This volume, along with its companion (volume 475), presents methods and protocols dealing with thiol oxidation-reduction reactions and their implications as they relate tocell signaling. This firstinstallment of Cadenas and Packer's two-volume treatment specifically deals with glutathionylation and dethiolation, and peroxide removal by peroxiredoxins/thioredoxins and glutathione peroxidases. The critically acclaimed laboratory standard for40 years, "Methods in Enzymology" is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Since 1955, each volume has been eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike.Over 450volumes have been published to date, and much of the material is relevant even today--truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences.
*Along with companion volume, provides a full overview of techniques necessary to the study of thiol redox in relation to cell signaling
* Gathers tried and tested techniques from global labs, offering both new and tried-and-true methods
* Relevant background and reference information given for procedures can be used as a guide to developing protocols in a number of disciplines"

Arterial chemoreceptors are unique structures which continuously monitor changes in arterial blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, and acid. Alterations in these gases are almost instantaneously sensed by arterial chemoreceptors and relayed into a physiological response which restores blood homeostasis. Arterial Chemoreception contains updated material regarding the physiology of the primary arterial chemoreceptor; the carotid body. Moreover, this book also explores tantalizing evidence regarding the contribution of the aortic bodies, chromaffin cells, lung neuroepithelial bodies, and brainstem areas involved in monitoring changes in blood gases. Furthermore this collection includes data showing the critical importance of these chemoreceptors in the pathophysiology of human disease and possible therapeutic treatments. This book is a required text for any researcher in the field of arterial chemoreception for years to come. It is also a critical text for physicians searching for bench-to-bedside treatments for heart failure, sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension.

Due to their novel concepts and extraordinary high-throughput sequencing capacity, the "next generation sequencing" methods allow scientists to grasp system-wide landscapes of the complex molecular events taking place in various biological systems, including microorganisms and microbial communities. These methods are now being recognized as essential tools for a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying many biological processes. In High-Throughput Next Generation Sequencing: Methods and Applications, experts in the field explore the most recent advances in the applications of next generation sequencing technologies with an emphasis on microorganisms and their communities; however, the methods described in this book will also offer general applications relevant to the study of any living organisms. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) 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. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, High-Throughput Next Generation Sequencing: Methods and Applications is an excellent collection of chapters to aid all scientists who wish to apply these innovative research tools to enhance their own pursuits in microbiology and also biology in general.

Recent developments in stem cell biology have opened new directions in cell therapy. This book provides the state-of-the-art developments in using biomaterials as artificial niches for engineering stem cells, both for the purpose of better understanding their biology under 3D biomimetic conditions as well as for developing new strategies for efficient long term maintenance and directed differentiation of stem cells into various therapeutic lineages. Animal and human stem cells of both embryonic and adult origin are discussed with applications ranging from nerve regeneration, orthopedics, cardiovascular therapy, blood cell generation and cancer therapy. Both synthetic and natural biomaterials are reviewed with emphasis on how material-stem cell interactions direct specific signaling pathways and ultimately modulate the cell fate. This book is valuable for biomaterial scientists, tissue engineers, clinicians as well as stem cell biologists involved in basic research and applications of adult and embryonic stem cells.

Two sigma receptor subtypes have been proposed, sigma1 and 2. Much of our understanding of this system is based on biochemical and pharmacological characterization of the cloned sigma1 receptor subtype (Sigma1). It has become clear that sigma receptors are not canonical receptors. Sigma1 is highly conserved among mammalian species, however, it does not share significant homology with any other mammalian protein. Although a range of structurally diverse small molecules bind Sigma1 with high affinity, and it has been associated with a broad range of signaling systems, Sigma1 itself has no known signaling or enzymatic activity. The evolution of this field over nearly four decades has more recently led to a fundamental shift in the concept of "sigma receptors" to what may more accurately and generally be called sigma proteins. Largely based on traditional pharmacologic approaches, the Sigma1 protein has been associated with a broad range of signaling systems, including G-protein coupled receptors, NMDA receptors, and ion channels. Sigma proteins have been linked to a range of physiological processes, including intracellular calcium signaling, neuroprotection, learning, memory, and cognition. Emerging genetic, clinical, and mechanism focused molecular pharmacology data demonstrate the involvement of proteins in a range of pathophysiologies and disorders including neurodegenerative disease, pain, addiction, psychomotor stimulant abuse, and cancer. However, an understanding of the physiological role of sigma proteins has remained elusive. Emerging data associate Sigma1 with chaperone-like activities or molecular scaffold functions. This book aims to provide an updated perspective on this rapidly evolving field undergoing changes in fundamental concepts of key importance to the discipline of pharmacology. It focusses on the reported roles of sigma proteins in pathophysiology and on emergent therapeutic initiatives.

This timely volume provides an overview to the causes, effects on systems and clinical approaches of metabolic acidosis. Beginning with a basic understanding of the physiology, pathophysiology and development of this disease, subsequent chapters cover the characteristics and context of the processes that can cause it and a thorough presentation of management strategies. Recommended treatments include those carried out by the health care provider as well as the individual patient, such as dietary management. Clinicians and healthcare professionals will find the tools needed to recognize, work up and manage patients with metabolic acidosis in this practical and concise resource.

Neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, Alzheimer s disease, epilepsy, alcoholism, substance abuse and others are one of the most debilitating illnesses worldwide characterizing by the complexity of the causes, and lacking the laboratory tests that may promote diagnostic and prognostic procedures. Recent advances in neuroscience, genomic, genetic, proteomic and metabolomic knowledge and technologies have opened the way to searching biomarkers and endophenotypes, which may offer powerful and exciting opportunity to understand the etiology and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. The challenge now is to translate these advances into meaningful diagnostic and therapeutic advances. This book offers a broad synthesis of the current knowledge about diverse topics of the biomarker and endophenotype strategies in neuropsychiatry.

The book is organized into four interconnected volumes: Neuropsychological Endophenotypes and Biomarkers (with overview of methodological issues of the biomarker and endophenotype approaches in neuropsychiatry and some technological advances), Neuroanatomical and Neuroimaging Endophenotypes and Biomarkers, Metabolic and Peripheral Biomarkers and Molecular Genetic and Genomic Markers . The contributors are internationally and nationally recognized researchers and experts from 16 countries. This four-volume handbook is intended for a broad spectrum of readers including neuroscientists, psychiatrists, neurologists, endocrinologists, pharmacologists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners, geriatricians, health care providers in the field of neurology and mental health interested in trends that have crystallized in the last decade, and trends that can be expected to further evolve in the coming years. It is hoped that this book will also be a useful resource for the teaching of psychiatry, neurology, psychology and mental health. "

Recent work has begun to elucidate at the molecular level how albumin is handled by the kidney and how albuminuria develops in various proteinuric diseases including minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the renal handling of albumin - from basic mechanisms to the pathophysiology of proteinuric diseases. In describing the basic mechanisms of albuminuria, a particular highlight will be the focus on advanced imaging techniques such as intravital microscopy that have allowed a detailed "window" into albumin transit through the kidney. The volume will cover the epidemiological studies which show that albuminuria is a strong and independent marker of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events, the molecular details of albumin handling in the kidney at the level of the glomerulus and the proximal tubule and the pathophysiology of proteinuric diseases including minimal change disease, membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy.

"Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs: Methods and Protocols" offers a collection of methods for those interested in the discovery, localization, and functional analysis of these non-coding transcripts that have the potential and ability to orchestrate and control gene expression. After a review of the field, this detailed volume continues with methods useful for the study of siRNAs, microRNAs and their targets, techniques concerned with long non-coding RNAs, as well as studies of the critical parameters of functional non-coding RNA protein-RNA interactions and the environment in which they act. Written for the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" series, chapters include brief 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.

Dependable and easy to use, "Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs: Methods and Protocols" provides a current, state-of-the-art collection of methods and approaches that will be of value to researchers in this expanding and fascinating field.

Progress in functional proteomics has been limited for a long time, partially caused by limitations in assay sensitivity and sample capacity; however, protein microarrays have the ability to overcome these limitations so that a highly parallel analysis of hundreds of proteins in thousands of samples is attainable. In Protein Microarrays: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field present an up-to-date collection of robust strategies in the field of protein microarrays and summarize recent advantages in the field of printing technologies, the development of suitable surface materials, as well as detection and quantification technologies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) 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 notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Protein Microarrays: Methods and Protocols aims to stimulate the application and further advancement of this powerful technology in labs worldwide.

Circadian rhythms are such an innate part of our lives that we rarely pause to speculate why they even exist. Some studies have suggested that the disruption of the circadian system may be causal for obesity and manifestations of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Shift-work, sleep-deprivation and bright-light-exposure at night are related to increased adiposity (obesity) and prevalence of MetS. It has been provided evidence of clock genes expression in human adipose tissue and demonstrated its association with different components of the MetS. Moreover, current studies are illustrating the particular role of different clock genes variants and their predicted haplotypes in MetS.

The purpose of Chronobiology and Obesity is to describe the mechanisms implicated in the interaction between chonodisruption and metabolic-related illnesses, such as obesity and MetS, with different approaches."

This volume provides a collection of methods and protocols detailing extracellular RNA and hopes to be a useful resource for those interested in this exciting and emerging field. Chapters are divided into four sections covering an overview of the field, approaches for the isolation of exRNA, protocols for detection and quantitation of exRNA, and approaches that can be useful for studies to evaluate potential therapeutic applications. 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, Extracellular RNA: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce signals from a diverse array of endogenous ligands, including ions, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, peptides, and large glycoprotein hormones. They are also responsible for our sensing of exogenous stimuli, including photons and odorants. GPCRs regulate almost every aspect of our physiological functions. It is estimated that 40% to 50% of currently used therapeutic drugs target GPCRs directly or indirectly. Because the current drugs target only a small portion of the GPCRs, opportunities for targeting the remaining GPCRs is enormous. This volume reviews the latest developments in this rapidly advancing field.

* This series provides a forum for discussion of new discoveries, approaches, and ideas * Contributions from leading scholars and industry experts * Reference guide for researchers involved in molecular biology and related fields

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 hormones of the limbic system.
*Longest running series published by Academic Press
*Contributions by leading international authorities

Many fundamental discoveries concerning epigenetics and the elucidation of mechanisms of epigenetic regulation have developed from studies performed in plants. In Plant Epigenetics and Epigenomics: Methods and Protocols, leading scientists in the epigenetics field describe comprehensive techniques that have been developed to understand the plant epigenetic landscape. These include recently developed methods and techniques for analysis of epigenetically regulated traits, such as flowering time, transposon activation, genomic imprinting and genome dosage effects. 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 avoidance of known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Plant Epigenetics and Epigenomics: Methods and Protocols seek to aid scientists in the further study of plant epigenetic phenomena using advanced contemporary methods.

In the past two decades we have seen a surge forward in understanding the genetics and biochemistry underlying many pediatric orthopaedic disorders. A few projects have even progressed into the realm of clinical trials that are primarily aimed at controlling progressive disease. Meanwhile, genomic technology development has outpaced expectations and is enabling gene discovery for disorders that were previously intractable with traditional genetic methods. Included in this latter category are common disorders that display multigenic inheritance, sporadic disorders, and very rare conditions that are difficult to ascertain. Simultaneously, the study of pediatric orthopaedic disorders has been continuously refined and updated, highlighting a number of likely genetic conditions that are as yet unsolved. Molecular Genetics of Pediatric Orthopaedic Disorders updates researchers and clinicians of new developments of pediatric orthopaedic genetics. The chapters inform the audience on the revolution in new genomic methods and the impact this is having on potential study designs and the potential to discover genetic causes of many unsolved orthopaedic conditions. Recent examples have been included of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, both rare and common, that are being solved with these new methods. The book also educates pediatric orthopedic clinicians and geneticists on our understanding of the biology of "classic" genetic diseases that were derived from prior genetic studies. Chapters include biobanks and strategies for studying very rare disorders, genes and pathways causing primordial dwarfism, and notch signaling in congenital scoliosis, and more.

In Elegant Anatomy Marieke Hendriksen offers an account of the material culture of the eighteenth-century Leiden anatomical collections, which have not been studied in detail before. The author introduces the novel analytical concept of aesthesis, as these historical medical collections may seem strange, and undeniably have a morbid aesthetic, yet are neither curiosities nor art. As this book deals with issues related to the keeping and displaying of historical human remains, it is highly relevant for material culture and museum studies, cultural history, the history of scientific collections and the history of medicine alike. Unlike existing literature on historical anatomical collections, this book takes the objects in the collections as its starting point, instead of the people that created them.

In Gene Regulatory Sequences and Human Disease, the Editor will introduce the different technological advances that led to this breakthrough. In addition, several examples will be provided of nucleotide variants in noncoding sequences that have been shown to be associated with various human diseases.

Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) belongs to that special category of well-established molecular biology techniques that, since their inception a few decades ago, have succeeded in keeping a prominent position within the constantly expanding list of laboratory pro- dures for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. The design simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the early FISH protocols, combined with the signifcant acceleration of discoveries in related technical areas such as fuor- cence microscopy, digital imaging, and nucleic acid technology have prompted the div- sifcation of the original technique into an outstanding number of imaginative and useful applications, and thus have not only held back its outmoding but have also promoted its expansion into different areas of basic and applied research in the post-genomic era. The 34 chapters included in this book aim at portraying the vibrant complexity and diversity of the current FISH protocol landscape, providing cutting-edge examples of va- ous applications for genetic and developmental research, cancer research, reproductive medicine, diagnostic and prognostic purposes, microbial ecology, and evolutionary st- ies. The book is divided in four parts: (I) Core Techniques, (II) Technical Advancements and Novel Adaptations, (III) Translational FISH: Applications for Human Genetics and Medicine, and (IV) Protocols for Model Organisms.

The field of genetics is rapidly evolving, and new medical breakthroughs are occurring as a result of advances in our knowledge of genetics. This series continually publishes important reviews of the broadest interest to geneticists and their colleagues in affiliated disciplines. This thematicvolume reviews the latest research findings in the area of vascular proteomics related to the receptors of the vascular endothelium, and expands insights into diseases that exhibit distinct vascular characteristics, including cancer, obesity, andinflammation.

* Provides contrasting roles of VEGF, givingresearchers a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of VEGF *Includeschapters that review research employing a variety of organisms, allowing researchers to compare and contrast *Focuses onmaterial that translates basic research to real-life treatment applications, showing primary researchers how the basic science is being used in the clinical setting"

In Polyadenylation: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the protocols which are now commonly used to study polyadenylation. Focusing on recent advances in the fast-moving polyadenylation filed, that has recently been recognized as a key contributor to the complexity of mammalian gene expression. 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.