This book provides a comprehensive overview of the biology of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the associated ER proteins, it discusses their structure, function and signaling mechanisms in the cell and their role in disease. This book also offers insights into the practical aspects of research and demonstrates the use of non-mammalian models to study the structure and function of the ER. Written by leading experts in the field, the book enables readers to gain a thorough understanding of current ER biology. It is intended for scientists and clinical researchers working on the endoplasmic reticulum in all its various roles and facets in health and disease.

This book is about calreticulin, a multifunctional calcium binding protein first discovered over 20 years ago. The protein has been described in various locations: endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, cytoplasmic granules, nucleus, cell surface and even secreted into the blood stream. This volume outlines the newly discovered functions for calreticulin including its control of calcium homeostasis, modulation of steroid-sensitive gene expression, control of viral RNA replication, modulation of nuclear transport, role in T lymphocyte activation and cytotoxic killing, chaperone function, control of adhesion-dependent signaling via integrins, possible role in the biology of ticks, in the pathology of autoimmune diseases and in blood function.

The book focuses on the latest discoveries on calreticulin, calnexin and other endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Calreticulin has been implicated to affect diverse cellular function and play a role in many pathologies including protein folding disorders, cardiac pathologies, cancer and autoimmunity. This book contains contributions from the world leaders in the area of endoplasmic reticulum function, protein folding, Calcium homeostasis and autoimmunity. It raises many intriguing questions about calreticulin, calnexin and the endoplasmic reticulum and gives a unique opportunity to realize the significance of these calcium-binding chaperones. The book is unique in every respect and we are not aware of any other publication focusing on these aspects of endoplasmic reticulum biology. Because of a central role of endoplasmic reticulum, calreticulin and calnexin in virtually all cellular functions, the book should be of interest to everyone in the biological sciences.

The book focuses on the latest discoveries on calreticulin, calnexin and other endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Calreticulin has been implicated to affect diverse cellular function and play a role in many pathologies including protein folding disorders, cardiac pathologies, cancer and autoimmunity. This book contains contributions from the world leaders in the area of endoplasmic reticulum function, protein folding, Calcium homeostasis and autoimmunity. It raises many intriguing questions about calreticulin, calnexin and the endoplasmic reticulum and gives a unique opportunity to realize the significance of these calcium-binding chaperones. The book is unique in every respect and we are not aware of any other publication focusing on these aspects of endoplasmic reticulum biology. Because of a central role of endoplasmic reticulum, calreticulin and calnexin in virtually all cellular functions, the book should be of interest to everyone in the biological sciences.

Calcium is a versatile carrier of signals regulating many aspects of cellular activity such as fertilization to create a new life and programmed cell death to end it. Calcium homeostasis is strictly controlled by channels, pumps and exchangers functioning as gates for calcium entry and release. Given that calcium is such a versatile messenger the field of calcium signaling is continuously and rapidly expanding. This book reviews the most recent developments in calcium signaling by leading experts in the field. It is a state-of-the-art summary of our present knowledge in this quickly growing field and provides insight into the impressive progress made in many areas of calcium signaling, while reminding us of how much remains to be learned.