DNA is the central repository of genetic information in the cell, yet it is under constant attack by chemical mutagens, radiation and other processes. Cells therefore put a great deal of resources into repairing any damage to this precious store. Mechanisms of DNA repair vary greatly in their level of complexity, from specific reversal mechanisms that involve a single protein, to sequential pathways that require many enzymes. But at the heart of all these mechanisms lie proteins that recognize damage to DNA, raising important questions about how damaged DNA may be distinguished. These recognition processes are now finally yielding their secrets to structural analysis. This volume focuses on DNA repair, with an emphasis on structural data where available.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly developing and at the same time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic acids - their structure, function, and interaction with proteins.
Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology keeps scientists informed of the explosively growing information and complies with the great interest in this field by offering a continued high standard of review. A substantial part of this volume has been devoted to the analysis of different aspects of nucleic acid-protein-interactions including RNA-protein-interaction.

Molecular biology has always been a discipline of rapid development. Despite this, we are presently experiencing a period of unprecedented proliferation of information in nucleic acid studies and molecular biology. These areas are intimately interwoven, so that each influences the other to their mutual benefit. The rapid growth in information leads to ever-increasing specialization, so that it becomes increasingly difficult for a scientist to keep abreast of developments in all the various aspects of the field, although an up-to-date knowledge of the field as a whole is highly desirable. With this background in mind we present the series "Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology." It comprises focused review articles by active researchers who report on the newest developments in their areas of particular interest.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly developing and at the same time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic acids - their structure, function, and interaction with proteins.
Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology keeps scientists informed of the explosively growing information and complies with the great interest in this field by offering a continued high standard of review. A substantial part of this volume has been devoted to the analysis of different aspects of nucleic acid-protein-interactions including RNA-protein-interaction.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly developing and at the same time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic acids - their structure, function, and interaction with proteins. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology was created to keep scientists abreast of the explosively growing information and to comply with the great interest in this field.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly growing developing and at the same time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic acids - their structure, function, and interaction with proteins. Nucleic Acids in Molecular Biology keeps scientists informed of the explosively growing information and complies with the great interest in this field by offering a continued high standard of review.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly growing develo- ping and at thesame time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic a- cids - their structure, function, and interaction with pro- teins. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology keeps scientists informed of the explosively growing information and complies with with the great interest in this field by offering a continued high standard of review. A substantial part of this volume has been devoted to the analysis of different aspects of nucleic acid-protein-interactions including RNA- protein-interaction.

A wide range of topics are covered, including articles on nucleic acid structure, through their interactions with proteins to the control of gene expression. A number of authors address the subject of RNA, including the difficult but important subject of its chemical synthesis, the complexities of its structures and the mechanisms of transcript splicing. The probing of DNA structure is reviewed in papers on the application of hydroxyl radical and 1,10 phenanthroline copper cleavages. A number of important DNA-protein interactions are discussed, including DNA polymerase, the tryptophan and deoR repressors, and the resolvase enzymes which cleave Holliday junctions in recombination. Gene transcription is also covered, from the points of view of DNA methylation, mammalian ribosomal and avian lysozyme genes, and the control of transcription in the proto-oncogene c-fos. Finally, the plant kingdom has not been forgotten with articles on development and transposition in plants.

Mechanisms of Transcription presents a unique perspective on the fundamental processes of transcription. A collection of distinguished authors draws together the underlying mechanisms involved in the process of transcription. This includes RNA polymerase function and its interaction with promoter sequences, and the structures of the various components on the transcriptional machinery. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, NMR and crystallographic structures of a number of important eukaryotic transcription factors are discussed, as well as the role of chromatin structure.

In recent years, unprecedented advances in many aspects of the molecular biology of nucleic acids have been witnessed. The area of RNA chemistry has undergone a kind of explosion, with a huge interest in RNA-mediated catalysis. At the same time, our structural understanding of DNA-protein interactions has increased enormously, and the related area of RNA-protein interactions is beginning to gather pace. This softcover edition from the successful series Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology is devoted to the structure and mechanism of ribozymes, and their potential exploitation. The subject has both important evolutionary implications and potential practical application in the development of therapeutic agents for diseases such as AIDS.

To understand the structures and dynamics of DNA and its interactions with ligands, a complete analysis of its confirmational flexibility is required. This volume and its companion, Volume 212 of Methods in Enzymology, collate in one source all the methods and approaches needed to achieve this goal.

.,"Indeed, an excellent and concise primer to the key issues and themes addressed by the volume is included as Chapter 1. It is also valuable as a source of comprehensive reviews of the major experimental systems to use for reference and as an entry into the literature for these systems.

For the new students in our laboratory, it is now required reading."

Mike Harris, Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

The discovery that RNA could act as a macromolecular catalyst in the cell, signified a paradigm shift in molecular biology. Ribozymes and RNA Catalysis takes the reader through the origins of catalysis in RNA and necessarily includes significant discussion of structure and folding. The main focus of the book concerns chemical mechanism with extensive comment on how, despite the importance of RNA catalysis in the cell, its origins are still poorly understood and often controversial.

The reader is given an outline of the important role of RNA catalysis in many aspects of cell function, including RNA processing and translation. There has been a significant coming together in the field of RNA in recent years and this book offers a compelling review of the whole field to date.

Written by leading experts in their field, who in turn review the structural and mechanistic data for all known ribozymes this book is well suited for undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers in catalytic chemistry as well as those in related fields who require a unique overview of the subject.

Molecular biology is one of the most rapidly developing and at the same time most exciting disciplines. The key to molecular biology lies in the understanding of nucleic acids - their structure, function, and interaction with proteins. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology keeps scientists informed of the explosively growing information and complies with the great interest in this field by offering a continued high standard of review. Volume 5 opens with a review of novel DNA-structures found commonly in the telomeres of eukaryotic chromosomes. It turns to the topics of DNA-repair and replication and in-depth studies of DNA-Polymerase I, which leads to the exciting and rapidly moving area of DNA-protein interactions emphasizing aspects of sequence recognition and specificity. A view on the control of gene expression with examples of retroviruses such as HIV or transgenic animals for eukaryotes concludes this volume.