In the past few years there has been the increased recognition that the effects of oxidative stress are not limited to the damage of cellular constituents. There is now evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can alter cell function by acting upon the intermediates, or second messengers, in signal transductions. Such effects on signaling mechanisms probably account for the role of oxidative stress in inflammation, aging, and cancer. This volume brings together internationally recognized researchers in both the major areas covered by the book, oxidative stress and signal transduction. The work is organized in three sections. The first deals with the immediate cellular responses to oxidative stress and the production of second messengers. The second details the connection between second messengers and the gene. The third part looks more closely at the level of the gene.

Part of a review series that looks at trends in modern biology. This book covers aspects of bioprocessing and biotransformation, where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.

This volume explores the considerable efforts that have been directed towards the development of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) screening assays in order to disclose GPCR acting compounds, elucidate signaling mechanisms or evaluate compound's efficacy. New discoveries in the field, along with the widely recognized need for better and safer pharmaceutical drugs constitute the main motivation for this book. Readers, both beginners and experienced researchers, will receive an updated overview of not only the established, but also the innovative technologies that promise to advance GPCR drug research. This book is organized into two major parts: the introductory part discusses the necessary foundations for the understanding of GPCR action and the rationale behind the design of the available screening assays; and part two provides detailed protocols for different screening approaches. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, the chapters include the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results in the laboratory. Practical and innovative, G Protein-Coupled Receptor Screening Assays: Methods and Protocols reaches out to everyone involved in the discovery of GPCR-active drugs, and provides a transversal overview of the different levels of GPCR signaling addressable in the different screening strategies and presents practical examples of how current assay technologies are contributing to new paradigms in GPCR drug research.

The International Society of Oxygen Transport to Tissue (ISOTT) was founded in 1973 to provide a forum for bioengineers, basic scientists, physiologists, and physicians to discuss new data, original theories, new interpretations of old data, and new technologies for the measurement of oxygen. At each annual meeting all posters are presented orally along with plenary lectures, and all presentations are given in a general session attended by everyone. Each meeting has had a specific focus, ranging from neonatology to physical chemistry to cancer biology. The Society has helped to build many careers, through opportunities to meet leaders in the field, and through awards made to young physicians and scientists. The Society also, through cross fertilization of ideas and scientific comradery, has inspired many breakthroughs in clinical medicine that now benefit mankind. I find myself president of the society after having been a winner of the Melvin Knisely Award for young scientists, in 1991. The 2003 meeting emphasized the role of oxygen and oxygen measurement in tumor growth, metastasis, physiology, and treatment resistance. Additionally, however, completely novel approaches to measurement of tissue oxygen were presented (notably work by Dr. Takahashi) and molecular methods for estimating tissue oxygen were evaluated. Papers discussing other aspects of oxygen measurement and pathophysiology were presented including in vivo ESR spectroscopy (notably including Dr. Swartz and colleagues), exercise physiology, organ transplant outcome (discussed by Dr. Cicco, our 2004 president), circulatory physiology, and cerebral oxygenation (notably including Dr. Chance).

Divided into three parts, Doubly Labelled Water presents a clear and accessible account of this technique. Part One presents a general introduction to the study of animal energetics: Part Two discusses the theory behind use of doubled labellled water and Part Three evaluates the practical aspects of its use and the methodlologies required for its application.

Pratt's Essential Biochemistry, Global Edition aims to provide a solid foundation in biochemistry, presenting complete, up-to-date information while focusing on the practical aspects of biochemistry as it applies to human health, nutrition and disease. It presents a broad, but not overwhelming coverage of basic biochemical concepts that focus on the chemistry behind biology, structure-function relationships, transformation of energy and how genetic information is stored and made accessible. It relates these concepts to practical knowledge as well as providing many problem-solving opportunities to enhance skills.

Take your first steps in combinatorial synthesis or synthesize bioactive molecules such as antibiotics. Search for mutations in DNA using chemical probes or perform a proteome analysis in yeast.
The present selection of 12 inspiring experiments is tailored for maximum learning effect at minimal expense of time and equipment. Almost all currently used laboratory techniques in synthesis and analysis of bioactive compounds are represented at least once.
Abundant practical hints are complemented by a thorough treatment of the underlying theory and mechanisms.

This book provides a molecular view of membrane transport by means of numerous biochemical and biophysical techniques. The rapidly growing numbers of atomic structures of transporters in different conformations and the constant progress in bioinformatics have recently added deeper insights.The unifying mechanism of energized solute transport across membranes is assumed to consist of the conformational cycling of a carrier protein to provide access to substrate binding sites from either side of a cellular membrane. Due to the central role of active membrane transport there is considerable interest in deciphering the principles of one of the most fundamental processes in nature: the alternating access mechanism.This book brings together particularly significant structure-function studies on a variety of carrier systems from different transporter families: Glutamate symporters, LeuT-like fold transporters, MFS transporters and SMR (RND) exporters, as well as ABC-type importers.The selected examples impressively demonstrate how the combination of functional analysis, crystallography, investigation of dynamics and computational studies has made it possible to create a conclusive picture or more precisely, a molecular movie . Although we are still far from a complete molecular description of the alternating access mechanism, remarkable progress has been made from static snapshots towards membrane transport dynamics."

Each chapter of this volume is a contribution from an expert in the field, chosen by the editors to contribute to the 1997 "Current Issues in Blood Substitute Research and Development" course given in San Diego, March 17-19. The contributors were selected because of their expertise in areas which the editors believe to be critical to the advancement of the field, and which reflect activity in "hot" areas of relevant research. While there is a continuity in style for the annual course, each year brings changes in emphasis and content. In previous years, we were often not able to provide time for participants to present their views and opinions. Consequently, this year we encouraged discussion after each presentation. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and are printed with the chapters herein. We believe that the product is very close to the capturing this year's course in print, and trust readers will enjoy reading the always candid and often provocative remarks from the audience. The price paid for inclusion of the discussion transcriptions was a delay in publication. Each author was allowed to edit his/her discussion section as well as the final version of the chapters prior to publication. The changes are mainly for grammar, and we tried, when possible, not to alter the conversational style of these interchanges.

Amino Acid Analysis (AAA) is an integral part of analytical biochemistry. In a relatively short time, the variety of AAA methods has evolved dramatically with more methods shifting to the use of mass spectrometry (MS) as a detection method. Another new aspect is miniaturization. However, most importantly, AAA in this day and age should be viewed in the context of Metabolomics as a part of Systems Biology. Amino Acid Analysis: Methods and Protocols presents a broad spectrum of all available methods allowing for readers to choose the method that most suits their particular laboratory set-up and analytical needs. In this volume, a reader can find chapters describing general as well as specific approaches to the sample preparation. A number of chapters describe specific applications of AAA in clinical chemistry as well as in food analysis, microbiology, marine biology, drug metabolism, even archeology. Separate chapters are devoted to the application of AAA for protein quantitation and chiral AAA. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Amino Acid Analysis: Methods and Protocols provides crucial techniques that can be applied across multiple disciplines by anyone involved in biomedical research or life sciences.

Since their discovery over 60 years ago, eicosanoids have come to represent a diverse family of bioactive lipid modulators, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, lipoxins, isoprostanes, hepoxilins, hydroxy acids, epoxy and hydroxy fatty acids. This book contains conference presentations regarding the regulation of eicosanoid enzymes and, in particular, cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and phospholipases. In addition, the latest evidence over the last seven years has led to the identification of a number of receptors for these bioactive lipids. The new field of isoprostanes is also represented. It has become increasingly evident that eicosanoids play a critical role in signal transduction, both in normal cells and in pathological processes. These aspects are discussed in relation to cellular events, such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cancer prevention and treatment.

Recent years have seen tremendous progress in unraveling the molecular basis of different plant-microbe interactions. Knowledge has accumulated on the mecha nisms of the microbial infection of plants, which can lead to either disease or resistance. The mechanisms developed by plants to interact with microbes, whether viruses, bacteria, or fungi, involve events that can lead to symbiotic association or to disease or tumor formation. Cell death caused by pathogen infection has been of great interest for many years because of its association with plant resistance. There appear to be two types of plant cell death associated with pathogen infection, a rapid hypersensitive cell death localized at the site of infection during an incompatible interaction between a resistant plant and an avirulent pathogen, and a slow, normosensitive plant cell death that spreads beyond the site of infection during some compatible interactions involving a susceptible plant and a virulent, necrogenic pathogen. Plants possess a number of defense mechanisms against infection, such as (i) production of phytoalexin, (ii) formation of hydrolases, (iii) accumulation of hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein and lignin deposition, (iv) production of pathogen-related proteins, (v) produc tion of oligosaccharides, jasmonic acid, and various other phenolic substances, and (vi) production of toxin-metabolizing enzymes. Based on these observations, insertion of a single suitable gene in a particular plant has yielded promising results in imparting resistance against specific infection or disease. It appears that a signal received after microbe infection triggers different signal transduction pathways."

Well designed, constructed and maintained reinforced or prestressed concrete structures are generally very durable. In aggressive environments though, corrosion of steel can be a significant problem and structures such as bridges, industrial buildings and those subjected to marine conditions can be particularly at risk. Over the last decade there has been fast growing interest in reinforcing concrete with fibre reinforced plastic materials which cannot rust or deteriorate like steel. This proceedings of the Second International RILEM Symposium on the subject, held in Ghent, August 1995, deals with a wide range of non-metallic materials and opens up possibilities of lighter, more durable structures. The contributions by leading international researchers and design engineers are divided into parts covering material development and properties, bond behaviour of FRP elements, structural behaviour of reinforced and prestressed concrete members, rehabilitation and strengthening, and design methods and applications. This complete overview of knowledge on the subject will provide an essential update for structural engineers, concrete specialists and researchers into materials and structures.

This series is world-renowned as the leading compilation of current reviews of this vast field. Internationally acclaimed for more than 40 years, "The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology, " founded by the late Professor R.H.F. Manske, continues to provide outstanding coverage of this rapidly expanding field. Each volume provides, through its distinguished authors, up-to-date and detailed coverage of particular classes or sources of alkaloids
Up-to-date reviews on a large and very important group of natural products from both a chemical and biological perspective.Comprehensive, dynamic reviews written by leading authors in the respective fields. Broad coverage on the biological aspects.

Molecular Toxicology Protocols, Second Edition aims to bring together a series of articles describing validated methods to elucidate specific molecular aspects of toxicology, the emphasis being on the application of molecular methods to genetic toxicology. The volume is divided into ten parts, roughly corresponding to the spectrum of biomarkers intermediate between exposure and disease outcomes as proposed in molecular epidemiology models. Subjects of these new chapters range from preparation of fluid specimens for analysis of cellular inflammatory responses to genotoxic insults to sensitive methods for proteomic analysis and aberrant DNA methylation patterns. 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. Authoritative and easily accessible, Molecular Toxicology Protocols, Second Edition addresses not only the needs of molecular biologists and toxicologists, but also those of individuals interested in applying molecular methods to clinical applications, such as geneticists, pathologists, biochemists, and epidemiologists.

These two volumes record the scientific and clinical work presented at the VIIth International and 3rd European joint symposium on purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man held at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre, Bournemouth, UK, from 30th June to 5th July 1991. The series of international meetings at three yearly intervals have previously been held initially in 1973 in Israel, then Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, USA and Japan. The European society for the Study of Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism in Man (ESSPPM) which has its own executive and some finance first met in Switzerland in 1987, then in Germany in 1989. The steady evolution of the science in this series of meetings is intellectually satisfying; the subsequent clinical progress is emotionally and economically reassuring. As befits the position of purines and pyrimidines at the centre of biochemistry, there has been steady scientific development into molecular genetics and now onto developmental controls and biochemical pharmacology. The complexities of the immune system are being unravelled but an understanding of the human brain largely eludes us. Laboratory based scientists now predominate over those who work as clinical specialists in vii rheumatology, immunology, oncology and paediatrics. However, there continue to be major clinical objectives since large sections are concerned with major causes of death like ATP depletion, cancer and now AIDS; the laboratory work is providing clinical solutions.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology provides detailed review articles concerned with aspects of chemical contaminants, including pesticides, in the total environment with toxicological considerations and consequences.

A major success story of modem molecular biology is the development of technologies to clone and express specific genes. Current applications of recombinant gene products cover a wide spectrum, including gene therapy, production of bioactive pharmaceuticals, synthesis of novel biopolymers, agriculture and animal husbandry, and so on. Inherent in bringing these appli cations to fruition is the need to design "expression constructs" that will per mit the ready and specific detection and isolation of the defined recombinant gene products. Recombinant Protein Protocols grows out of the need for a laboratory manual on the detection and isolation of recombinantly expressed genes that covers both the background information and the practical laboratory recipes for these analyses. In this book, detailed and contemporary protocols are col lected to provide the reader with a wide-ranging number of methodologies to enhance the detection and isolation of their gene product(s) of interest. A large number of molecular tags and labels and their usage are described, including enzymes, ligand-binding moieties, immunodetectable molecules, as well as methods to detect interactive proteins, and gene expression-mediated alter ations in cellular activity. Chapters on in situ detection of gene expression deal with technologies that are currently being applied to the study of gene function and activity. Highlights of applications for recombinant gene expres sion technologies are provided to give readers exciting perspectives on the future of such technologies.

This book presents specific key natural and artificial systems that are promising biocatalysts in the areas of health, agriculture, environment and energy. It provides a comprehensive account of the state of the art of these systems and outlines the significant progress made in the last decade using these systems to develop innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Chapters from expert contributors explore how natural enzymes and artificial systems tackle specific targets such as: climate change, carbon footprint and economy and carbon dioxide utilisation; nitrogen footprint and fixation and nitrous oxide mitigation; hydrogen production, fuel cells and energy from bacteria; biomass transformation and production of added-value compounds, as well as biosensors development. This book provides an important and inspiring account for the designing of new natural and artificial systems with enhanced properties, and it appeals not only to students and researchers working in the fields of energy, health, food and environment, but also to a wider audience of educated readers that are interested in these up-to-date and exciting subjects.Chapter "Carbon Dioxide Utilisation-The Formate Route" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

The study of phase transitions is among the most fascinating fields in physics. Originally limited to transition phenomena in equilibrium systems, this field has outgrown its classical confines during the last two decades. The behavior of far from equilibrium systems has received more and more attention and has been an extremely active and productive subject of research for physicists, chemists and biologists. Their studies have brought about a more unified vision of the laws which govern self-organization processes of physico-chemical and biological sys tems. A major achievement has been the extension of the notion of phase transi tion to instabilities which occur only in open nonlinear systems. The notion of phase transition has been proven fruitful in apphcation to nonequilibrium ins- bihties known for about eight decades, like certain hydrodynamic instabilities, as well as in the case of the more recently discovered instabilities in quantum optical systems such as the laser, in chemical systems such as the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction and in biological systems. Even outside the realm of natural sciences, this notion is now used in economics and sociology. In this monograph we show that the notion of phase transition can be extend ed even further. It apphes also to a new class of transition phenomena which occur only in nonequilibrium systems subjected to a randomly fluctuating en vironment."

The Ninth International Conference on Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis was held for the first time in Asia from September 20 to September 24, 1992 in Otsu (a city near Kyoto), Japan. Approximately 400 delegates attended the meeting. Forty papers were presented orally and 147 poster presentations were discussed. Academic sessions were held from early in the morning until late in the evening. We are confident that the Conference was successful in providing up-to-date information about methods in protein sequence analysis to all participants. Moreover, with the knowledge and understanding of the present standard of various methods of analysis that are being used and will be used, we were able to clarify areas that need to be evaluated, to be improved and be explored further. Major topics in the Conference mostly covered areas in the methodology of protein sequence analysis, such as: micropreparation and microsequencing of proteins, mass spectrometry, post-translational modification, prediction and database analysis, and analysis of protein structures of special interests. The evolution of genetic engineering in molecular biology has greatly accelerated the accumulation of knowledge on the amino acid sequence of novel proteins regardless of whether they are expressed or not expressed in living organisms. In the early stage of accumulation of structural information, the amino acid sequence itself is worthy of notice.

The volumes of this classic series, now referred to simply as "Zechmeister" after its founder, L. Zechmeister, have appeared under the Springer Imprint ever since the series' inauguration in 1938. The volumes contain contributions on various topics related to the origin, distribution, chemistry, synthesis, biochemistry, function or use of various classes of naturally occurring substances ranging from small molecules to biopolymers. Each contribution is written by a recognized authority in his field and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the topic in question. Addressed to biologists, technologists, and chemists alike, the series can be used by the expert as a source of information and literature citations and by the non-expert as a means of orientation in a rapidly developing discipline.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.