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Since Alois Alzheimer described the results of his postmortem studies in 1906, significant strides have been made in understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Substantial evidence has accumulated indicating that diverse neurodegenerative disorders might share a common pathological mechanism: the misfolding, aggregation and accumulation of proteins (termed'amyloid') in the brain. Metal ions have long been thought to catalyze protein misfolding initiating a cascade of events resulting in oxidative damage and neurodegeneration. They have, consequently, been seen as a suitable pharmacological target. However, drugs aimed at simply removing excess metals or interfering in amyloid deposition were unsuccessful and scientists have been forced to review the classical hypothesis. The latest advances suggest that deficiencies in protein homeostasis may lead to cell dysfunction and disease. Furthermore, small molecules with the potential to control metal homeostasis, or metallostasis, are expected to provide the framework for the design of novel proteostasis regulators. This book provides an up-date on the latest developments in this fast moving field. Traditional views concerning the relationship between the physio-pathological cycles of copper, zinc, iron, aluminium and the evolution of life, are compared with emerging ideas in the neuroscience of metal ions. Topics covered emphasize the importance of metals and oxidation chemistry to neuroscientists as well as providing a wider, multidisciplinary background to chemists who are attracted by these fascinating subjects. The text starts with a chapter on chemical evolution, the brain and metallomics which describes the brain's natural defences to adverse conditions. It then goes on to cover the chemistry and biology of proteostasis, environmental factors, and the role played by membranes in protein misfolding. The remaining chapters cover the role of metals and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinsonism, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. The book is suitable for academics, those working in industry, and postgraduate students.

The centromere is a chromosomal region that enables the accurate segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. It holds sister chromatids together, and through its centromere DNA–protein complex known as the kinetochore binds spindle microtubules to bring about accurate chromosome movements. Despite this conserved function, centromeres exhibit dramatic difference in structure, size, and complexity. Extensive studies on centromeric DNA revealed its rapid evolution resulting often in significant difference even among closely related species. Such a plasticity of centromeric DNA could be explained by epigenetic c- trol of centromere function, which does not depend absolutely on primary DNA sequence. According to epigenetic centromere concept, which is thoroughly d- cussed by Tanya Panchenko and Ben Black in Chap. 1 of this book, centromere activation or inactivation might be caused by modifications of chromatin. Such acquired chromatin epigenetic modifications are then inherited from one cell di- sion to the next. Concerning centromere-specific chromatin modification, it is now evident that all centromeres contain a centromere specific histone H3 variant, CenH3, which replaces histone H3 in centromeric nucleosomes and provides a structural basis that epigenetically defines centromere and differentiates it from the surrounding chromatin. Recent insights into the CenH3 presented in this chapter add important mechanistic understanding of how centromere identity is initially established and subsequently maintained in every cell cycle.

Unlike most biotechnology textbooks, Dr. David P. Clark's Biotechnology approaches modern biotechnology from a molecular basis, which grew out of the increasing biochemical understanding of physiology. Using straightforward, less-technical jargon, Clark manages to introduce each chapter with a basic concept that ultimately evolves into a more specific detailed principle. This up-to-date text covers a wide realm of topics, including forensics and bioethics, using colorful illustrations and concise applications.This book will help readers understand molecular biotechnology as a scientific discipline, how the research in this area is conducted, and how this technology may impact the future.· Up-to-date text focuses on modern biotechnology with a molecular foundation· Basic concepts followed by more detailed, specific applications · Clear, color illustrations of key topics and concepts · Clearly written without overly technical jargon or complicated examples

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Algorithms in Bioinformatics, WABI 2008, held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in September 2008 as part of the ALGO 2008 meeting. The 32 revised full papers presented together with the abstract of a keynote talk were carefully reviewed and selected from 81 submissions. All current issues of algorithms in bioinformatics are addressed, reaching from mathematical tools to experimental studies of approximation algorithms and reports on significant computational analyses. The topics range in biological applicability from genome mapping, to sequence assembly, to microarray quality, to phylogenetic inference, to molecular modeling.

Collaborative research in bioinformatics and systems biology is a key element of modern biology and health research. This book highlights and provides access to many of the methods, environments, results and resources involved, including integral laboratory data generation and experimentation and clinical activities. Collaborative projects embody a research paradigm that connects many of the top scientists, institutions, their resources and research worldwide, resulting in first-class contributions to bioinformatics and systems biology. Central themes include describing processes and results in collaborative research projects using computational biology and providing a guide for researchers to access them. The book is also a practical guide on how science is managed. It shows how collaborative researchers are putting results together in a way accessible to the entire biomedical community.

The nuclear structure is not always stable but varies from hour to hour. Thus, it is important to capture dynamic changes of the structure and function from the viewpoint of molecular dynamics. Using the latest visualizing techniques in combination with biochemical and molecular biological methods, researchers from a broad range of fields of knowledge, including chromosomal structure, nuclear transfer, RNA, nuclear membrane, transcription, and nuclear domain structures, provide an overview of the nuclear structure and current issues in nuclear dynamics. The dynamics of nuclear structures described in this book furnish the basis for a comprehensive understanding of how the higher-order organization and function of the nucleus is established and how it correlates with the expression of a variety of vital activities such as cell proliferation and differentiation. The resulting volume creates an invaluable source of reference for researchers in the field.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th Annual International Conference on Research in Computational Molecular Biology, RECOMB 2007, held in Oakland, CA, USA in April 2007. The 37 revised full papers address all current issues in algorithmic, theoretical, and experimental bioinformatics.

Once per life cycle, mitotic nuclear divisions are replaced by meiosis I and II – reducing chromosome number from the diploid level to a haploid genome, reshuffling the homologous chromosomes by their centromeres, and recombining chromosome arms by crossing-over. In animals, including humans, all this happens during the germ cell formation of eggs and sperm. Due to the reign of meiosis, no child is a true genetic copy of either parent. Central to mainstream meiosis, the mechanisms of reciprocal exchange at crossover/chiasma sites stand out as a controlled program of biologically significant molecular changes. To initiate the meiotic exchange of DNA, surgical cuts are made as a form of calculated damage that is subsequently repaired by homologous recombination. These key events are accompanied by ancillary provisions at the level of chromosome core organization, sister chromatid cohesion, and differential centromere connectivity. Great progress has been made in recent years to further our understanding of these mechanisms. Questions still open primarily concern the placement of and mutual coordination between neighboring crossover events. The current book addresses these processes and mechanisms in multicellular eukaryotes, such as Drosophila, Arabidopsis, mice and humans. The pioneering model systems of yeasts, as well as evolutionary aspects, will be addressed in a forthcoming volume.

Research is fast paced and advances in RNA interference have recently opened up new opportunities for genetic experiments in human cell lines. However, the possibility to easily modify the genome still remains a powerful tool to investigate the function of coding and regulatory sequences in the vertebrate genome. DT40 has never been a quick and easy road to fame. It would be unfair to blame this on DT40 as it has proven to be a reliable and robust companion with fast doubling time, easy clonability and a relatively stable karyotype. If this model system is going to flourish over the next 15 years, it will be thanks to ingenious and original researchers. They may feel as if they work outside the mainstream, but they can take heart by the fact that only the clever exploitation of diversity and conservation makes biological research both elegant and rewarding. It is with this in mind that the DT40 handbook has been conceived and written. This book provides an up to date overview of the different facets of research, and also intends to help newcomers get started and avoid looming pitfalls. The collection of protocols which have been kindly provided by a number of laboratories will be particularly useful in this regard.

Cancer and other genetic human diseases are caused by a variety of mutations, ranging from subtle sequence changes to larger genomic rearrangements and alterations in chromosome number (aneuploidy). With contributions by reputed experts, this book aims to update the knowledge on the multiple mechanisms of genomic instability leading to human disease. Emphasis is given to the different types of genomic sequences involved in disease-related genomic rearrangements as well as to the various exogenous factors increasing the frequency of mutations. Several chapters are dedicated to the dysfunction of important cellular mechanisms like DNA repair and chromosome segregation, which may cause genomic instability and result in tumorigenesis. Important ‘caretaker'genes controlling the stability of our genome have been identified through their defect in genomic instability syndromes, which are also extensively reviewed in this volume. This book provides an important update not only for investigators in biology and medicine, but also for physicians and anyone interested in the molecular basis of human disease.

Population and evolutionary genetics have been quickly developing?elds of biological research over the past decades. This book compiles our current understanding of genetic processes in natural populations. In addition, the book provides the author's original ideas and concepts based on the data obtained by himself and his close coworkers. The author introduces his pioneering concept of population genetic stability,and much of thebook is concerned with the factors and conditions of such stability. Why does genetic stability matter so much? Altukhov argues that the sustainable use of natural resources, including genetic resources of popu- tions, critically depends on the maintenance of their stability. The preser- tion of well-adapted genetic characteristics from one generation to the next is essential for this stability. Traditionally, population genetics has been - cusedonevolution andthe role of evolutionary factorsinshapinggenetic structures of populations. While the idea of a population as a dynamic unit of evolution has been widely accepted, the signi?cance of genetic stability and its implications for the long-term survival of populations and species have not been fully appreciated.

Mitochondrial DNA is one of the most explored genetic systems because of what it can tell us about the human past. This volume takes a unique perspective, presenting the disparate strands that must be tied together to exploit this system. From molecular biology to anthropology, statistics to ancient DNA, this first volume of three presents the global picture of human mitochondrial DNA variation. It takes a critical look at the field, flagging the problems, as well as the successes, and always placing the mitochondrial phylogeny centre stage.

Die strukturelle Organisation von Chromosomen spielt eine zentrale Rolle bei fast allen Prozessen der DNA-Biologie in höheren Eukaryonten. Chromatin besteht aus zwei morphologisch unterscheidbaren Bereichen, dem Euchromatin und dem Heterochromatin. Das Euchromatin ist der transkriptionell aktive Bereich und genreich, während im Heterochromatin nur wenige Gene lokalisiert sind und dieser Bereich für Transkriptionsfaktoren generell nicht zugänglich ist. Heterochromatin ist daher weitgehend transkriptionell inaktiv und im Vergleich zu Euchromatin sehr viel stärker kondensiert. Molekular ist Heterochromatin durch spezifische posttranslationale Modifikationen der nukleosomalen Histone definiert. Diese Modifikationen bieten spezifische Interaktionsflächen für bestimmte Proteine. Eine gut untersuchte Modifikation im Heterochromatin ist die Methylierung des Lysins an der N-terminalen Position 9 des Histons H3 (meK9-H3). Das Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) ist durch seine Bindung an meK9-H3 ein hauptsächlicher Bestandteil von Heterochromatin, und spielt daher eine essentielle Rolle bei der Bildung und Beibehaltung der transkriptionell repressiven Heterochromatinstruktur. Man vermutet, dass HP1 durch seine Fähigkeit, Multimere zu bilden, das Chromatin vernetzt und damit weniger zugänglich für Proteine macht. Konsequenterweise würde man daher erwarten, dass HP1- Proteine stabil in das hochkondensierte Heterochromatin eingebaut sind.

Provides a forum for discussion of new discoveries, approaches, and idea in molecular biology. Contains contributions from leaders in their fields and abundant references. - Provides a forum for discussion of new discoveries, approaches, and ideas in molecular biology - Features contributions from leaders in their fields - Contains abundant references

International Review of Cytology presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology-both plant and animal. Articles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research. - Structural and Functional Evolution of the Natriuretic Peptide System in Vertebrates - The Kinetochore of Higher Eukaryotes - Mitochondrial Proteins at Unexpected Cellular Locations - The Petite Mutation in Yeast - Effects on Stress on Cellular Infrastructure and Metabolic Organization in Plant Cells