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
* Each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research
* Authored by some of the foremost international scientists in the field
* Fully illustrated in color and black and white

Although knowledge of the development and differentiation of glial cells has significantly increased in recent years, there are still many questions unanswered. The first section of the book is devoted to this very active topic and includes contributions on Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, astroglia and microglia.

The second section of the book covers cellular interactions, the role they play on myelination and remyelination, how these interactions take place and the molecules involved.

The third section of this volume focuses on the interactions of neurons with glial cells and their role in brain function. Neuron-glia cross talk appears to be fundamental for synaptic transmission and several chapters in this section address this topic.

The topic of how glial cells react to brain injury and how they participate in neuroprotection and brain repair is covered in section four of this book. As our knowledge about the molecules involved in the regenerative properties of glia increases, new avenues are open for the use of genetically modified glia with therapeutic purposes.

The final section of the book is devoted to therapeutic approaches to tumours, viral and prion infections. Gene therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of gliomas, one of the most devastating forms of cancer. A chapter on prion diseases and microglia addresses a question of tremendous actuality, since prion diseases in cows is at this moment the major veterinary problem in Europe and has created a considerable social alarm.

Mitochondria are complex organelles, possessing a double-membrane and even their own genome, the mtDNA. They play a pivotal role in cellular metabolism, respiration, and production of ATP essential for the normal function of all human organ systems. It is not surprising, therefore, that genetic defects of mitochondrial functions cause a wide spectrum of human diseases. This book provides the first modern and truly comprehensive coverage of the biochemistry, genetics, and pathology of mitochondria in different organisms. It particularly focuses on the recent advances in our understanding of basic mitochondrial research to the consequences of dysfunction at the molecular level.

The 13 contributions written by leading researchers in the field include topics such as: mitochondrial genome evolution and mtDNA stability, mitochondrial biogenesis and protein quality control, mitochondrial morphology, assembly and function of the mitochondrial energy generation apparatus and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. These are particularly oriented to link in these various mitochondrial pathways to the clinical consequences of their dysfunctions.

This book offers a wide ranging and review of cutting edge developments along with tried and tested methods for isolation, resolution and quantification of inositol phospholipids and inositol polyphosphates in both cells and tissues. It includes detailed and rigorous methodology for identification of molecular species of inositol phospholipids, including their phosphates and glycans, with numerous examples of specific applications.

Wherever available, both chromatographic and mass spectrometric
evidence is presented for specific phospholipid involvement in the biochemical transformations accompanying metabolic signalling events and, where possible, controversies have been resolved on basis of analytical ambiguity. The review of the lipid
analyses extends to products of phosphatidylinositol kinases, phosphatases and lipases.

A general review chapter is included on metabolic signalling with special emphasis on the lipid products of 3-kinases. In view of the general lack of commercially available standards for inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates, the book concludes with a chapter on the preparation and collection of chromatographic and mass spectrometric proof of their purity and identity.
This book complements recent books and reviews on the mechanisms metabolic signalling, receptor binding and the polypeptide structure of the proteins involved in the various signalling pathways. It also complements those texts that deal exclusively with the chemical synthesis of the phosphatidylinositols and their polyphosphates and glycans.

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.

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

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

Now in two volumes, this completely updated and expanded edition of Embryonic Stem Cells: Methods and Protocols provides a diverse collection of readily reproducible cellular and molecular protocols for the manipulation of nonhuman embryonic stem cells. Volume two, Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols: Differentiation Models, Second Edition, covers state-of-the-art methods for deriving many types of differentiating cells from ES cells. The first volume, Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols: Isolation and Characterization, Second Edition, provides a diverse collection of readily reproducible cellular and molecular protocols for the isolation, maintenance, and characterization of embryonic stem cells. Together, the two volumes illuminate for both novices and experts our current understanding of the biology of embryonic stem cells and their utility in normal tissue homeostasis and regenerative medicine applications.

In "Animal Models for Stem Cell Therapy: Methods and Protocols, "expert researchers in the field detail disease models of hepatic, cardiovascular, neurological diseases, connective and contractile tissue. Chapters focus on a wide range of diseases and application of different kinds of stem cells and reprogrammed tissue cells (iPS).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 key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and practical, "Animal Models for Stem Cell Therapy: Methods and Protocols, "covers interest of basic scientists and clinicians to assess the biological as well as the therapeutic potential of stem cell therapy."

The book focuses on the aqueous interface of biomolecules, a vital yet overlooked area of biophysical research. Most biological phenomena cannot be fully understood at the molecular level without considering interfacial behavior. The author presents conceptual advances in molecular biophysics that herald the advent of a new discipline, epistructural biology, centered on the interactions of water and bio molecular structures across the interface. The author introduces powerful theoretical and computational resources in order to address fundamental topics such as protein folding, the physico-chemical basis of enzyme catalysis and protein associations. On the basis of this information, a multi-disciplinary approach is used to engineer therapeutic drugs and to allow substantive advances in targeted molecular medicine. This book will be of interest to scientists, students and practitioners in the fields of chemistry, biophysics and biomedical engineering.

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.

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.

RNA technologies are the driving forces of modern medicine and biotechnology. They combine the fields of biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physics, nanotechnology and bioinformatics. The combination of these topics is set to revolutionize the medicine of tomorrow. After more than 15 years of extensive research in the field of RNA technologies, the first therapeutics are ready to reach the first patients. Thus we are witnessing the birth of a very exciting time in the development of molecular medicine, which will be based on the methods of RNA technologies. This volume is the first of a series. It covers various aspects of RNA interference and microRNAs, although antisense RNA applications, hammerhead ribozyme structure and function as well as non-coding RNAs are also discussed. The authors are internationally highly respected experts in the field of RNA technologies.

Single Cell Diagnostics: Methods and Protocols applies modern
molecular diagnostic techniques to the analysis of single cells, small
numbers of cells, or cell extracts. Emphasis is placed on non-invasive
analysis of single cell metabolites and the direct analysis of RNA and
DNA from single cells, with a focus on polymerase chain reaction and
fluorescence in situ hybridization. The authors, all leading
scientists in the field, provide current and innovative methods for
extracting useful, accurate, and reliable data from single-cell
samples. The stepwise, technically precise protocols presented in this
volume thoroughly describe single-cell assays, from material collection
and isolation of cells to data interpretation. Cell-types analyzed
include embryonic blastomeres, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes. Among the
techniques described are real-time quantitative PCR, isothermal whole
genome amplification, comparative genomic hybridization, real-time
genetic expression analysis, and the production of RNA and cDNA
libraries. This handbook will be essential for researchers and
clinicians, and practitioners providing care for couples seeking
treatment for infertility or preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

This volume of the acclaimed Methods in Cell Biology series provides specific examples of applications of confocal microscopy to cell biological problems. It is an essential guide for students and scientists in cell biology, neuroscience, and many other areas of biological and biomedical research, as well as research directors and technical staff of microscopy and imaging facilities.
An integrated and up-to-date coverage on the many various techniques and uses of the confocal microscope (CM).
Key Features
* Includes detailed protocols accessible to new users
* Details how to set up and run a "Confocal Microscope Core Facility"
* Contains over 170 figures

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.

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.

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

This book explores Dental Stem Cell (DSC) biology, from a review of basic concepts for cell culture, to isolation, self-renewal, multipotency and differentiation, regulation by molecular medicine, and prospective research areas for regenerative medicine. The first seven chapters delve into basic DSC properties, vital signaling pathways involved in differentiation, pluripotency, iPS cell development from DSCs, and genetic engineering approaches of DSCs in accordance with the current literature. A comprehensive review of possible clinical applications and in vitro/in vivo studies follows, illustrating the future of DSC research for in the tissue engineering field. The text also discusses the political, ethical, social, and legal ramifications of the use of dental stem cells. Expertly authored and drawing from a multitude of international perspectives, Dental Stem Cells is an invaluable addition to Springer's Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series. It is essential reading for advanced graduate students, basic researchers, and clinical investigators in the fields of stem cell therapy, biological sciences of dentistry, and regenerative medicine.

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.

Apoptosis: Involvement of Oxidative Stress and Intracellular Ca2+ Homeostasis, presents a concise synthesis of the current knowledge and recent advances in the mechanisms of apoptosis in different cells and the role of oxidative stress and Ca2+ signalling. Particular attention is given to the different features of apoptosis in distinct cell types, ranging from hepatocytes to cardiovascular and blood cells, nervous cells or spermatozoa.

Cutting-edge and user-friendly, this volume serves as a comprehensive resource for those interested in the fascinating biological processes associated to programmed cell death or apoptosis. The book is divided in two major chapter sections: general mechanisms of the apoptotic pathways and the role of oxidative stress and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and a more specific section dedicated to the specificities of apoptosis in a number of excitable and non-excitable cells.

All of the contributions are from specialists in the field and the reviews presented, systemically examine the most exciting and innovative aspects of the apoptotic pathways in their particular areas of expertise.

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.

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.

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.

This thesis describes a new approach for cell analysis by the rapid developing microfluidic technology. The nominee has made great contributions to develop a new analysis platform which combined microfluidic devices with mass spectrometry to determine the trace compounds secreted by cells. Based on this analysis platform, she studied the specific cell secreting behaviors under controlled microenvironment, of which the secretion compounds were qualified and semi-quantified by mass spectrometry. A novel cell sorting device integrated homogenous porous PDMS membrane was invented to classify cells from real samples based on the size difference. The nominee further studied the signal transmission between different cells, and the signal chemicals were qualitative and quantitative monitored by the analysis platform. This indicates the potential significant application of the new cell analysis platform in medicine screening and early diagnosis.