This volume of "Methods in Cell Biology, " the second of two parts on the subject of zebrafish, provides a comprehensive compendium of laboratory protocols and reviews covering all the new methods developed since 1999.
* Details state-of-the art zebrafish protocols, delineating critical steps in the procedures as well as potential pitfalls
* Illustrates many techiques in full-color
* Summarizes the Zebrafish Genome Project

First published in 1943, "Vitamins and Hormones" is the longest-running serial published by Academic Press. The Editorial Board now reflects expertise in the field of hormone action, vitamin action, X-ray crystal structure, physiology and enzyme mechanisms.

Under the capable and qualified editorial leadership of Dr. Gerald Litwack, "Vitamins and Hormones" continues to publish cutting-edge reviews of interest to endocrinologists, biochemists, nutritionists, pharmacologists, cell biologists and molecular biologists. Others interested in the structure and function of biologically active molecules like hormones and vitamins will, as always, turn to this series for comprehensive reviews by leading contributors to this and related disciplines.

This volume focuses on vitamins and the immune system.
*Longest running series published by Academic Press
*Contributions by leading international authorities

This textbook contains the essential knowledge in modeling, simulation, analysis, and applications in dealing with biological cellular control systems. In particular, the book shows how to use the law of mass balance and the law of mass action to derive an enzyme kinetic model - the Michaelis-Menten function or the Hill function, how to use a current-voltage relation, Nernst potential equilibrium equation, and Hodgkin and Huxley's models to model an ionic channel or pump, and how to use the law of mass balance to integrate these enzyme or channel models into a complete feedback control system. The book also illustrates how to use data to estimate parameters in a model, how to use MATLAB to solve a model numerically, how to do computer simulations, and how to provide model predictions. Furthermore, the book demonstrates how to conduct a stability and sensitivity analysis on a model.

The cytoskeleton is comprised of a variety of specialized proteins, and is a dynamic structure that is involved in the majority of key cellular events. There is increasing interest in the role of the cytoskeleton in human disease. This volume brings together human disease states where cytoskeletal disruptions are driving disease. Our emerging understanding of the molecular and cellular events that drive cytoskeletal mediated diseases including cancer, heart disease, myopathies and skin disorders, are also helping shape targeted therapeutic approaches to treating these diseases.

The significant biological subject, the permeability barrier, is incredibly diverse and vital for a vast assortment of crucial functions in the body. In Permeability Barrier: Methods and Protocols, a variety of experienced researchers contribute techniques to study this complex system in its many forms. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics, detailed 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, Permeability Barrier: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide for all scientists seeking to further our understanding of this vital area of research.

A primary component of cell signaling research, this title covers the principal membrane-bound receptor families, including their structural organization. Written and edited by experts in the field, this book provides up-to-date research on transmembrane signaling entities and their initiating responses following extracellular stimulation.

Articles written and edited by experts in the field
Thematic volume covering effectors, cytosolic events, nuclear, and cytoplasmic events
Up-to-date research on signaling systems and mutations in transcription factors that provide new targets for treating disease

This must-have cell signaling title will appeal to researchers across molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology and genetics. The articles are written and edited by experts in the field and emphasize signaling to and from intracellular compartments including transcriptional responses to cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling events, chromatin remodeling and stress responses, the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum function, control of cell cycle progression and apoptosis and the modulation of the activities of mitochondria and other organelles.

Articles written and edited by experts in the field
Thematic volume covering regulation of endoplasmic reticulum function, regulation of cell cycle progression, and quality control and assurance in mitochondrion events
Up-to-date research on events in membrane proteins and proteins of intracellular matrix

Required reading for anyone involved in cell signaling research with articles written and edited by experts in the field. This title covers disease states such as lymphoid leukemia, breast cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, andinflammatory bowel disease, along with up-to-date research on signaling systems and mutations in
transcription factors that provide new targets for treating disease.
Articles written and edited by experts in the field
Thematic volume covering disease states such as lymphoid leukemia, breast cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease
Up-to-date research on signaling systems and mutations in transcription factors that provide new targets for treating disease

Cytosol, the liquid found inside cells, is the site for multiple cell processes, including signaling from the cell membrane to sites within the cell. Cytosolic signaling mechanisms are researched and studied in graduate programs in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular and cellular physiology, pharmacy, and biomedical sciences.

Articles written and edited by experts in the field
Thematic volume covering material needed for young professionals joining the field of research and graduate students taking survey courses
Up-to-date research on signaling systems and mutations in transcription factors that provide new targets for treating disease

Cell-cell adhesion is fundamental for the development and homeostasis of animal tissues and organs. Adherens junctions (AJs) are the best understood cell-cell adhesion complexes. In this volume, internationally recognized experts review AJ biology over a wide range of organization; from atoms to molecules, to protein complexes, molecular networks, cells, tissues, and overall animal development. AJs have also been an integral part of animal evolution, and play central roles in cancer development, pathogen infection and other diseases. This book addresses major questions encompassing AJ biology. - How did AJs evolve? - How do cadherins and catenins interact to assemble AJs and mediate adhesion? - How do AJs interface with other cellular machinery to couple adhesion with the whole cell? - How do AJs affect cell behaviour and multicellular development? - How can abnormal AJ activity lead to disease? Valuable for both newcomers and experts in the field, this book offers a comprehensive resource for the research laboratory and a teaching tool for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in cell and developmental biology.

This second edition focuses on the study of human interphase chromosomes and its relation to health and disease. Orchestrated organization and behavior of the human genome in interphase nuclei at chromosomal level has been repeatedly shown to play a significant role in almost all basic biological processes involved in the processing and inheritance of genetic information within and between species. Accordingly, post-genomic bioscience appeals to basic and applied studies of interphase nuclei genetics and genomics with special attention to interphase chromosome behavior in health and disease. Additionally, elucidating the role of interphase chromosome behavior during development, chromosome/DNA replication, DNA reparation opens new horizons for basic and applied bioscience Studies of interphase nuclei have an appreciable impact on different areas of biomedical sciences such as cell biology, neurobiology, cancer research, developmental biology, epigenetics, cytogenetics, and medical genetics, as a whole. Moreover, development of innovative and emergent technologies to analyze interphase nuclei are closely associated with application of these techniques in diagnostic and research practices to solve reproductive problems (including infertility and spontaneous abortions), to investigate congenital malformations (including those produced by aneuploidy and other chromosome abnormalities); genetic diseases (including cardiac, immune, neurological and psychiatric diseases), and cancer. This second edition serves as a source of updated valuable information and promising ideas for a wide audience of professionals in biomedicine including researchers, scientists, and healthcare professionals in human genetics, cytogenetics, and developmental biology.

Presenting state-of-the-art protocols to study gap junctions, this detailed book first focuses on the use of methods and tools to investigate the different aspects of connexin expression and gap junction regulation. The second part of the volume describes several methods to probe gap junction functionality as such. 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 and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Gap Junction Protocols is intended for basic and applied researchers in the area of biomedical and life sciences, both in academic and industrial settings.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK) cascades are key signaling components that govern essentially all cellular processes evoked by any type of stimulation, and it has been well established that the malfunctioning of these cascades leads to various diseases including cancer, autoimmunity, and diabetes. In MAP Kinase Signaling Protocols, Second Edition, expert researchers fully update the popular first edition the key techniques used in the study of MAPK signaling cascades in various cellular contexts. This thorough volume explores essential topics such as activation and function of components of the MAPK signaling cascades, the study of MAPK cascades as transmitters of membranal receptor signals, structure-function relationships of MAPKs, studies on the regulation of MAPK cascades, the use of lower organisms, animal models, and human genetics in the study of MAPKs, as well as the study of MAPKs in specific systems and diseases. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters includes introductions to their respective subjects, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, MAP Kinase Signaling Protocols, Second Edition aims to facilitate the study of MAPKs and allow for quicker progress in our knowledge of many vital cellular processes as well as devastating diseases.

This book sheds new light on the physiology, molecular biology and pathophysiology of epithelial ion channels and transporters. It combines the basic cellular models and functions by means of a compelling clinical perspective, addressing aspects from the laboratory bench to the bedside. The individual chapters, written by leading scientists and clinicians, explore specific ion channels and transporters located in the epithelial tissues of the kidney, intestine, pancreas and respiratory tract, all of which play a crucial part in maintaining homeostasis. Further topics include the fundamentals of epithelial transport; mathematical modeling of ion transport; cell volume regulation; membrane protein folding and trafficking; transepithelial transport functions; and lastly, a discussion of transport proteins as potential pharmacological targets with a focus on the pharmacology of potassium channels.

This volume of Methods in Cell Biology, the first of3 parts on the subject of zebrafish, provides a comprehensive compendia of laboratory protocols and reviews covering all the new methods developed since 2004. This first volume provides state-of-the-art descriptions of novel cellular imaging technologies and methods for culture of zebrafish stem cells, summarizes protocols for analyzingthe development of major organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS), and introduces the use of the zebrafish as a model system for human diseases.
* Details state-of-the art zebrafish protocols, delineating critical steps in the procedures as well as potential pitfalls
* Summarizes the Zebrafish Genome Project"

This volume covers the latest technological advances in the characterization of the biosynthesis and functions of Rab GTPases and their regulation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The book consists of 28 chapters and starts with an overview of the Rab GTPase family. The next few chapters describe systematic approaches to the identification and classification of Rabs and Rab GAPs, as well as the detection of Rab isoprenylation and membrane distribution. The last few chapters examine the biochemical and functional properties of individual Rabs in the order of exocytic, recycling and endocytic Rabs. Written in the highly successful Methods of 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 key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Instructive and practical, Rab GTPases: Methods and Protocols approaches each topic with great detail and is a valuable resource for researchers and students interested in the field of Rab GTPases.

This book combines the most recent knowledge on the maternal, i.e. oocyte/egg-specific, molecules and processes. The volume covers the most recent advances in a plethora of subjects such as: maternal transfer of immunity, localized RNAs functions and mechanisms of RNA localization, transcriptional repression of maternal messages, maternal inheritance and maternal role of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, chromatin remodeling and epigenetic modifications, maternal function of nucleosomes, maternal mitochondria and energy supply, role of bacterial symbionts and their maternal transmission, acquisition of oocyte polarity and evolution of maternal effect genes, germ plasm and oosome origin and functions, mechanisms of oocyte activation and soma germ cells communication. Currently, no other book on the market combines such a comprehensive list of subjects in one volume. Moreover, the information provided is a cross-section through oocytes from various invertebrate and vertebrate species, which is another unique feature of this book. The readers, therefore, get a completely new and invaluable perspective on all covered subjects.

Every cell of the body is dependent on calcium to function. Calcium is found in teeth and bones, and calcium signalling is necessary for the movement of muscles and for the action of the heart and the intestines as well as blood coagulation. This volume will update classic techniques in detecting microscopic levels of calcium ions (Ca2+) in living cells, as well as address new techniques in the field of calcium detection and calcium signaling. Such detection and measurement of intracellular calcium is important to researchers studying the heart, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and immune systems, whose findings will aid in the advancement of drug and genomic therapies to treat heart, gastrointestinal, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.
*Gives researchers much needed information on how to study calcium in live cells, which is becoming increasingly important in heart, musculoskeletal, and immune system research.
*Provides an overview of the latest methods--fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), for example-- that are new to the field
*Allows understanding of how calcium plays a role in intracellular function at the cellular level, which has proved important in Alzheimer's research, heart disease, and areas of musculoskeletal research.
*Updated chapters reflect advancements in the classic techniques used'preparing calcium buffers, vibrating the Ca2+ Electrode and confocal imaging.

"International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology "presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology--both plant and animal. Articles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Impact factor for 2008: 4.935.

* Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field * Provides up-to-date information and directions for future research * Valuable reference material for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professional scientists

Nanotechnology plays a key leading role in developing tools able to identify, measure, and study cellular events at the nanometric level as well as in contributing to the disclosure of unknown biological interactions and mechanisms, which opens the door for advances including nanodevices for diagnostic and therapy, drug delivery systems, and regenerative medicine. In Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field provide an overview of a very wide range of currently used technologies and methods that involve nanotechnology principles applicable to tissue regeneration. Being that the application of nanotechnology to regenerative medicine is a very broad field, this book focuses its interests on particular areas such as its use as a means to produce efficient platforms and structures for tissue engineering, delivery systems and biosensors, as well as the use of some techniques to study materials surfaces and the interactions between cells, biomolecules, and surfaces at the nanoscale. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their related 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 accessible, Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine: Methods and Protocols provides established scientists, junior researchers, and students involved in the bioengineering, biotechnology, and biomedical fields with a sound foundation in a variety of vital nanotechnology approaches in regenerative medicine.

"International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology "presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology--both plant and animal. Articles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Impact factor for 2008: 4.935.

* Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field * Provides up-to-date information and directions for future research * Valuable reference material for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professional scientists

Extensive studies have been conducted on the identification, biogenesis, and processing of microRNA (miRNA) as well as research on the exact mechanism by which miRNAs bring about translational silencing of their targets. In addition, numerous publications point to an important role of miRNAs in development, reprogramming, epigenetics, pathogenesis of cancer, oncogenes and tumor suppressors, biomarkers of various disease onset, and regulation of adipogenesis and obesity; yet many questions still remain. In MicroRNA Protocols, Second Edition, experts in the field provide up-to-date coverage of this diverse area of study. The specific chapters of this edition are related to the analysis of miRNA, targets and expression profiling, various methods to determine its regulation of gene expression, the preparation and isolation of miRNAs in specific tissues, its detection in the saliva, and potential application in cosmetics, wound healing, and prostate cancer. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology trademark] 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 known pitfalls. Fully updated and easy to use, MicroRNA Protocols, Second Edition aims to stimulate readers to explore diverse ways to understand the mechanisms in which miRNAs facilitate the molecular aspects of not only biomedical research but also a wide range of other research fields.

"International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology "presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology--both plant and animal. Articles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Impact factor for 2008: 4.935.

* Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field * Provides up-to-date information and directions for future research * Valuable reference material for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professional scientists