrin functions, but also with summaries on those state-of-the-art technologies that have been utilized for understanding integrin functionality at the cellular, molecular, structural, and organismal levels. Divided into six convenient sections, this detailed volume covers basic protocols for the study of integrin and related cell adhesion molecule functionality "in vitro," illustrates structural biology approaches for studying integrins and related cell adhesion molecules, focuses on emerging imaging technologies for investigating cell migration, presents strategies to elucidate signaling through cell adhesion molecules, includes experimental techniques to investigate integrin functions at organismal levels in a physiological context, and showcases the most promising methods and technologies for the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics. Written in the 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 protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Both experts and non-experts in the scientific community who wish to study cell adhesion molecules and diagnostics will find "Integrin and Cell Adhesion Molecules: Methods and Protocols" authoritative, easily accessible, and vastly informative.

Echinostomes are medically- and veterinary-important parasitic flatworms that invade humans, domestic animals and wildlife and also parasitize in their larval stages numerous invertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate hosts. The interest in echinostomes in parasitology and general biology comes from several areas: (1) Human infections; (2) Experimental models; (3) Animal infections; (4) Systematics. The application of novel techniques is moving the echinostomes to the frontline of parasitology in fields such as systematics, immunobiology in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms and proteomics among others. The Biology of Echinostomes demonstrates the application of new techniques to a group of trematodes that may serve to obtain information of great value in parasitology and general biology. The book includes basic topics, such as biology and systematics, as well as more novel topics, such as immunobiology, proteomics, and genomics of echinostomes. The authors of each chapter emphasize their content with: (i) the most novel information obtained; (ii) analysis of this information in a more general context (i.e. general parasitology); and (iii) future perspectives in view of the information presented. The subjects are analyzed from a modern point of view, considering aspects such as applications of novel techniques and an analysis of host-parasite interactions.

Recently, many ground-breaking steps have been made towards better understanding NO/cGMP/PKG pathways, its components, substrates, and their localization within a given cell. These advances were only possible due to the development of sophisticated new techniques in the field. In Guanylate Cyclase and Cyclic GMP: Methods and Protocols expert researchers in the field seek to provide an overview of novel techniques to identify various elements of the NO/cGMP/PKG pathway and further characterize their function, signaling, localization, and importance on a cellular level and in whole animal models providing a higher patho-/physiological integration and relevance. 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, Guanylate Cyclase and Cyclic GMP: Methods and Protocols seeks to provide scientist current methods and a useful guide towards the possibility to apply these techniques to their own research.

Phospholipidshavelongbeenknownfortheirkeyroleinmaintainingthebilayer structureofmembranesandinphysicallyseparatingthecytosolfromorganelles andtheextracellularspace. Inthepastdecade,acompletelynovelandunexpected functionemerged,full?llingacrucialroleincellsignaling. Itwasthediscoveryin animalcells,thatagonist-activatedcellsurfacereceptorsledtotheactivationofa phospholipase C (PLC), to hydrolyze the minor lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4- bisphosphateintotwosecondmessengers,inositol1,4,5-trisphosphate(InsP)and 3 2+ diacylglycerol(DAG). WhileInsP diffusesintothecytosol,whereitreleasesCa 3 2+ from an intracellular store by activating a ligand-gated Ca -channel, DAG remainsinthemembranetorecruitandactivatemembersoftheproteinkinase Cfamily. Overtheyears,avarietyofotherlipidbased-signalingcascadesweredisc- ered. Theseinclude,phospholipaseA,generatinglyso-phospholipidsandfreefatty acids(tobeconvertedintoprostaglandinsandleukotrienes),phospholipaseD,to generatethelipidsecondmessenger,phosphatidicacid(PA),andphosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), generating a distinct set of polyphosphoinositides (PPI) ph- phorylated at the D3-position of the inositol ring, all with separate signaling functions. Sphingolipids,representinganotherimportantgroupofsignalinglipids, alsocameacross. Themajorityoftheselipid-basedsignalingpathwayshavebeendiscoveredin plantcellstoo. Moreover,theyhavebeenfoundtobeactivatedinresponsetoa widevarietyofbioticandabioticstresssignals,butalsotobebasicallyinvolvedin plantgrowthanddevelopment. Whilemanyoftheenzymes,lipids,andtheirtargets involved arewell conserved, major differences with the mammalian paradigms havealsoemerged. Thisbookhighlightsthecurrentstatusofplantlipidsignaling. Allchaptershave beenwrittenbyexpertsinthe?eldandcoverinformationforbothbeginnersand advancedlipidologists. PartIincludesphospholipases(Chaps. 1-3),partII,lipid kinases (Chaps. 4-7), part III, lipid phosphatases (Chaps. 8-9), part IV, ix x Preface inositolphosphates and PPI metabolism (Chaps. 10-13), part V, PA signaling (Chaps. 14-17),andpartVI,additionallipidsignals,e. g. oxylipins,NAPEand sphingolipids(Chaps18-20). Ithasbeenagreatpleasuretobetheeditorofthis bookandtobeawitnessofthislipid-signalingadventure. Amsterdam,June2009 TeunMunnik Contents PartI Phospholipases PhospholipaseAinPlantSignalTransduction...3 Gu..ntherF. E. Scherer TheEmergingRolesofPhospholipaseCinPlantGrowth andDevelopment...23 PeterE. DowdandSimonGilroy PlantPhospholipaseD...39 WenhuaZhang,XiaoboWan,YueyunHong,WeiqiLi,andXueminWang PartII Kinases Phosphatidylinositol4-PhosphateisRequiredforTip GrowthinArabidopsisthaliana ...65 AmyL. SzumlanskiandErikNielsen PIP-KinasesasKeyRegulatorsofPlantFunction ...79 TillIschebeckandIngoHeilmann PlantPhosphatidylinositol3-Kinase...95 YureeLee,TeunMunnik,andYoungsookLee DiacylglycerolKinase...107 StevenA. AriszandTeunMunnik xi xii Contents PartIII Phosphatases SignalingandthePolyphosphoinositidePhosphatasesfromPlants ...117 GlendaE. Gillaspy PhosphatidicAcidPhosphatasesinSeedPlants...131 YukiNakamuraandHiroyukiOhta PartIV PPIMetabolism InsP inPlantCells ...145 3 YangJuIm,BrianQPhillippy,andImaraYPerera InositolPolyphosphatesandKinases...161 JillStevenson-PaulikandBrianQ. Phillippy PhosphoinositidesandPlantCellWallSynthesis ...175 RuiqinZhong,RyanL. McCarthy,andZheng-HuaYe ImagingLipidsinLivingPlants ...185 JoopE. M. VermeerandTeunMunnik PartV PASignaling PhosphatidicAcid:AnElectrostatic/Hydrogen-BondSwitch?...2 03 EdgarEduardKooijmanandChristaTesterink NitricOxideandPhosphatidicAcidSignalinginPlants...223 AyelenM. Diste'fano,M. LucianaLanteri,ArjentenHave, CarlosGarc?'a-Mata,LorenzoLamattina,andAnaM. Laxalt 3-Phosphoinositide-DependentProteinKinaseisaSwitchboard fromSignalingLipidstoProteinPhosphorylationCascades...243 ChristineZalejskiandLa'szlo'Bo..gre PartVI AdditionalLipidSignals DiacylglycerolPyrophosphate,ANovelPlantSignalingLipid...263 EmmanuelleJeannette,SophieParadis,andChristineZalejski OxylipinSignalingandPlantGrowth...277 AlinaMosblech,IvoFeussner,andIngoHeilmann Contents xiii FattyAcidAmideHydrolaseandtheMetabolismof N-AcylethanolamineLipidMediatorsinPlants...293 KentD. ChapmanandElisonB. Blanca?or SphingolipidSignalinginPlants...307 LouiseV. MichaelsonandJohnathanA. Napier Index ...323 Contributors Steven A. Arisz Section Plant Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences,UniversityofAmsterdam,SciencePark904,NL-1098XH,Amsterdam, TheNetherlands ElisonB. Blanca?or SamuelRobertsNobleFoundation,PlantBiologyDivision, Ardmore,OK73401,USA,eblanca?or@noble.

Springer Handbook of Enzymes provides data on enzymes sufficiently well characterized. It offers concise and complete descriptions of some 5,000 enzymes and their application areas. Data sheets are arranged in their EC-Number sequence and the volumes themselves are arranged according to enzyme classes.

This new, second edition reflects considerable progress in enzymology: many enzymes are newly classified or reclassified. Each entry is correlated with references and one or more source organisms. New datafields are created: application and engineering (for the properties of enzymes where the sequence has been changed). The total amount of material contained in the Handbook has more than doubled so that the complete second edition consists of 39 volumes as well as a Synonym Index. In addition, starting in 2009, all newly classified enzymes are treated in Supplement Volumes.

Springer Handbook of Enzymes is an ideal source of information for researchers in biochemistry, biotechnology, organic and analytical chemistry, and food sciences, as well as for medicinal applications.

Na+-K+ ATPase or Na-pump ATPase, a member of "P"-type ATPase superfamily, is characterized by association of multiple isoforms mainly of it's - and - subunits. At present four different - ( -1, -2, -3 and -4) and three - ( -1, -2, and -3) isoforms have been identified in mammalian cells and their differential expressions are tissue specific. Regulation of Na+-K+ ATPase activity is an important but a complex process, which involves short-term and long-term mechanisms. Short-term regulation of Na+-K+ ATPase is either mediated by changes in intracellular Na+ concentrations that directly affect the Na+-pump activity or by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation-mediated by some stimulants leading to changes in its expression and transport properties. On the other hand, long-term regulation of Na+-K+ ATPase is mediated by hormones, such as mineralocorticoids and thyroid hormones, which cause changes in the transcription of genes of - and - subunits leading to an increased expression in the level of Na+-pump. Several studies have revealed a relatively new type of regulation that involves the association of small, single span membrane proteins with this enzyme. These proteins belong to the FXYD family, the members of which share a common signature sequence encompassing the transmembra ne domain adjacent to the isoform(s) of - subunits of Na+-K+ ATPase. Considering the extraordinary importance of Na+-K+ ATPase in cellular function, several internationally established investigators have contributed their articles in the monograph entitled "Regulation of Membrane Na+-K+ ATPase" for inspiring young scientists and graduate students to enrich their knowledge on the enzyme, and we are sure that this book will soon be considered as a comprehensive scientific literature in the area of Na+-K+ ATPase regulation in health and disease.

TIle work described in this report was presented at the Advanced Research Workshop, "Environmental Aspects of Converting CW Facilities to Peaceful Purposes and Derivative Technologies in Modeling, Medicine and Monitoring." TIle ARW was jointly sponsored by NATO and the International Science and Technology Center (lSTC), Moscow. The workshop was held at the AC Laboratory, Spiez, Switzerland, in April, 1999. The editors and directors would like to thank the NATO Science Committee and the ISTC for their generous support and encouragement in making this event possible. We wish to give a special to Dr. Bernhard Brunner and his colleagues at the AC Laboratory, Spiez, for their more than generous support. In addition, we would like to thank tlle following individuals for their contributions to a fruitful discussion: Mr. Armando Alcaraz (LLNL), Dr. Aniello Amendolo (lIASA), , Mr. Randall Beatty (ISTC), Mr. Timothy Blades (ECBC), Dr. R. V. Borovic (RCTHRB), Dr. K Brainina (SRlOCT), Dr. Bernhard Brunner, (AC Lab.), Dr. T. Chvetsova-Chilovskaya (SRlOCT), Mr. John Compton (ISTC), Dr. Jolm F. Cooper (LLNL), Dr. William Cullen (U.Brit.Col.), Dr. Evgeny Fokin (SRlOCT), Dr. Alfred Frey (AC Lab.) , Dr. V. G. Gorsky (SRlOCT), Dr. Jiri Kadlcak (MTIP), Ms. Larisa Konnilkina (ISTC), Dr. V. K. Kurochkin (SRlOCT), Dr. Ronald F. Lelunan (ISTC, LLNL), Dr. Y. N. Mamontov (SRlOCT), Dr. V. Mejevov (TRINITI), Dr. I. V. Moskalenko (KRC), Dr. Dieter Nietzold (lSTC), Dr. Daan Noort (TNO), Mr. Shinichiro Ogura (ISTC), Dr. V. S Poliakov (SRlOCT), Dr. A. Putilov (Min.

The role of vitamin A in living organisms has been known throughout human history. In the last 100 years, the biochemical nature of vitamin A and its active derivative, retinoic acid, its physiological impact on growth processes, and the essential details of its mechanism of action have been revealed by investigations carried out by researchers using vertebrate and more recently invertebrate models to study a multiplicity of processes and conditions, encompassing embryogenesis, postnatal development to old age. A wealth of intercellular interactions, intracellular signaling systems, and molecular mechanisms have been described and the overall conclusion is that retinoic acid is essential for life. This book series, with chapters authored by experts in every aspect of this complex field, unifies the knowledge base and mechanisms currently known in detailed, engaging, well-illustrated, focused chapters that synthesize information for each specific area. In view of the recent information explosion in this field, it is timely to publish a contemporary, comprehensive, book series recapitulating the most exciting developments in the field and covering fundamental research in molecular mechanisms of vitamin A action, its role in physiology, development, and continued well-being, and the potential of vitamin A derivatives and synthetic mimetics to serve as therapeutic treatments for cancers and other debilitating human diseases. Volume II is divided into nine chapters contributed by prominent experts in their respective fields. Each chapter starts with the history of the area of research. Then, the key findings that contributed to development of the field are described, followed by a detailed look at key findings and progress that are being made in current, ongoing research. Each chapter is concluded with a discussion of the relevance of the research and a perspective on missing pieces and lingering gaps that the author recommends will be important in defining future directions in vitamin A research.

InjuryInduced Release of Excitatory Amino Acids: Excitatory Amino Acid Release after Focal Cerebral Ischemia (R. Bullock et al.). The Role of Glutamatergic Receptor in Brain Injury: Dizocilpine (MK801) in Cerebral Ischemia (R.N. Auer). The Role of Monoamines in Brain Injury: Role of Nigrostriatal Projections in the Vulnerability of the Striatum (A. Buisson et al.). The Role of Steroids, Adenosine, GABA, and Acetylcholine in Brain Injury: The Role of Glucocorticoids in Ischemic Cell Death (J.N. Davis et al.). Intracellular Messengers and Brain Injury: Changes in Gene Expression after Transient Ischemia as Potential Markers for Excitotoxic Pathology (T.S. Nowak et al.). Blood Brain Barrier in Brain Injury: Ultrastructural Studies of Endothelium in NMDAInduced Excitotoxicity (S. Nag). Neurotransmitter Modulation of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. Neurotransmitters and Free Radical Mediated Injury. 51 additional articles. Index.

New Antisense Strategies: Chemical Synthesis of RNA Oligomers, by Junichi Yano und Gerald E. Smyth Development and Modification of Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotides for Clinical Application, by Mariana Kiomy Osako, Hironori Nakagami und Ryuichi Morishita Modulation of Endosomal Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Immune Responses by Synthetic Oligonucleotides, by Ekambar R. Kandimalla und Sudhir Agrawal Delivery of Nucleic Acid Drugs, by Yan Lee und Kazunori Kataoka Aptamer: Biology to Applications, by Yoshikazu Nakamura Development and Clinical Applications of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, by Veenu Aishwarya, Anna Kalota und Alan M. Gewirtz

This book is the first of its kind to tackle in detail the nutritional requirements of the industrialized, so-called developed world. It discusses the link between socio-economic status and food security, focusing especially on the relationship between income and food security in different age groups. The authors calculate the actual levels of essential micronutrients delivered by current dietary patterns, identifying important shortfalls in the provision of key micronutrients, and elucidate the public health consequences of nutrition insecurity. Finally, the authors discuss future approaches for ensuring nutrition security on the basis of three pillars: access, availability and nutritional value. The approaches advocated in this ground-breaking publication will allow all people, irrespective of age and social status, to have access to a safe and nutritious diet. Key stakeholders such as legislators, government, academia and industry, as well as consumers themselves, all have important roles to play in making this a reality.

Over the past five years, the immense financial pressure on the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals has resulted in the increasing use and acce- ance of disposables, which are discarded after harvest and therefore intended only for single use. In fact, such disposables are implemented in all the main bioprocess production stages today and an even higher growth than those in the biopharmac- tical market is predicted (reaching double figures). Alongside disposable filter capsules, membrane chromatography units, tubing, connectors, flexible containers processing or containing fluids, freezer systems, mixers and pumps, and fully c- trolled disposable bioreactors of up to 2,000 L culture volume are already available on the market. Numerous studies highlight the advantages of disposable bioreactors and reveal their potential for simple, safe and fast seed inoculum production, process devel- ment and small as well as middle volume production (e.g. bioactive substances, viruses for vaccines and gene therapies etc.). They suggest that such disposable bioreactors (typically characterized by the cultivation chamber or bag from plastic materials) may be advantageous for plant, animal and microbial cells. Running industrial activities such as CFD-modelling, development of single-use process monitoring and control technology, and standardized film formulations are attempting to resolve the limitations of the current disposable bioreactors. These achievements, along with substantial improvements in product yield, will reduce the use of stainless steel in the biomanufacturing facilities of the future.

This revealing book details recent developments in the study of the relationship between sulfur and the microbial agents that affect its metabolism. In recent years, new methods have been applied to study the biochemistry and molecular biology of reactions of the global sulfur cycle, the microorganisms involved and their physiology, metabolism and ecology. These activities have uncovered fascinating new insights for the understanding of aerobic and anaerobic sulfur metabolism.

Protein phosphatases are a group of enzymes responsible for the dephosphorylation of various proteins and enzymes in a cell. This role is an extremely important one since protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation is required for the regulation of a large number of cellular activities.
* Classification of Protein Phosphatases
* Analysis/Technology: Cell and Molecular Imaging Technology, Assay of Protein Phosphatases, MS and MNR, Genomics/Proteomics, cDNA Microarray Analysis
* Cellular Regulation: Substrates, Inhibitors, Regulation, Protein-Protein Interaction
* Biological Function: Antisense Studies, Transgenic and Knockout Animal Models in Vivo, Therapeutic Approaches

Liposomes are cellular structures made up of lipid molecules. Important as a cellular model in the study of basic biology, liposomes are also used in clinical applications such as drug delivery and virus studies.
* Liposomes in Biochemistry
* Liposomes in Molecular Cell Biology
* Liposomes in Molecular Virology