In keeping with the broad objectives set for the serial publication of Advances in Structural Biology, Volume 6 contains exhaustive articles from experts in diverse areas of biomedical research. The common thread among the various articles is their relevance to the applications of cell biology to human health.

The present volume continues the trend established in previous volumes in this series on Advances in Structural Biology. As in the past, diverse topics of current importance relevant to the theme of the series are included in the fourth volume.

Volume 5 in the series "Advances in Structural Biology" is based upon a selection of articles presented at the Workshop on Molecular Bio-physics of the Cytoskeleton: Microtubule Formation, Structure, Function, and Interactions (August 18-22 1997 at the Banff Conference Centre in Banff, Alberta, Canada). Its main objective was to review the state-of-the-art of the field and stimulate a multidisciplinary investigation into the molecular biology of the cytoskeleton, which is amply manifested in the articles selected and published in this volume.