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Plant genomics and biotechnology have recently made enormous strides, and hold the potential to benefit agriculture, the environment and various other dimensions of the human endeavor. It is no exaggeration to claim that the twenty-first century belongs to biotechnology. Knowledge generation in this field is growing at a frenetic pace, and keeping abreast of the latest advances and calls on us to double our efforts. Volume II of this two-part series addresses cutting-edge aspects of plant genomics and biotechnology. It includes 37 chapters contributed by over 70 researchers, each of which is an expert in his/her own field of research.Biotechnology has helped to solve many conundrums of plant life that had long remained a mystery to mankind. This volume opens with an exhaustive chapter on the role played by thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, which is believed to be the Drosophila of the plant kingdom and an invaluable model plant for understanding basic conceptsin plant biology. This is followed by chapters on bioremediation, biofuels and biofertilizers through microalgal manipulation, making it a commercializable prospect; discerning finer details of biotic stress with plant-fungal interactions; and the dynamics of abiotic and biotic stresses, which also figure elsewhere in the book.Breeding crop plants for desirable traits has long been an endeavor of biotechnologists. The significance of molecular markers, marker assisted selection and techniques are covered in a dedicated chapter, as are comprehensive reviews on plant molecular biology, DNA fingerprinting techniques, genomic structure and functional genomics. A chapter dedicated to organellar genomes provides extensive information on this important aspect. Elsewhere in the book, the newly emerging area of epigenetics is presented as seen through the lens of biotechnology, showcasing the pivotal role of DNA methylation in effecting permanent and transient changes to the genome.Exclusive chapters deal with bioinformatics and systems biology. Handy tools for practical applications such as somatic embryogenesis and micropropagation are included to provide frontline information to entrepreneurs, as is a chapter on somaclonal variation.Overcoming barriers to sexual incompatibility has also long been a focus of biotechnology, and is addressed in chapters on wide hybridization and hybrid embryo rescue. Another area of accomplishing triploids through endosperm culture is included as a non-conventional breeding strategy. Secondary metabolite production through tissue cultures, which is of importance to industrial scientists, is also covered.Worldwide exchange of plant genetic material is currently an essential topic, as is conserving natural resources in situ. Chapters on in vitro conservation of extant, threatened and other valuable germplasms, gene banking and related issues are included, along with an extensive account of the biotechnology of spices – the low-volume, high-value crops. Metabolic engineering is another emerging field that provides commercial opportunities. As is well known, there is widespread concern over genetically modified crops among the public. GM crops are covered, as are genetic engineering strategies for combating biotic and abiotic stresses where no other solutions are in sight. RNAi- and micro RNA- based strategies for crop improvement have proved to offer novel alternatives to the existing non-conventional techniques, and detailed information on these aspects is also included. The book's last five chapters are devoted to presenting the various aspects of environmental, marine, desert and rural biotechnology. The state-of-the-art coverage on a wide range of plant genomics and biotechnology topics will be of great interest to post-graduate students and researchers, including the employees of seed and biotechnology companies, and to instructors in the fields of plant genetics, bree

Light-Harvesting Antennas in Photosynthesis is concerned with the most important process on earth - the harvesting of light energy by photosynthetic organisms. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of photosynthetic light-harvesting antennas, from the biophysical mechanisms of light absorption and energy transfer to the structure, biosynthesis and regulation of antenna systems in whole organisms. It sets the great variety of antenna pigment-protein complexes in their evolutionary context and at the same time brings in the latest hi-tech developments. The book is unique in the degree to which it emphasizes the integration of molecular biological, biochemical and biophysical approaches. Overall, a well-organized, understandable, and comprehensive volume. It will be a valuable resource for both graduate students and their professors, and a helpful library reference book for undergraduates.

tribute greatly to understanding the origins of The plan for this book goes back almost 20 years. Already, at that time, it was possible to recognize organisms. an extraordinary variation in metabolites and To provide the biochemist with a ready over­ processes superimposed upon the basic biochem­ view of the structural diversity of animals, the book includes a simplified version of animal sys­ ical system of animals. Each species, each indi­ tematics; for further information on the classifica­ vidual, in fact each type of cell of the multicellu­ lar organism possesses its own biochemical char­ tion, structure and life of particular animal spe­ acter, and this molecular variety, its biological sig­ cies, the reader should consult the relevant text­ nificance, and its evolutionary development books. It is assumed that the zoologist reader has throw up many interesting questions. The com­ a basic knowledge of biochemistry; important general biochemical facts are in any case given for parative approach that has been so productive at many of the subjects covered. the higher levels of complexity of morphology and physiology can also be used to great effect at I had already completed several chapters of the molecular level. this book by the beginning of the 1970s.

The highly structured eucaryotic cell with its complex division of biochemical labour requires a distinct protein complement in each cellular structure and compartment. Nuclear coded and cytosolically synthesized polypeptides are specifically sorted to every corner of the cell in a post- or co-translational manner. The presence of separate genomes and protein translation machineries in plastids and mitochondria requires further coordination not only on the transcriptional, translational but also most likely on the protein import level. Numerous different protein transport systems have developed and coexist within plant cells to ensure the specific and selective composition of every sub-cellular compartment. This volume summarizes the current knowledge on protein trafficking in plant cells. Aside from the fundamental aspects in cell biology of how specific pre-protein sorting and translocation across biological membranes is achieved, a major focus is on transport, modification and deposition of plant storage proteins. The increasing use of plants as bioreactors to provide custom-designed proteins of different usage requires detailed understanding of these events. This text is directed not only at students and professionals in plant cell and molecular biology but also at those involved in horticulture and plant breeding. It is intended to serve as a text and guide for graduate-level courses on plant cell biology and as a valuable supplement to courses in plant physiology and development. Scientists in other disciplines who wish to learn more about protein translocation in plants will also find this text an up-to-date source of information and reference.

Animals and plants live in changing environmental conditions which require adaptation in order to cope with this. Some of these environmental changes serve as signals which have to be'sensed'and interpreted correctly by the organisms to initiate the adaptation. This signal processing is based on biochemical, molecular and neuronal processes which are discussed in this book. All examples given underline that continuous adjustment of physiological functions is an essential requirement for life and survival in complex changing environments.

Origins of Plastids looks at symbiosis and symbiogenesis as a mechanism of evolution. This theory of endosymbiotic evolution postulates that photosynthetic prokaryotes living as endosymbionts within eukaryotic cells gradually evolved into the organelle structures called chloroplasts. The theory is controversial but has been strongly advocated by Lynn Margulis. Based on a colloquium held at the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory of the University of California at Davis, Origins of Plastids reviews recent data on this most basic problem in plant evolution. In it, leading researchers in the field apply the theory of endosymbiotic evolution to plastid origins, producing an important new reference work for both professionals and graduates interested in the origins of life, the origins of the eukaryotic cell and its organelles, and the evolution of the higher plants in general. Origins of Plastids represents the state-of-the-art in its field. It should find a place on the bookshelves of people interested in microbiology, plant science, phycology, cell biology, and evolution.

th We compiled this volume mostly from presentations at the 6 International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar (PCHS) after consulting with Professor Tony H. H. Chen, Oregon State University, USA, Professor Pekka Heino, University of Helsinki, Finland, th and Dr. Gareth J. Warren, University of London, Surrey, UK. The 6 International PCHS was held at the Unitas Congress Center, Helsinki, Finland from July 1-5, 2001. There were 110 registered scientists at the serttinar representing 20 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Gennany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States of America. The infonnation compiled represents the state of the art of research in phmt cold hardiness in tenns of gene regulation, gene expression, signal transduction, the physiology of cold hardiness and, ultimately, the genetic engineering for cold tolerant plants. The International PCHS was initiated in 1977 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. It has been traditionally held at 5-year intervals at various locations. th Because of the rapid advances of research in plant cold hardiness, attendees at the 6 meeting unanimously adopted a resolution to hold the seminar in 3-year intervals instead of 5 in the future. Consequently, the next seminar will be held in 2004 in Sapporo, Japan, and Professor Seizo Fujikawa from Hokkaido University will serve as the host.

The 1997 European Conference on Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules (ECSBM) is the seventh in a biennial series of conferences devoted to the applications of molecular spectroscopy to biological molecules and related systems. The interest of these conferences rests mainly on the relationship between the structure and physiological activity of biological molecules and related systems of which these molecular species form part. This volume ofECSBM contains articles prepared by the invited lecturers and those making poster presentations at the seventh ECSBM. The reader will find mainly applications of vibrational spectroscopy to protein structure and dynamics, biomembranes, molecular recognition, nucleic acids and other biomolecules and biological systems containing specific chromophors. Biomedical applications of vibrational spectroscopy are expanding rapidly. On the other hand, a significant number of the papers describe applications of other methods, such as NMR, circular dichroism, optical absorption and fluorescence, X-ray absorption and diffraction and other theoretical methods. One aim has been to achieve a well balanced, critically comparative review of recent progress in the field of biomolecular structure, bonding and dynamics based on applications of the above spectroscopic methods. A great part of the contributions included in this volume are devoted to biomedical and biotechnological applications and provide a broadly based account of recent applicationS in this field. The content of this book has been organized in sections corresponding mainly to the different types of biological molecules investigated. This book includes also another section related to theoretical methods where MO calculations of vibrational frequencies dominate clearly the topic.

Biological cell membranes regulate the transfer of matter and information between the intracellular and extracellular compartments as basic survival and maintenance functions for an organism. This volume contains a series of reviews that are c- cerned with how epithelial plasma membranes regulate the transport of solutes between the intracellular and extracellular compartments of a cell. This book is also an attempt to analyze the molecular basis for the movement of various solutes across an epithelial cell membrane. This volume is devoted to a diversity of epithelial transport mechanisms in rep- sentative cell membranes of a variety of living things. The?rst section of the book (Chapters 1–6) focuses on mechanisms of solute transport in epithelia of inver- brates. The last section which comprises ten chapters (Chapters 7–16) deals with solute transporters in epithelial cell membranes of vertebrates. It is hoped that with this particular ordering the reader can glean a telescopic view of the evolutionary history of the various epithelial solute transporters.

Pathogenic fungi are widely distributed and can infect many organisms, particularly humans, but also other vertebrates and insects. Due to a growing number of fungal infections, there is an increasing need to understand the interaction of pathogenic fungi with their hosts. This second completely updated and revised edition of Volume VI of The Mycota consists of state of the art reviews written by experts in the field, covering three major areas of this rapidly developing field. In the first part the current understanding of pathogenic fungi and the physiological reactions relevant for the pathogen - host interaction are elucidated. The second part describes novel technologies for the identification of proteins, virulence factors and mechanisms central to the host - pathogen interaction. The third part deals with the characterization of the host response towards pathogenic fungi and addresses timely clinical aspects.

The fermentation of sugar by cell-free yeast extracts was demonstrated more than a century ago by E. Buchner (Nobel Prize 1907). Buchner's observations put an end to previous animistic theories regarding cellular life. It became clear that metabolism and all cellular functions should be accessible to explication in chemical terms. Equally important for an understanding of living systems was the concept, explained in physical terms, that all living things could be cons- ered as energy converters [E. Schrödinger (Nobel Prize 1933)] which generate complexity at the expense of an increase in entropy in their environment. Bioenergetics was established as an essential branch of the biochemical sciences by the investigations into the chemistry of photosynthesis in i- lated plant organelles [O. Warburg (Nobel Prize 1931)] and by the discovery that mitochondria were the morphological equivalent that catalyzed cellular respiration. The?eld of bioenergetics also encompasses a large variety of ad- tional processes such as the molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction, the structure and driving mechanisms of microbial?agellar motors, the energetics of solute transport, the extrusion of macromolecules across membranes, the transformation of quanta of light into visual information and the maintenance of complex synaptic communications. There are many other examples which, in most cases, may perform secondary energy transformations, utilizing - ergy stored either in the cellular ATP pool or in electrochemical membrane potentials.

This book explores the latest data dealing with mechanosensitive channels research results. It was compiled by a group of internationally recognized scientists leading in the field of mechanosensitive ion channels or mechanically gated channels and signaling cascades research. Key problems of cell mechanobiology are also discussed. As a whole, the volume dwells on the major issues of mechanical stress influencing the ion channels and intracellular signaling pathways.

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More than twenty years ago, as a fledgling graduate some peculiar aspects of the genetics of these student who was just starting to learn about these organisms but to pay respects to the two volumes of organisms that would become my primary research Carr of Whitton that played important roles in my focus, the publication of Noel Carr and Brian own thinking about cyanobacteria (and no doubt in Whitton's The Biology of the Blue-Green Algae in the development of many others as well). Contri­ 1973 was an event of great significance. Until the buting authors were asked to describe not only what appearance of this treatise, there was no single volume we know at present, but also to point out things we available that presented a broad overview of the don't know yet. I have attempted to assemble a book biology and biochemistry ofthese organisms. Nearly that would stimulate graduate students and other ten years later, I was privileged to be a contributing researchers in the same way that I wasaffected by the author to Carr and Whitton's sequel volume The books mentioned above. Biology of the Cyanobacteria. Although the It appears that cyanobacterial molecular biologists intervening period had been marked by heated debates have indeed paid attention to the admonition of their over the taxonomy and taxonomic position of the erstwhile colleague, W Ford Doolittle, to'study organisms, it was also a time when the comparative those things that cyanobacteria do well.

Proteomics is an introduction to the exciting new field of proteomics, an interdisciplinary science that includes biology, bioinformatics, and protein chemistry. The purpose of this book is to provide the active researcher with an overview of the types of questions being addressed in proteomics studies and the technologies used to address those questions. Key subjects covered in this book include: an assessment of the limitations of this approach and outlines new developments in mass spectrometry that will advance future research high-throughput recombinant DNA cloning methods used to systematically clone all of the open reading frames of an organism into plasmid vectors for large scale protein expression and functional studies such as protein-protein interactions with the two-hybrid system protein structure an overview of large-scale experimental attempts to determine the three-dimensional structures of representative sets of proteins computational approaches to determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Proteomics provides a starting point for researchers who would like a theoretical understanding of the new technologies in the field, and obtain a solid grasp of the fundamentals before integrating new tools into their experiments. Written with attention to detail, but without being overwhelmingly technical, Proteomics is a user-friendly guide needed by most biologists today.