Power Laws, Scale-free Networks and Genome Biology deals with crucial aspects of the theoretical foundations of systems biology, namely power law distributions and scale-free networks which have emerged as the hallmarks of biological organization in the post-genomic era. The chapters in the book not only describe the interesting mathematical properties of biological networks but moves beyond phenomenology, toward models of evolution capable of explaining the emergence of these features. The collection of chapters, contributed by both physicists and biologists, strives to address the problems in this field in a rigorous but not excessively mathematical manner and to represent different viewpoints, which is crucial in this emerging discipline. Each chapter includes, in addition to technical descriptions of properties of biological networks and evolutionary models, a more general and accessible introduction to the respective problems. Most chapters emphasize the potential of theoretical systems biology for discovery of new biological phenomena.

Intermediate Filaments focuses on desmin and other intermediate filaments in disease and health. This new volume will serve as a resource for graduate students and researchers in the field.

International Review of Cytology 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. Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research.
Key Features
* 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

International Review of Cytology 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. Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research.
Key Features
* 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

Kinetochores orchestrate the faithful transmission of chromosomes from one generation to the next. Kinetochores were first depicted over 100 years ago, but kinetochore research has progressed by leaps and bounds since the first description of their constituent DNA and proteins in the 1980s. "The Kinetochore: from Molecular Discoveries to Cancer Therapy" presents a thorough up-to-date analysis of kinetochore and centromere composition, formation, regulation, and activity, both in mitosis and meiosis, in humans and "model" eukaryotic species, and at natural and mutant neocentromeres. Recently initiated translational research on kinetochores is also discussed as kinetochores are being mined as a very rich target for the next generations of anti-cancer drugs.

Nuclear Transfer Protocols: Cell Reprogramming and Transgenesis is a comprehensive review of nuclear transfer technology in vertebrates, aimed at reprogramming differentiated nuclei and effecting targeted gene transfer. The emphasis here is on providing readily reproducible techniques for the gene- tion of cloned embryos and animals in a number of key research and commercially important vertebrates. Additional chapters provide alternative cutting-edge methods for nuclear transfer, such as zona-free nuclear transfer and serial nuclear transfer. Of immense practical benefit are descriptions of procedures associated with cloning, such as in vitro maturation of oocytes, activation and culture of cloned embryos, maintenance of pregnancy, and neonatal care of clones. Nuclear Transfer Protocols: Cell Reprogramming and Transgenesis also provides an understanding of the factors involved in nuclear reprogramming, which is imperative for the success of cloning. A section dealing with such cloning-related issues as aging and normality of clones is also included making this an essential comprehensive handbook for research and commercial labo- tories involved in, or intending to work on, nuclear transfer. The volume will prove beneficial to molecular biologists, stem cell biologists, clinicians, biotechnologists, students, veterinarians, and animal care technicians involved with reprogramming, nuclear transfer, and transgenesis.

This book focuses on the intersection between cell cycle regulation and embryo development. Specific modifications of the canonical cell cycle occur throughout the whole period of development and are adapted to fulfil functions coded by the developmental program. Deciphering these adaptations is essential to comprehending how living organisms develop. The aim of this book is to review the best-known modifications and adaptations of the cell cycle during development. The first chapters cover the general problems of how the cell cycle evolves, while consecutive chapters guide readers through the plethora of such phenomena. The book closes with a description of specific changes in the cell cycle of neurons in the senescent human brain. Taken together, the chapters present a panorama of species - from worms to humans - and of developmental stages - from unfertilized oocyte to aged adult.

Plant microtubules are key elements of cell growth, division and morphogenesis. In addition to their role in plant development and architecture, they have emerged as regulatory elements of signalling and important targets of evolution.

Since the publication of the first edition of Plant Microtubules in 2000, our understanding of microtubules and their manifold functions have advanced substantially. Consisting of the following three parts, this book highlights the morphogenetic potential of plant microtubules from three general viewpoints: Microtubules and Morphogenesis: control of cell axis during division and expansion, cross-talk with actin filaments, mechanical properties of the cell wall. Microtubules and Environment: the role of microtubules during the sensing or response of environmental factors such as pathogens or abiotic stresses. Microtubules and Evolution: complexity and specialization of plant microtubules in the context of plant evolution.

The book is an invaluable source of information for researchers as well as for graduate and advanced students.

In this volume of "Cell and Molecular Responses to Stress" articles provide up-to-date information on key areas of signal sensing (sensing of pain, heat, cold, light, infrared radiation), molecules involved in the intracellular transmission of these signals, metabolic responses to stress including changes in gene expression and production of specialized proteins that aid cell responses to factors including interrupted blood supply (ischemia), oxygen limitation (hypoxia/anoxia), freezing and dehydration, amino acid limitation, radiation and processing drugs. There are chapters which also provide insights into new technologies (such as cDNA arrays), analysis of metabolic control theory (a key method for analysing stress effects on cells), and examine how enzymes evolve in the face of stress.

Critically acclaimed for more than 25 years, the Methods in Cell Biology series provides an indispensable tool for the researcher. Each volume is carefully edited by experts to contain state-of-the-art reviews and step-by-step protocols. Techniques are described completely so that methods are made accessible to users. This volume, Methods of Cell-Matrix Adhesion, contains integrated coverage on cell-matrix adhesion methods. It brings the classical methodologies and the latest techniques together in one concise volume. This coverage includes experimental protocols and their conceptual background for all aspects of cell-matrix adhesion research: the extracellular matrix, adhesion receptors, and the growing number of functional applications of matrix-adhesion in molecular cell biology. Also covered is the purification of the extracellular matrix to functional analyses of cellular responses.

Much of our knowledge of stem cells has been inferred from studies of remarkable few species. The ability to manipulate stem cells in model organisms such as the mouse and a few other vertebrate species has driven our understanding of basic biology of stem cells. The power and efficiency of studying model organisms, however, comes at a cost since a few species, obviously, do not reflect nature?'s true diversity. Unfortunately, although all multicellular organisms seem to rely on stem cells, and although this seems to be a question of key importance for understanding the evolution of animal life, little is known about stem cells in early-branching taxa. The book Stem Cells: From Hydra to Man illustrates that here is more than human and mouse stem cells to learn from. Reflecting an enormous growth in the knowledge of stem cells in various organisms, the book presents the conceptual language and the nature of questions, as well as a summary of the advances in our understanding of stem cells from a comparative point of view that has resulted from the development of new technology and the development of novel model organisms over the past few decades. As such this book is largely a horizon analysis of a frontier rather than a retrospective. It presents an integrative approach to animal stem cells and covers the major contributions, tools and trends in a newly emerging field: comparative stem cell biology.

This volume provides a collection of protocols for the common experimental approaches used in the in the burgeoning field of c-di-GMP-dependent signaling. The chapters, divided into eight major parts, guide readers through methods on synthesis, detection, quantitation, modulation of the levels of c-di-GMP present in cells, procedures to detect and evaluate the interaction of c-di-GMP, and up and coming approaches focusing on the inhibition of c-di-GMP signaling.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, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, c-di-GMP Signaling: Methods and Protocols aims to inspire researchers to try new approaches.

International Review of Cytology presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology--both plant and animal. Articles in this volume address topics such as amphibians as models for the study of endocrine disruptors; the structure and function of the Entamoeba histoytica Gal/GalNAc lectin; epigenetic mechanisms for the primary differentiation in mammalian embryos; glycocalyx of lung epithelial cells; molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the generation of fiber diversity during myogenesis; and the leukocyte cytoskeleton in cell migration and immune interactions. Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research.

This is the first book to cover the history, structure, and application of atomic force microscopy in cell biology. Presented in the clear, well-illustrated style of the Methods in Cell Biology series, it introduces the AFM to its readers and enables them to tap the power and scope of this technology to further their own research. A practical laboratory guide for use of the atomic force and photonic force microscopes, it provides updated technology and methods in force spectroscopy. It is also a comprehensive and easy-to-follow practical laboratory guide for the use of the AFM and PFM in biological research.

Muscle contraction has been the focus of scientific investigation for more than two centuries, and major discoveries have changed the field over the years. Early in the twentieth century, Fenn (1924, 1923) showed that the total energy liberated during a contraction (heat + work) was increased when the muscle was allowed to shorten and perform work. The result implied that chemical reactions during contractions were load-dependent. The observation underlying the "Fenn effect" was taken to a greater extent when Hill (1938) published a pivotal study showing in details the relation between heat production and the amount of muscle shortening, providing investigators with the force-velocity relation for skeletal muscles. Subsequently, two papers paved the way for the current paradigm in the field of muscle contraction. Huxley and Niedergerke (1954), and Huxley and Hanson (1954) showed that the width of the A-bands did not change during muscle stretch or activation. Contraction, previously believed to be caused by shortening of muscle filaments, was associated with sliding of the thick and thin filaments. These studies were followed by the classic paper by Huxley (1957), in which he conceptualized for the first time the cross-bridge theory; filament sliding was driven by the cyclical interactions of myosin heads (cross-bridges) with actin. The original cross-bridge theory has been revised over the years but the basic features have remained mostly intact. It now influences studies performed with molecular motors responsible for tasks as diverse as muscle contraction, cell division and vesicle transport.

Chromosomes Today, Volume 13 includes the plenary lectures presented at the 13th International Chromosome Conference, covering the most recent advances in the studies on chromosomes. The contributions in this volume were presented by some of the world's leaders in cytogenetic and molecular research and outline the present status of knowledge on the composition, structure, function and evolution of chromosomes, including, among others, the advancement of the human genome project. The use of cytogenetic studies has greatly increased in the last few years, resulting in a progressive improvement in the available methods that has consequently allowed a more detailed analysis of the molecular organization of eukaryotic chromosomes and a precise in situ localisation of specific gene sequences. This volume of Chromosomes Today provides up-to-date information regarding the topics at the forefront of chromosome research: genetic regulation, imprinting, DNA duplication, meiotic pairing, and the regulation of the...

This book surveys the most recent advances in physics-inspired cell movement models. This synergetic, cross-disciplinary effort to increase the fidelity of computational algorithms will lead to a better understanding of the complex biomechanics of cell movement, and stimulate progress in research on related active matter systems, from suspensions of bacteria and synthetic swimmers to cell tissues and cytoskeleton.Cell motility and collective motion are among the most important themes in biology and statistical physics of out-of-equilibrium systems, and crucial for morphogenesis, wound healing, and immune response in eukaryotic organisms. It is also relevant for the development of effective treatment strategies for diseases such as cancer, and for the design of bioactive surfaces for cell sorting and manipulation. Substrate-based cell motility is, however, a very complex process as regulatory pathways and physical force generation mechanisms are intertwined. To understand the interplay between adhesion, force generation and motility, an abundance of computational models have been proposed in recent years, from finite element to immerse interface methods and phase field approaches.This book is primarily written for physicists, mathematical biologists and biomedical engineers working in this rapidly expanding field, and can serve as supplementary reading for advanced graduate courses in biophysics and mathematical biology. The e-book incorporates experimental and computer animations illustrating various aspects of cell movement.

This widely expanded second edition offers a compilation of robust, reproducible techniques for the conservation of a wide range of biological materials. It includes novel approaches and protocols that were not preservable when the first edition was published.

The book begins with a discussion of long term ex situ conservation of biological resources, the role of biological resource centers, and fundamental principles of freeze-drying and cryopreservation. Each chapter focuses on the preservation of specific biological materials, including proteins, mircroorganisms, cell lines, and multicellular structures.

A remarkable spectrum of novel immunoreceptors sharing related immunoglobulin-like domains and signaling potential has been identified in recent years. These receptors have attracted widespread interest because they resemble the TCR, BCR, and FcR complexes in their ability to serve as activating or inhibitory receptors on the cells that bear them. Moreover, they are well positioned to affect both innate and adaptive immunity. The full range of ligands for these new receptor families is still not known, and understanding of their physiological roles is far from complete. This volume is the first attempt to summarize and highlight all known aspects of immunoglobulin-like receptors, providing a topical overview of the roles and characteristic features of the immunoglobulin-like receptors and related molecules in the immune system. Researchers in immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, clinical medicine, and pharmacology will find this book invaluable.

A fundamental understanding of algorithmic bioprocesses is key to learning how information processing occurs in nature at the cell level. The field is concerned with the interactions between computer science on the one hand and biology, chemistry, and DNA-oriented nanoscience on the other. In particular, this book offers a comprehensive overview of research into algorithmic self-assembly, RNA folding, the algorithmic foundations for biochemical reactions, and the algorithmic nature of developmental processes.

The editors of the book invited 36 chapters, written by the leading researchers in this area, and their contributions include detailed tutorials on the main topics, surveys of the state of the art in research, experimental results, and discussions of specific research goals. The main subjects addressed are sequence discovery, generation, and analysis; nanoconstructions and self-assembly; membrane computing; formal models and analysis; process calculi and automata; biochemical reactions; and other topics from natural computing, including molecular evolution, regulation of gene expression, light-based computing, cellular automata, realistic modelling of biological systems, and evolutionary computing.

This subject is inherently interdisciplinary, and this book will be of value to researchers in computer science and biology who study the impact of the exciting mutual interaction between our understanding of bioprocesses and our understanding of computation.

Molecular chaperones interact with virtually every newly synthesized protein. This volume assembles a collection of reviews on molecular chaperones that is both timely and basic. The book uniquely combines the basics of the subject area with the latest results. This makes it an excellent entrance for novices into the field and is suitable for teaching purposes. It also provides a source of substantial information for experts.

Only in recent times has the possibility of growing and implanting replacement teeth, made from one s own cells, moved into the realm of realistic possibilities; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tooth development must be studied in a range of vertebrates, from zebrafish to mice, so that evolutionarily conserved network kernels, which will define the cellular states of generic vertebrate tooth development, can be recognized. In "Odontogenesis: Methods and Protocols," experts in the field examine techniques to approach this burgeoning field. This detailed volume includes chapters on the detection of tooth development gene expression, both at the RNA and protein level, current approaches to the manipulation of gene expression levels and subsequent analysis of tooth phenotypes, as well as chapters concerning current efforts to get living tooth implants working without waiting for a full understanding of the developmental pathways at the molecular level. 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, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips for troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Practical and easy to use, "Odontogenesis: Methods and Protocols" aims to help researchers move forward toward the ultimate goal of getting a bioengineered tooth into the patient s mouth.

There has been an enormous advance in our understanding of the regulation of the cell division cycle in the last five years. The leap in understanding has centered on the cell cycle control protein p34cdc2 and its congeners and on the cyclins. The most important insight to emerge has been that cell cycle control mechanisms and their participating proteins are very well-conserved through evolution. This has created a spectacular growth in knowledge as data from one organism have been readily applied to another. In this volume, there are sea urchin and frog eggs, as well as mammalian cells and yeast. There is also an illustration of how fruitful the genetic approach can be in other organisms than yeast with a chapter on "Aspergillus nidulans."
The cell cycle kinase has been well-characterized and has also been well-exposed in numerous proceedings volumes and collections. In this issue of Advances in Molecular Cell Biology, the cell cycle kinase is ever present, but in the early chapters it has a supporting role. Center stage are the regulatory mechanisms that control the kinase. The contribution that the centrosome (the organelle of cell division) makes to cell cycle regulation are described. The part played by calcium and calcium-controlled regulatory proteins is emphasized. The importance of phosphatase as well as kinase activity to cell cycle regulation is stressed. The last words are reserved for the mitotic kinase: the last chapters describe its effects and its regulation in cell-free systems.

In this fully revised edition of an established classic, expert researchers and clinicians describe in step-by-step detail updated techniques for the isolation and growth of major primary cell types, such as kidney proximal tubule cells, hepatocytes, keratinocytes, and cardiomyocytes. The authors offer readily reproducible new methods for the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into various hematopoietic cell types, for fetal thymic organ culture, and for the isolation and culture of specialized cell types, such as mammary progenitor cells, skeletal muscle myofibers, mesenchymal cells, neural stem cells, hematopoietic cells, stromal cell lines, and endothelial cells. Additional chapters describe new techniques (leukocyte rolling, isolation of side-population cells, and scalable production of ES-derived cells) and detail quality control methods for cell lines (detection and elimination of mycoplasma, DNA fingerprinting, and cytogenetic analysis).

A wide-ranging collection of readily reproducible methods for performing nuclear reprogramming by nuclear transfer in several different species, by fusion through both chemical treatment and electrically shocking cells, and by in vivo treatment of cells with cell extracts. Several methods of monitoring nuclear reprogramming are also presented, including the use of transgenic markers, activation of telomerase as an ES-specific marker, light and electron microscopic observation of structural changes in the nucleus, and verification of surface marker expression and the differentiation potential of stem cells. Biochemical methods are provided for the examination of chromatin protein modifications, nucleosomal footprinting, transcription factor binding, and the study of DNA methylation changes both at the specific locus level and at the level of the whole nucleus.