This book brings together contributions from internationally renowned experts in the biochip field. The authors present not only their latest research work, but also discuss current trends in biochip technology. Specific topics range from microarray technology and its applications to lab-on-a-chip technology.

Metabolism is the sum of the chemical reactions in cells that produce life-sustaining chemical energy and metabolites. In the post-genome era, metabolism has taken on new significance for biological scientists: metabolites are the chemical basis of phenotypes that are final expressions of genomic information. This book covers research on metabolomics, ranging from the development of specialized chemical analytical techniques to the construction of databases and methods for metabolic simulation. The authors have been directly involved in the development of all the subject areas, including capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, metabolic databases, and metabolic simulation. Breakthrough achievements and the future of metabolome studies are described, making this book a valuable source for researchers in metabolomics in diverse fields, such as plant, animal, cellular, microbial, pharmaceutical, medical, and genetic sciences.

Life is produced by the interplay of water and biomolecules. This book deals with the physicochemical aspects of such life phenomena produced by water and biomolecules, and addresses topics including "Protein Dynamics and Functions", "Protein and DNA Folding", and "Protein Amyloidosis". All sections have been written by internationally recognized front-line researchers. The idea for this book was born at the 5th International Symposium "Water and Biomolecules", held in Nara city, Japan, in 2008.

This monograph addresses, in a systematic and pedagogical manner, the mathematical methods and the algorithms required to deal with the molecularly based problems of bioinformatics. Prominent attention is given to pair-wise and multiple sequence alignment algorithms, stochastic models of mutations, modulus structure theory and protein configuration analysis. Strong links to the molecular structures of proteins, DNA and other biomolecules and their analyses are developed.

Gene expression can mean the difference between a functional and non-functional genome, between health and disease, and with the development of transgenic crops, the difference between survival and starvation. In DNA-Protein Interactions: Principles and Protocols, Third Edition, this vital subject is brought up to date with protocols exploring the most cutting-edge developments in the field, including in vivo and genome-wide interaction techniques. Addressing topics such as chromatin immunoprecipitation, topological studies, photocrosslinking, FRET and imaging techniques, the volume fully updates and expands upon the successful previous editions. Written in the convenient and informative Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective subjects, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and authoritative, DNA-Protein Interactions: Principles and Protocols, Third Edition serves as an ideal guide for all those exploring this dynamic, essential, and increasingly affordable area of research.

The membranes surrounding cells and organelles constitute their interface with the local environment. The functions of membrane proteins include cell/cell and cell/extracellular matrix recognition, the reception and transduction of extracellular signals, and the tra- port of proteins, solutes and water molecules. Abnormal membrane protein expression has profound biological effects and may, for example, underlie phenotypic and functional differences between normal and tumour cells. Moreover the accessibility, particularly of plasma proteins traversing the plasma membrane of cells, makes them of particular ut- ity to the therapeutic intervention in disease. Indeed, it is estimated that of all currently licensed pharmaceuticals, approximately 70% target proteins resident in the plasma m- brane. In theory, unbiased technologies such as proteomics have the power to de?ne patterns of membrane protein expression characteristic of distinct states of cellular development, differentiation or disease, and thereby identify novel markers of, or targets for intervention in, disease. However, although about 25% of open reading frames in fully sequenced genomes are estimated to encode integral membrane proteins, global analysis of membrane protein expression has proved problematic. Membrane protein analysis poses unique challenges at the level of extraction, solubilization, and separation in particular, and to a lesser extent of identi?cation and quantitation. These challenges have, however, fostered creativity, in- vation, and technical advances, many of which are brought together in Membrane P- teomics.

This is an in-depth guide to the theory and practice of analyzing raw mass spectrometry (MS) data in proteomics. The volume outlines available bioinformatics programs, algorithms, and databases available for MS data analysis. General guidelines for data analysis using search engines such as Mascot, Xtandem, and VEMS are provided, with specific attention to identifying poor quality data and optimizing search parameters.

Echinostomes are medically- and veterinary-important parasitic flatworms that invade humans, domestic animals and wildlife and also parasitize in their larval stages numerous invertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate hosts. The interest in echinostomes in parasitology and general biology comes from several areas: (1) Human infections; (2) Experimental models; (3) Animal infections; (4) Systematics. The application of novel techniques is moving the echinostomes to the frontline of parasitology in fields such as systematics, immunobiology in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms and proteomics among others. The Biology of Echinostomes demonstrates the application of new techniques to a group of trematodes that may serve to obtain information of great value in parasitology and general biology. The book includes basic topics, such as biology and systematics, as well as more novel topics, such as immunobiology, proteomics, and genomics of echinostomes. The authors of each chapter emphasize their content with: (i) the most novel information obtained; (ii) analysis of this information in a more general context (i.e. general parasitology); and (iii) future perspectives in view of the information presented. The subjects are analyzed from a modern point of view, considering aspects such as applications of novel techniques and an analysis of host-parasite interactions.

This book presents state-of-the-art analytical methods from statistics and data mining for the analysis of high-throughput data from genomics and proteomics. It adopts an approach focusing on concepts and applications and presents key analytical techniques for the analysis of genomics and proteomics data by detailing their underlying principles, merits and limitations.

The book helps the reader to better understand cytogenetics and the intricacies of the methodology. The different methods of fluorescence in situ hybridization are discussed and the results achieved are presented. The book provides a comprehensive review of basic and applied aspects of cytogenetics and thus is of intense interest to all those interested in chromosomes and their alterations by different types of mutagens, including chemical mutagens and ionizing and nonionizing radiation, with special reference to electromagnetic fields.

Plant Proteomics highlights rapid progress in this field, with emphasis on recent work in model plant species, sub-cellular organelles, and specific aspects of the plant life cycle such as signaling, reproduction and stress physiology. Several chapters present a detailed look at diverse integrated approaches, including advanced proteomic techniques combined with functional genomics, bioinformatics, metabolomics and molecular cell biology, making this book a valuable resource for a broad spectrum of readers.

In this updated volume, experts from around the world provide the latest protocols for isolating different organelles and the localization of particular proteins using a variety of methods such as light, confocal, and electron microscopy. Emphasis is placed on protein targeting of cellular compartments in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. The book includes targeting protocols from different systems.

Following their own brilliant careers in haeme protein research, the outstanding scientists Jonathan and Beatrice Wittenberg continue to provide inspiration to the research community in the study of oxygen-binding proteins. Their research has provided the intellectual stimulus to bring together scientists from all over the world with the common goal of developing fascinating new ideas and performing innovative experiments.

This book is dedicated to Jonathan 's and Bea 's lifetime careers. It further illuminates the facts and ideas which dot the paths they traced in Biochemistry and Physiology, elaborating on how these landmark achievements were made and how the haeme proteins community still refers to them. With the field of haeme protein science such a flourishing area, the contributors to this book predict Jonathan and Bea, having played such a seminal role, will continue to be key figures for quite some time to come.

This book covers elements of both the data-driven comparative modeling approach to structure prediction and also recent attempts to simulate folding using explicit or simplified models. Despite the unsolved mystery of how a protein folds, advances are being made in predicting the interactions of proteins with other molecules. Also rapidly advancing are the methods for solving the inverse folding problem, the problem of finding a sequence to fit a structure.

This book focuses on the various computational methods for prediction, their successes and their limitations, from the perspective of their most well known practitioners.

Molecular modeling has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last 20 years. This book provides thorough introductions and a compilation of step-by-step methods applicable to problems faced by non-specialists especially those new to the software packages used in molecular modeling. Tips on troubleshooting and avoiding common pitfalls are included in the book, along with chapters covering a wide range of subjects. Links to downloadable software are also provided.

Over the course of the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in the study of human pathogenic fungi. These developments have taken place throughout a wide range of disciplines, and have come as the result of newly available genome sequences of pathogens such as candida albicans and other model fungi. In Candida Albicans: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore these exciting new insights, focusing on the study of medically important fungi and Candida spp in particular. Chapters examine critical aspects of molecular methods, providing information on reporter gene assays, transformation, gene expression in vivo, and methods for large-scale gene disruption. At the same time, the work includes in-depth descriptions of disease models of candidiasis, facts about strain identification, and guidelines on the preparation of samples for proteomic investigations and tandem affinity purification. Composed in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology " series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting edge, Candida Albicans: Methods and Protocols is an invaluable source of methods for investigators in the exhilarating fields of medical and molecular mycology."

Molecular motor proteins produce force for movement in an incredibly wide variety of cellular processes. This volume explores the extreme functional and structural diversity of molecular motors and presents methods relevant to each motor family. In addition, it describes techniques directed at motors that fall outside of the three characterized families: dynamin and F1ATPase.

Collagen: Structure and Mechanics provides a cohesive introduction to this biological macromolecule and its many applications in biomaterials and tissue engineering.

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the fields of materials, (bio-)engineering, physics, chemistry and biology will gain an understanding of the structure and mechanical behavior of type I collagen and collagen-based tissues in vertebrates, across all length scales from the molecular (nano) to the organ (macro) level. Written in a clear and didactic manner, this volume includes current knowledge on the hierarchical structure, mechanical properties, in addition to a review of deformation and strengthening mechanisms.

Collagen: Structure and Mechanics is an excellent reference for new researchers entering this area and serves as a basis for lecturing in the interdisciplinary field of biological materials science.

Researchers in structural genomics continue to search for biochemical and cellular functions of proteins as well as the ways in which proteins assemble into functional pathways and networks using either experimental or computational approaches. Based on the experience of leading international experts, Structural Genomics and High Throughput Structural Biology details state-of-the-art analytical and computational methods used to reveal the three-dimensional structure and function of proteins. A historical perspective and a detailed guide to the production of protein material for structural determination, a key step in the process, lay the necessary foundation for discussing the most effective structure determination technologies, such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Encouraging the study of genes and proteins of unknown structure in order to discover new information about folding, specific structural features, or function, Structural Genomics and High Throughput Structural Biology presents the methods used to interpret the sequences of proteins in a structural context, giving insight into their function. It also explains how to extract information from public data repositories and how to account for variability and accuracy in the quality of this data. The book concludes with a discussion of practical applications of therapeutically driven structural genomics, and presents future directions in the field. Structural Genomics and High Throughput Structural Biology offers a comprehensive guide to the theoretical, technological, and experimental methodologies used to derive structural information from encoded proteins by renowned and world leading scientists in the field.

First methods book which includes many detailed descriptions

Absolutely needed and thus timely for the scientific community

Comprises 15% more content and includes the mentioned special features

First introduced to biomedical research in 1980, the term biomarker has taken on a life of its own in recent years and has come to mean a number of things. In biomedical science, biomarker has evolved to most commonly mean a characteristic that can be used either as a diagnostic or a prognostic, but most significantly as a screening indicator for pathologies that tend to be somewhat silent prior to overt clinical display. Applying scientific rigor, as well as a disciplined approach to nomenclature, Roger Lundblad's Development and Application of Biomarkers rationalizes the current enthusiasm for biomarkers with the use of well-established clinical laboratory analytes in clinical medicine. Highly respected for his work as both a classical protein scientist and as a pioneer in proteomics, Dr. Lundblad catalogs various biomarkers recognized in clinical medicine and, where possible, matches the expectations for advances in screening technologies with the realities of statistical analysis. More specifically, this important reference: Details an extensive list of biomarkers for various stages of a number of cancer types including ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancer Looks at how proteomics is used for the discovery and validation of biomarkers Explores the use of microarray technology, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography, and computational bioinformatic approaches for the discovery and use of biomarkers Examines the use of cells and cell fragments as more complex biomarkers Organizes a host of significant biomarkers and essential research by type and use in a series of readily accessible tables Throughout this volume, Dr. Lundblad encourages consideration of biomarkers more as a concept than as laboratory analytes, emphasizing the relation between the discovery of a biomarker and the biology underlying its production. Ultimately, it is a thorough understanding of that underlying biology that will lead to the development of assays that are robust and reproducible, as well as clinically significant.

Molecular farming is a biotechnological approach that includes the genetic adjustment of agricultural products to create proteins and chemicals for profitable and pharmaceutical purposes. Plant molecular farming describes the manufacture of recombinant proteins and other biologically active product in plants. This approach depends on a genetic transformation of plants that can be accomplished by the methods of stable gene transfer, such as gene transfer to nuclei and chloroplasts, and unstable transfer methods like viral vectors. The requirement for recombinant proteins in terms of quality, quantity, and diversity is increasing exponentially This demand is traditionally met by recombinant protein construction technologies and the engineering of orthodox expression systems based on bacteria or mammalian cell cultures. However, majority of developing countries cannot afford the high costs of medicine derived from such existing methods. Hence, we need to produce not only the new drugs but also the cheaper versions of those already present in the market. Plant molecular farming is considered as a cost-effective technology that has grown and advanced tremendously over the past two decades. This book summarizes the advances and challenges of plant molecular farming for all those who are working on or have an interest in this rapidly emerging area of research.

This is the second edition of our little red book Lectins published in 1989. In the intervening years well over 10,000 articles have appeared with lectins as the main subject, and more than twice as many in which they were touched upon, as well as around 20 books. In particular, great strides have been made in several areas of lectin research, about which little was known until the late 1980s. One prominent example is animal lectins, many of which have been discovered only during the last decade and the functions of several of which have been clarified, especially as to their key role in innate immunity. Another is the structure of lectins and of their combining sites. Thus, whereas at that time the three-dimensional structures of just three lectins and a few of their complexes with sugars had been elucidated, their numbers have increased to about 160 and over 200, respectively, and continue to grow unabated. Updating the information on these and other topics resulted in a marked expansion of the book, which is now nearly four times as long as the first edition, with 226 figures and 39 tables. Still, a few topics, such as carbohydrate-binding cytokines or bacterial toxins that are sometimes considered as lectins, have been dealt with only in passing. Similarly to the first edition, Lectins II starts with an overview of the history of lectin research.

Plant lectins are extensively used as tools and as bioactive proteins in different areas of biomedical and biological research. The Handbook of Plant Lectins provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the biochemical properties, carbohydrate-binding specificity, biological activities and applications of most of the currently known plant lectins. This handbook consists of two major sections: an introductory guide and a quick reference dictionary. Part I acquaints the newcomer to the lectin field with the essential information on lectins and their importance to biomedicine:

• what are lectins?
• their carbohydrate-binding specificity
• effects on nutrition and immunology
• use in histochemistry
• application as therapeutic agents

• isolation and characterisation;
• sugar binding specificity;
• biological activities;
• applications;
• commercial availability; and,
• a bibliography.

This important reference provides up-to-date information on all aspects of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). Including a list of all known RIPs, their distribution in nature, structure, genetics and chemical and immunological properties, this reference covers mechanisms of action, including the enzymatic activity on various polynucleotide substrates; the interaction with, and entry into cells; the toxicity to animals, including the pathology of poisoning; and the immunomodulatory and allergenic activity. The book further emphasizes the use of immunotoxins and other conjugates in clinical trials for the therapy of cancer and intractable pain.