Describes landmark experiments in cell biology and biochemistry Discusses the "How" and "Why" of historically important experiments Includes primary, original data and graphs Emphasizes biological techniques, which helps understand how many of the experiments performed were possible. Documents, chronologically, how each result fed into the next experiments.

Many of the trace amines-more correctly called biogenic amines- have been known for decades, but because of their tiny concentra- tions (0. 01-100 ng/g) in brain, it was only after the development of sophisticated analytical techniques (such as mass spectrometry) that they could be identified and quantitated in nervous tissue. There are now more than 20 of them and most are related to the catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine both structurally and metabolically. Their pharmacological and physiological properties make them prime candidates for a transmitter or neuromodulator role and many of them elicit profound behavioral syndromes after injection--one of them, phenylethylamine, has even been referred to as nature's amphetamine. In the clinical sphere several have been shown to be involved in: Parkinsonism, schizophrenia, depression, agoraphobia, aggression, hyperkinesis, migraine, hypertensive crises, hypertyrosinemia, he- patic encephalopathy, epilepsy, and cystic fibrosis. Thus the research reported here on these intriguing "new" substances will be of great interest to psychiatrists, neurologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, physiologists, psychologists, behaviorists and indeed to all those working in the neurosciences and related fields today. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book is based on the proceedings of Trace Amines and the Neurosciences, a meeting held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, July 19-21, 1983. This meeting was organized as a Satellite Meeting of the Ninth Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry, held in Vancouver, July 10-15, 1983. International organizers of the satellite meeting were Drs. A. A. Boulton (Saskatoon), W. G. Dewhurst (Edmonton), G. B. Baker (Edmonton), and M. Sandler (London).

Human neurological and neuromuscular disorders caused by nucleotide expansion are the focus of growing interest of practicing physicians and of interested biomedical researchers. This volume represents a comprehensive and up-to-date description of many of the better-studied disorders. The authors discuss molecular, clinical and pathological aspects of the diseases as well as our current understanding of their underlying mechanisms.

Through a series of essays concerning human eating seen from the perspective of contemporary biology/medicine and recent research articles, the book explores the links between food and Man's cultural and physical evolution. Each chapter has an introduction summarizing the basic knowledge in the field, discusses the recent research results, and confirms or challenges the established concepts, which opens new aspects and leads to new questions. This book catalyzes discussion between scientists working on one side in food science and on the other side in biological and biomedical research.

Bank filtration (BF) is a natural water treatment process which induces surface water to flow in response to a hydraulic gradient through soil/sediment and into a vertical or horizontal well. It is a relatively cost-effective, robust and sustainable technology. From a historical perspective, BF is first mentioned in the bible, and the process has been recognized as a proven method for drinking water treatment in Europe for more than 100 years. However, the mechanisms of removal of different contaminants during BF are not fully understood. This study showed that BF is an effective multiple objective barrier for removal of different contaminants present in surface water sources including bulk organic matter and organic micropollutants (OMPs) like pharmaceutically active compounds and endocrine disrupting compounds. It was found that biodegradation and adsorption play primary and secondary roles, respectively, in the removal of OMPs during soil passage.

Take any combination of the following features: supramolecular structures with a specific fluorescent probe localized as you would like; nanoscale spatial reso- tion; tailor-made molecular and/or solid-state fluorescing nanostructures; us- friendly and/or high- throughput fluorescence techniques; the ability to do wh- ever you wish with just one single (supra)molecule; utilization of non-linear optical processes; and,last but not least,physical understanding of the processes resu- ing in a (biological) functionality at the single molecule level. What you will then have is some recent progress in physics,chemistry,and the life sciences leading to the development of a new tool for research and application. This was amply demonstrated at the 8th Conference on Methods and Applications of Fluorescence: Probes,Imaging,and Spectroscopy held in Prague,the Czech Republic on August 24th-28th, 2003. This formed a crossroad of ideas from a variety of natural science and technical research fields and biomedical applications in particular. This volume - the third book in the Springer-Verlag Series on Fluorescence - reviews some of the most characteristic topics of the multidisciplinary area of fluorescence applications in life sciences either presendted directly at th 8th MAF Conference or considered to be a cruical development in the field. In the initial contribution in Part 1 - Basics and Advanced Approaches,the - itors explain the basics of fluorescence and illustrate the relationship between some modern fluorescence techniques and classical approaches. The second contrigution by B.

This book is a compilation of presentations at the first meeting devoted to the mo lecular and cellular biology of copper transport. When we first considered the possible program for the meeting, we felt that a forum to integrate the recent advances in molecular understanding of copper transport with the older knowledge of copper metabolism was needed. In addition we wished to have a strong emphasis on the diseases of copper includ ing the genetic diseases, Menkes and Wilson, and other possible health aspects of this met al seen from a molecular perspective. Overall we were very happy with the success of the meeting, and most participants were very enthusiastic. Unfortunately we were not able to obtain manuscripts from every contributor, but the selection in this book covers most of the topics discussed. The history of biological research into copper dates from the latter half of the last century when the presence of copper as a component of living systems was first noted, but it was not until the 1920s that the essential role of copper was first recognized. l. S. McHargue found that plants and animals needed copper for optimal growth and health and proposed that copper was needed for life (McHargue, 1925). Other groups soon confirmed these observations in plants. In animals the requirement of copper for hematopoiesis was discovered in 1928 (Hart et aI."

Gene Delivery into Mammalian Cells: An Overview on Existing Approaches Employed In Vitro and In Vivo, by Peter Hahn and Elizabeth Scanlan*

Strategies for the Preparation of Synthetic Transfection Vectors, by Asier Unciti-Broceta, Matthew N. Bacon, and Mark Bradley*Cationic Lipids: Molecular Structure/Transfection Activity Relationships and Interactions with Biomembranes, by Rumiana Koynova and Boris Tenchov*Hyperbranched Polyamines for Transfection, by Wiebke Fischer, Marcelo Calderon, and Rainer Haag*

Carbohydrate Polymers for Nonviral Nucleic Acid Delivery, by Antons Sizovs, Patrick M. McLendon, Sathya Srinivasachari,

and Theresa M. Reineke*Cationic Liposome-Nucleic Acid Complexes for Gene Delivery and Silencing: Pathways and Mechanisms for Plasmid DNA and siRNA, by Kai K. Ewert, Alexandra Zidovska, Ayesha Ahmad, Nathan F. Bouxsein, Heather M. Evans, Christopher S. McAllister, Charles E. Samuel, and Cyrus R. Safinya*Chemically Programmed Polymers for Targeted DNA and siRNA Transfection, by Eveline Edith Salcher and Ernst Wagner*Photochemical Internalization: A New Tool for Gene and Oligonucleotide Delivery, by Kristian Berg, Maria Berstad, Lina Prasmickaite, Anette Weyergang, Pal K. Selbo, Ida Hedfors, and Anders Hogset*Visualizing Uptake and Intracellular Trafficking of Gene Carriers by Single-Particle Tracking, by N. Ruthardt and C. Brauchle

Leading academic and biomedical researchers comprehensively review the status of essential fatty acids (EFA) in nutrition, medicine, psychology, and pharmacology. Topics range from a discussion of EFA basic mechanisms to their effects on individual psychiatry and behavior, and include extensive coverage of pathology, DHA in CNS development, and phospholipid and fatty acid composition and metabolism. Comprehensive and forward-looking, Fatty Acids: Physiological and Behavioral Functions reviews and critically evaluates our current knowledge of EFA, setting the stage for oncoming wave of discovery about the biochemical and molecular functions of essential fatty acids, as well as their critical role in human physiology, immunology, and behavior.

The formation of roots is in some respects one of the least fundamentally understood of all plant functions. Propagation by cuttings is the aspect that will occur first to most gardeners and horticulturists, and it is certainly the most useful application. But any observant traveller in the tropics can notice that some trees have the habit of forming roots in the air. Climbers like Cissus bear long fine strings of roots hanging down. Pandanus trees tend to have stout aerial roots issuing from the bases of the long branches, while the tangle of roots around the trunk of many of the Ficus species is characteristic. In Ficus bengalensis, in particular, stout cylindrical roots firmly embedded in the ground from a height of 3 to 5 meters give support to the long horizontal branches, enabling them to spread still further. In the big old specimen at Adyar near Madras, the spread of these branches all around the tree, each with a strong root growing out every few meters, makes a shaded area under which meetings of almost 5000 people are sometimes held. The history of how the formation of roots on stem cuttings was found to be under hormonal control is worth repeating here.

The subject for a volume on the fat-soluble vitamins needs no justification considering the importance of this group of nutrients and the rate of expan sion of our knowledge of its role in cell biology, genetics, and disease. The level of our understanding has clearly moved from knowing what fat soluble vitamins do to how they perform their functions. Hand in hand with a knowledge of their molecular mechanisms of action is the recognition that vitamins are used sparingly, and regeneration processes operate in certain cases to recycle vitamins from their metabolites. We have divided the volume into alphabetical sections beginning with vitamin A and the carotenoids through vitamins D, E, F, and K, and ending with coenzyme Q. The contributors are all acknowledged experts in their particular fields and have made significant contributions to published research results. All have worked assiduously to deliver the product of their labors on a restricted time scale and to provide the most up-to date information on their respective topics. We are truly grateful for their indulgence."

The plasma membrane is at once the window through which the cell senses the environment and the portal through which the environment influences the structure and activities of the cell. Its importance in cellular physiology can thus hardly be overestimated, since constant flow of materials between cell and environment is essential to the well-being of any biological system. The nature of the materials mov ing into the cell is also critical, since some substances are required for maintenance and growth, while others, because of their toxicity, must either be rigorously excluded or permitted to enter only after chemical alteration. Such alteration frequently permits the compounds to be sequestered in special cellular compartments having different types of membranes. This type of homogeneity, plus the fact that the wear and tear of transmembrane molecular traffic compels the system to be constantly monitored and repaired, means that the membrane system of any organism must be both structurally complex and dy namic. Membranes have been traditionally difficult to study because of their fragility and small diameter. In the last several decades, however, remarkable advances have been made because of techniques permit ting the bulk isolation of membranes from homogenized cells. From such isolated membranes have come detailed physical and chemical analyses that have given us a detailed working model of membrane. We now can make intelligent guesses about the structural and func tional interactions of membrane lipids, phospholipids, proteins, sterols and water.

The early history and development of the field of glycolipids was concerned mainly with the predominant glycolipids found in higher animal tissues, namely the glycosphingolipids, as has been extensively documented by J. N. Kanfer and S. Hakomori in Volume 3 of this series. The major glycolipids in organisms of the plant kingdom, however, such as bacteria, yeasts and fungi, algae, and higher plants, are glycoglycerolipids, although glycosphingolipids are also present as minor components in these organisms, except for bacteria. It is of interest that one of the pioneers in glycosphingolipid research, Herbert E. Carter, also pioneered the discovery and structural elucidation of the plant galactosyldiacylglycerols. This class of glycolipids is present in chlo roplast membranes and must surely be one of the most ubiquitous and abun dant natural substances in the world, thereby deserving the attention of lipid biochemists. It is therefore surprising to learn that in contrast to the glycosphingolipids, which were discovered in the 1870s, glycoglycerolipids were not discovered until the 1950s. Since that time investigations of the structure and distribution of these glycolipids have proceeded at an exponen tially increasing rate, and much information is now available for representa tives of many genera of bacteria, yeasts, algae, and higher plants. Glycoglyce rolipids have also been identified in animal cells, particularly in the brain, testes, and sperm."

The use oflasers has entered almost every facet of medicine and biology. Therefore, it is to be expected that the reviews contained in this vol urne will reflect this diversity. As dinical acceptance has grown with various diagnostic and therapeutic applications, so has the need for a more thorough understanding of the theoretical background for each. This is especially true where a correlation is to be made between the theoretical background and the experimental data. It is only in this way that we can attain the optimal form of any therapy. The basic coupling ofenergy into biological tissue and its conversion into heat is characterized by many parameters. One ofthe most important is pulse duration. The review by Bimgruber in Chapter 6 shows how our knowledge ofthis parameter has been extended.The need for a more basic understanding of the interaction of electromagnetic energy with various kinds of materials has led to investigations on the nature of plasmas their stability and instability, and how theyexist. Docchio reviews the factors that cause them to occur at a specific locale and then to move away from that site. The availabilityofmany types ofoptical fibers has extended our ability to deliver laser energy from various types oflasers into almost anyselected location. This is particularly useful in medicine, where less invasive ap proaches to surgery and diagnosis are always helpful. However, as Rol and his colleagues explain, the power-handling capabilities ofoptical fibers limit many applications, particularly for short-duration, high-peak-power laser pulses."

Dr. Heinonen reviews and critically evaluates the scientific literature on the biological role of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi ) published from 1940 to the end of 1999. He describes and classifies all known biochemical reactions that produce Ppi; describes and evaluates all published methods used in biological Ppi; and compiles and critically evaluates information on the concentration of PPi (with the conclusion that, contrary to common belief, PPi exists throughout the living world in rather high concentrations). Many reactions in which PPi is used as a biochemical energy source instead of ATP have been described in recent decades, especially in bacteria, protists, and plants. These reactions are evaluated from the bioenergetic and regulatory points of view. Also considered is the possible role of PPi as a source of biochemical energy in the primitive phases of life, before ATP. Data is presented on the regulatory role of PPi in living systems, such as activities of enzymes, fidelity of syntheses of macromolecules, and proliferation of cells. PPi may also regulate the formation and dissolution of bone as well as pathologic calcification of soft tissues and the formation of urinary stones. The formation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the extracellular fluids of joints cause the disease called pseudogout. Biological Role of Inorganic Pyrophosphate book is a unique and invaluable source of references (about 1120) and summarized data for professionals who study or plan to study the role of PPi in living systems. Many different branches of science (biochemistry, microbiology, bioenergetics, plant physiology, parasitology, evolution, orthopedics, rheumatology) have involvement with PPi. This book sums up available knowledge in one place and will help scientists cross disciplinary boundaries.

Cardiorespiratory function is prominently affected by oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking is the archetype of oxidative and nitrative stress and free radical formation. New adverse effects of smoking keep on propping up in research. The chapters provide the comprehensive view of new developments in this area regarding cardiovascular and lung function and muscle catabolism. Alterations in inflammatory cytokines and proteins as well as degradation of muscle proteins due to smoking, by far unrecognized, caused by oxidative stress also are presented. Much less is known about the effect of cognitive stress on vagally-mediated cardiorespiratory function and surprisingly, on vagal immune pathway. The experimental studies also show that clinically important meconium aspiration syndrome contains an oxidative trait which is amenable to antioxidative treatment. This volume creates a source of information on the damaging role of oxidative stress in cardiorespiratory function that has by far not been available.

The NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on "Regulation of Enzymatic Systems Detoxifying Xenobiotics in Plants" intended to provide a forum to scientists from academia, industry, and govemment for discussing and critically assessing recent advances in the field of xenobiotic metabolism in plants and for identifying new directions for future research. Plants function in a chemical environment made up of nutrients and xenobiotics. Xenobiotics (foreign chemicals) are natural or synthetic compounds that can not be utilized by plants for energy-yielding metabolism. Plants may be exposed to xenobiotics either deliberately, due to their use as pesticides or accidentally, from industrial, agricultural, and other uses. Plants, like most other organisms, evolved a remarkable battery or metabolic reactions to defend themselves against the potentially toxic effects of xenobiotics. The main enzymatic reactions utilized by plants for xenobiotic detoxification include oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and conjugation with glutathione, sugars (e.g., glucose), and amino acids. Eventually, xenobiotic conjugates are converted to insoluble bound residues or to secondary conjugates, which are deposited in the vacuole of plant cells.

This volume provides an exhaustive review of the most current knowledge of the composition, architecture and dynamics of the nuclear envelope. In contrast to other comprehensive works on cellular membranes in general, this book is the first to specifically address the nuclear envelope. Experts in the field relate the different domains of the nuclear envelope, their biogenesis, their composition, their mode of targeting to chromosomes and how they dissociate from chromosomes upon cell division. A wealth of information from several experimental systems is provided, such as dividing somatic cells, embryos and nuclear assembly assays in cell-free extracts, in a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms ranging from humans to yeast. The book also contains up-to-date reviews on the relationship between mutations in proteins of the nuclear envelope and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. The breadth of topics covered in what may seem to be a field as narrow as the nuclear envelope makes this volume a valuable reference.

It has been more than five years since the appearance of the first edition of Nitric Oxide Protocols. According to Medline, more than 32,500 publications dealing with nitric oxide have appeared in the primary literature in the int- vening time from 1999 to April 2004. These numbers attest to the continuing vitality of a field dealing with a deceptively simple, although extremely int- esting and promiscuous molecule, nitric oxide. Despite its apparent chemical simplicity, nitric oxide continues to amaze, with an extremely wide spectrum of functions and effects. In particular, the last few years have witnessed an explosion of nonclassical effects, involving the direct interaction of nitric - ide and related oxidized products with proteins to yield such novel combi- tions as nitrosylated and nitrated proteins. Another emergent area has been that of NO s clinical applications, including interesting developments related to the virus-mediated expression of nitric oxide synthase and the use of nitric oxide in gene therapy. In Nitric Oxide Protocols, I have gathered chapters dealing with the some of the latest methodologies for the measurement of nitric oxide. Many of these deal with quantitation in biological fluids or tissues, and they cover a wide spectrum of technologies, including capillary electrophoresis, microcoaxial electrodes, the in vivo measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air, confocal microscopy, gas chromatography mass spectroscopy, in situ hybridization, and real-time polymerase chain reaction."

The beginnings of human civili zation can be traced back to the time , ne- ly 12 ,000 years ago , when th e early humans gradually ch anged from a life of hunting and gathering food , to producing food. This beginning of pri- tive agriculture ensured a dependable supply of food , and fostered the living together of people in groups and the development of s o c i e ty. During th is time, plant s e e ds were recognized a s a valuable s o ur c e of food and nutrition , and began to be used for growing plants for food. Ever s i n c e , plant seeds have played an important role in the development of the human civilization . Even today, s e e ds of a few crop s p e c i e s , s uc h as the cereals and legume s, are the primary s o u r c e of most human food , and the predominant commodity in international agriculture. Owing to their great importance as food for human s and in international trade , seeds have been a favorite object of s t u d y by developmental biologists and physiologi sts , nutritionist s and chem i sts . A wealth of useful information i s available on th e biology of seed s .

Despite a half century of structural, biophysical and biochemical investigations of ribonucleic acids, they are still mysterious. RNAs stand at fertile crossroads of disciplines, integrating concepts from genomics, proteomics, dynamics as well as biochemistry and molecular biology. From 20 years it is clear, that genetic regulation of eukaryotic organisms has been misunderstood for the last years that the expression of genetic information is effected only by proteins. Basic understanding of nucleic acids has enhanced our foundation to probe novel biological functions. This is especially evident for RNA molecules whose functionality, maturation, and regulation require formation of correct secondary structure through encoded base-pairing interactions.

Historically, scientists and laymen have regarded salinity as a hazar dous, detrimental phenomenon. This negative view was a principal reason for the lack of agricultural development of most arid and semi arid zones of the world where the major sources of water for biological production are saline. The late Hugo Boyko was probably the first scientist in recent times to challenge this commonly held, pessimistic view of salinity. His research in Israel indicated that many plants can be irrigated with saline water, even at seawater strength, if they are in sandy soil - a technique that could open much barren land to agriculture. This new, even radical, approach to salinity was clearly enunciated in the book he edited and most appropriately entitled 'Salinity and Aridity: New Approaches to Old Problems' (1966). A decade later, three members of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), Lewis Mayfield, James Aller and Oskar Zaborsky, formulated the 'Biosaline Concept'; namely, that poor soils, high solar insolation and saline water, which prevail in arid lands, should be viewed as useful resources rather than as disadvantages, and that these resources can be used for non-traditional production of food, fuels and chemicals. The First International Workshop on Biosaline Research was con vened at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in 1977 by A. San Pietro."

This book was developed from the proceedings of the 2nd North American Tan nin Conference held in Houghton, Michigan, June, 1991. The objective of this con ference was to bring together people with a common interest in plant polyphenols and to promote interdisciplinary interactions that will lead to a bet ter understand ing of the importance of these substances. Another objective of this conference was to extend the 'tannin family' by making special efforts to encourage participation by scientists outside the United States, obtain more coverage of the hydrolyzable tannins, and further broaden the scope of coverage from the initial concentration on forestry and forest products. Com parison of the contents of this book with 'Chemistry and Significance of Condensed Tannins' that resulted from the proceedings of the 1st North American Tannin Conference shows the degree that these objectives were met. In developing the second conference, care was taken to assure that this book extends rather than duplicates the coverage of the first conference. Therefore, the two books should be taken together to obtain an up to date coverage of the broad area of chemistry and significance of plant polyphenols. Our thanks go to the authors who so kindly contributed chapters and so pa tiently responded to our requests. We thank the Conference Assistance Staff of Michigan Technological University for their help in planning and conducting the conference."