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Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of deaths worldwide. The eighth volume of the “Interdisciplinary Cancer Research” series, entitled “Lung Cancer Pathophysiology: An Interdisciplinary Approach” publishes comprehensive reviews on the mechanisms of lung cancer. Fundamental elements of a lung cancer multidisciplinary team are discussed. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition in lung cancer, and the roles of tumor immune microenvironment, NK cells, RNA, micro-RNA, and long-non coding RNA in lung cancer are explained. A comprehensive genomic profiling in lung cancer in the era of immunotherapy approaches is also provided in this volume. This interdisciplinary series is of special value to researchers working on oncology. This is the main concept of Cancer Immunology Project (CIP), which is a part of Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN). This interdisciplinary book will be of special value to researchers, oncologists, and oncosurgeons who wish to extend their knowledge on lung cancer.

Es sorprendente que una estructura tan diminuta, de dimensiones ultramicroscópicas y con una organización estructural aparentemente sencilla, pueda desempeñar funciones tan decisivas e importantes para la vida de las células. Me refiero a la membrana citoplasmática; esa delicada y finísima piel que recubre y aísla la célula de su entorno natural y le confiere la individualidad necesaria para funcionar, en muchos casos, como un organismo independiente, capaz de alimentarse a través de ella, de comunicarse con las demás células por intermedio de ella y de desencadenar multitud de mecanismos fisiológicos por virtud de ella. A pesar de haber transcurrido poco más de un siglo desde que el botánico inglés Ernest Overton determinara, por métodos indirectos, que las membranas estaban conformadas por una mezcla de lecitinas y colesterol, a pesar de los avances en microscopía y de los novedosos instrumentos y técnicas de laboratorio, aún no ha sido posible develar por completo o, si se quiere, corroborar de una buena vez la organización estructural que presentan realmente las membranas biológicas y, de paso, dar explicación a ciertos mecanismos fisiológicos que todavía no se comprenden bien. He aquí el enorme atractivo que tiene esta diminuta estructura para los biólogos moleculares. He aquí la desbordante fascinación que sigue despertando en mí desde aquellos primeros años como estudiante universitario, la misma que he tratado de despertar siempre en mis estudiantes y que ahora espero despertar en aquellos lectores que deseen incursionar y aprender algo de esta maravillosa piel de la vida.

Advances in Cancer Research, Volume 160, the latest release in this ongoing, well-regarded serial, provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research, with this updated edition covering PFKP: More Than Phosphofructokinase, Setting sail: maneuvering SHP2 activity and its effects in cancer, Mechanical factors driving cancer progression, Microsomal Glutathione Transferase 1 in Cancer and the Regulation of Ferroptosis, Lnc-ing epigenetic mechanisms with autophagy and cancer drug resistance, Head and Neck Cancer Treatment in the Era of Molecular Medicine, Applications of Tissue-Specific and Cancer-Selective Gene Promoters for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy, and more. - Provides the latest information on cancer research - Offers outstanding and original reviews on a range of cancer research topics - Serves as an indispensable reference for researchers and students alike

This book covers the tremendous progress in the current understanding of the molecular physiology of voltage-gated calcium channels. This book includes unparalleled insights into structural features of calcium channels due to X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, which in turn yielded critical information into how these channels function under normal and pathophysiological conditions, and how they interact with calcium channel therapeutics. The chapters investigate how, with the advent of high throughput genome sequencing, numerous mutations in various calcium channel genes have been identified in patients with neurological, cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and other disorders. This is further complemented through a much larger in vivo toolkit such as knock-out and knock-in mice. The chapters further discuss the increased complexity of calcium channel physiology that arises from mRNA editing and splicing. Finally, the book also provides an overview of the updated research on calciumchannel inhibitors that can be used both in vivo and in vitro, and which may serve as a spring board for new calcium channel therapeutics for human disease. Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels is useful for academic researchers at all levels in neuroscience, biophysics, cell biology and drug discovery.

Cancer: It is a disease where our body cells loose ability to divide at normal rate, this abnormal growth of cells results formation of lumps or tumours in body. Depending on the stage of the cancer and condition of the patient, treatment for the disease is decided. Treatment is given either to cure the disease or to shrink the tumour size or slow down the growth of disease allowing patient to live a normal life or live symptom free if possible. General treatment options available for treating cancer include: Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, Immunotherapy. In this book, discusses some of the advances made in the field of cancer treatment.

Principles of Neurobiology, Second Edition presents the major concepts of neuroscience with an emphasis on how we know what we know. The text is organized around a series of key experiments to illustrate how scientific progress is made and helps upper-level undergraduate and graduate students discover the relevant primary literature. Written by a single author in a clear and consistent writing style, each topic builds in complexity from electrophysiology to molecular genetics to systems level in a highly integrative approach. Students can fully engage with the content via thematically linked chapters and will be able to read the book in its entirety in a semester-long course. Principles of Neurobiology is accompanied by a rich package of online student and instructor resources including animations, figures in PowerPoint, and a Question Bank for adopting instructors.

Exosomes: A Clinical Compendium is a comprehensive and authoritative account of exosomesin the context of biomarkers, diagnostics, and therapeutics across a wide spectrum of medicaldisciplines, as well as their role in cell-cell communication. It is intended to serve as a referencesource for clinicians, physicians, and research scientists who wish to gain insight into the mostrecent advances in this rapidly growing field. The exosome revolution may well be the greatest advance in physiology and medicine sinceantibiotics. The discovery of their epigenetic role in intercellular signaling in virtually all tissues is amajor breakthrough in our understanding of how cells function. - Provides readers with a broad and timely overview of exosomes in health and disease, closingwith a thought-provoking chapter on transgenerational inheritance, Darwin and Lamarck. - Summarizes the most recent laboratory and clinical findings on exosomes across numerousmedical disciplines, thereby offering readers a broad-ranging and solid foundation for prospectiveinvestigative efforts - Twenty-one chapters authored by a global team of peer-acknowledged experts, each representinga key medical disciplineProvides readers with a broad and timely overview of exosomes in health and disease, closing

Cells and organelles are small units for biochemical synthetic purposes, often the smallest practically feasible unit since they contain coenzyme regenerating system, ordered enzyme sequences, etc.These volumes, besides giving some insight into basic technology (immobilisation procedures, etc.), also sum up the current know-how in this subject area and try to predict some future trends.The termimmobilized cells covers everything from dead cells with a single active enzyme species to cells proliferating on or within a three dimensional polymer matrix. The practical handling of these structures make them useful in various applications, e.g. large-scale production of biomolecules, biodegration, analysis, etc.

Cell surface membranes have long been characterized as two-dimensional fluids whose mobile components are randomized by diffusion in the plane of the membrane bilayer. Recent research has indicated that cell surface membranes are highly organized and ordered and that important functional units of membranes appear as arrays of interacting molecules rather than as single, freely diffusing molecules. Mobility and Proximity in Biological Membranes provides an overview of the results obtained from biophysical methods for probing the organization of cell surface membranes. These results are presented in the context of detailed treatments of the theory and the technical demands of each of the methods. The book describes a versatile and easily applied mode for investigating molecular proximities in plasma membranes in a flow cytometer. Its analysis of lipid fluidity and viscosity of membranes and the rotational mobility of proteins offers intimate insight into the physical chemistry of biological membranes. The electrophysiology of lymphocytes is presented with focus on its importance in different diseases. New techniques are described, and new data, new possibilities, and future trends are presented by world experts. This book's chapters can serve both as guides to the existing literature and as starting points for new experiments and approaches associated with problems in membrane function.

Advances in Cancer Research, Volume 139, provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. Original reviews are presented on a variety of topics relating to the rapidly developing intersection between nanotechnology and cancer research, with unique sections in the new release focusing on Exosomes as a theranostic for lung cancer, Nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy, Ultrasound imaging agents and delivery systems, Dendronized systems for the delivery of chemotherapeutics, Thermosensitive liposomes for image-guided drug delivery, Supramolecular Chemistry in Tumor Analysis and Drug Delivery, Gold nanoparticles for delivery of cancer therapeutics, and Single cell barcode microchip for cancer research and therapy. - Provides the latest information on cancer research - Offers outstanding and original reviews on a range of cancer research topics - Serves as an indispensable reference for researchers and students alike

A First Course in Systems Biology is an introduction for advanced undergraduate and graduate students to the growing field of systems biology. Its main focus is the development of computational models and their applications to diverse biological systems. The book begins with the fundamentals of modeling, then reviews features of the molecular inventories that bring biological systems to life and discusses case studies that represent some of the frontiers in systems biology and synthetic biology. In this way, it provides the reader with a comprehensive background and access to methods for executing standard systems biology tasks, understanding the modern literature, and launching into specialized courses or projects that address biological questions using theoretical and computational means.New topics in this edition include: default modules for model design, limit cycles and chaos, parameter estimation in Excel, model representations of gene regulation through transcription factors, derivation of the Michaelis-Menten rate law from the original conceptual model, different types of inhibition, hysteresis, a model of differentiation, system adaptation to persistent signals, nonlinear nullclines, PBPK models, and elementary modes. The format is a combination of instructional text and references to primary literature, complemented by sets of small-scale exercises that enable hands-on experience, and large-scale, often open-ended questions for further reflection.

This workshop was the second of this series held on the island of santorini in the Cycladic Sea. The first one ('Mechanism of Action of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor', NATO ASI Se­ ries H, vol. 10) took place in May 1986 and focused on what was at the time the best studied of all neuroreceptors. This second one, held only two years later, demonstrates the im­ mense progress achieved since then in the field of neurorecep­ tors and ion channels. Molecular cloning techniques have now made available the primary structures of a whole array of ion channel proteins, and this in turn has shed light on some gen­ eral principles of the structure-function relationships of these central elements of intercellular communication. The purpose of this workshop was to explore the common ele­ ments in gene and protein structure of already cloned ion channel proteins, and to assess the status of other cloning projects in progress. It explicitly focused on very recently published and unpublished results. All participants kept to these goals thereby demonstrating the very value of such work­ shops for the progress of science.

This volume is based on a workshop'Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity in Nervous Systems'held in n Ciocco, Castelvecchio, Pascoli, Italy, from September 8th to 13th, 1987. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together scientists working on plasticity in nervous systems on different levels. The contributions can be subgrouped into six fields of research: 1) Presynaptic Modulation of Chemical Neurotransmission 2) Postsynaptic Signal Transduction 3) Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity in the Hippocampus 4) Modulation of Neuromuscular Transmission 5) Molecular and Cellular Analysis of Conditioning in Marine Snails 6) Analysis of Learning and Memory in Insects Understanding how nervous systems and in particular our brain processes and stores information has been a major challenge in science for centuries and will remain for some time to come. Not until recently neurobiologists agreed to seek plasticity of behavior primarily in the modulation of the properties of synapses between nerve cells. This is to be understood within the context provided by a neural circuitry. An important stimulus came from the work on the marine snail Aplysia, where learning processes can be described as a modulation of transmitter release, traced back to a complete chain of molecular events in an identified neuron. Learning became a topic of molecular biology. Three systems appear particularly promising for this approach: insects, in particular Drosophila, marine snails and the mammalian hippocampal tissue. Our views on neurotransmission have rapidly changed.

Biological membranes are often effected by diseases. Molecular events leading to or arising from pathological changes in the course of different diseases are as yet not clearly understood. This competent study by leading experts covers changes of the cellular environment, membranes and the metabolic functions during tissue growth and differentiation as well as aspects of abnormal organelle function in lysosomal storage diseases, peroxisomal and mitochondrial disorders, enzyme defects and regulatory defects of receptors due to oncogenes.

A wide variety of hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors exert their cellular effects by reacting first with membrane receptors resulting in an increase of intracellular calcium and the cellular response. The calcium signal in the cell is mediated by the high-affinity calcium binding proteins (characterized by the EF-hand structural element), and by the calcium and phospholipid dependent proteins. Many of these have been discovered most recently. Their purification, distribution, protein and gene structures as well as their physiological roles are discussed. The book is of interest to biochemists and molecular biologists as well as to clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry who can apply the results in this field.

Cells maintain uneven distribution of Na, K and Ca ions across the cell membrane and membranes of intracellular organellae. Cells exert their functions by allowing for some ion to cross the membrane through ion channels which either produces an electrical effect across the membrane or switches on a series of chemical or physicochemical reactions. This is a comprehensive book about these vitally important ion channels with detailed description of the molecular structure and function and especially of activators and inhibitors. All chapters are written by renowned specialists in their field.

The 25th Jerusalem Symposium represents a most significant highlight in the development and history of these meetings. Living within the decimal system we have celebrated with much pleasure the lath and the 20th Jerusalem Symposia. With this one we experience a feeling of particular satisfaction because 25 years is different from, is more than, two decades and a half. It is a quarter of a century. It seems thus as if we have changed the dimension of our endeavour. In no way do we loose the sense of modesty with respect to the significance of these meetings. For the organizers, however, they do represent a continuity of efforts which we feel happy to have been able to carry out. At this occasion it seems useful to say a few words about the origin of the Jerusalem Symposia and to recall the name of a colleague who played an essential role in their creation and has been a most efficient and devoted co­ organizer of the seven first of them. This was Professor Ernst Bergmann, one of the most distinguished founders of Israeli Science and a world famous physico-organic chemist.

The past two decades may well become known as the golden era of neurobiology. This field, that in the first half of this century seemed far too complex to be investigated with the low resolution techniques available to the investigators, suddenly blossomed in the second half of the century into one of the most promising areas of biology, thanks to discoveries which took place practically simultaneously in most areas of neurobiological research. Here we mention only some of the most important: the discovery of the large number of neurotransmitters from monoamines to peptides, the identification of the mechanism of action of different agents through their binding to specific receptors, the recognition that neuro­ transmitters act most of the time through a second messenger, and the discovery that growth and differentiation of nerve cells depend on activation by the protein molecule; all these were recognized I!S specific growth facts, of which the NGF was both the frrst to be dis­ covered and the object of the most intensive investigation. Recently, the development of highly sophisticated techniques such as recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibodies has been suc­ cessfully applied at the cellular and subeellular level to the study of nerve cells, neuronal cell population, and to the mechanism of their interaction. Studies pursued with the collaboration of different investigators all over the world have opened a new panorama of the tremendous complexity of the CNS, from the neuron to the whole organism.

In the mid-1980s the European Journal of Biochemistry set out to publish review articles. The enterprise proved successful resulting in high-level reviews written by well-known scientists appearing in the Journal. The reviews represent emerging and rapidly growing fields of research in fundamental as well as applied areas of biochemistry, such as medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and nutrition. Novel methodological and technological approaches which stimulate biochemical research are also included. The authors of the reviews are explicitly asked to be critical, selective, evaluative and interdisciplinarily oriented. The reviews should encourage young scientists toward independent and creative thinking, and inform active investigators about the state of the art in a given field.

This textbook provides a unique support in gaining essential knowledge on the immune response, its diagnosis and its modification by drugs and chemicals. The first section of the book, covering a basic introduction to immunology and its relevance for human disease, has been updated to accommodate new immunological concepts. The second section on immunodiagnostics has been further expanded to describe widely used molecular techniques and is followed by a systematic coverage of drugs affecting the immune system, revised to cover recent developments. The book concludes with a chapter on immunotoxicology. This third edition continues the unique format dealing with four related topics in a single volume, obviating the need to refer to several different textbooks. New aids to the reader include a two-column format, glossaries of technical terms and appendix reference tables. The emphasis on illustrations is maintained from the first edition.

A primary component of cell signaling research, this title covers the principal membrane-bound receptor families, including their structural organization. Written and edited by experts in the field, this book provides up-to-date research on transmembrane signaling entities and their initiating responses following extracellular stimulation. - Articles written and edited by experts in the field - Thematic volume covering effectors, cytosolic events, nuclear, and cytoplasmic events - Up-to-date research on signaling systems and mutations in transcription factors that provide new targets for treating disease

This book encompasses the exciting developments and challenges in the fast-moving and rapidly expanding research field of single-molecule kinetic analysis of cell signaling that promises to be one of the most significant and exciting areas of biological research for the foreseeable future. Cell signaling is carried out by complicated reaction networks of macromolecules, and single-molecule analyses has already demonstrated its power to unravel complex reaction dynamics in purified systems. To date, most of the published research in the field of single-molecule processes in cells, focus on the dynamic properties (translational movements of the centre of mass) of biological molecules. However, we hope that this book presents as many kinetic analyses of cell signaling as possible. Although single-molecule kinetic analysis of cellular systems is a relatively young field when compared with the analysis of single-molecule movements in cells, this type of analysis is highly important because it directly relates to the molecular functions that control cellular behavior and in the future, single-molecule kinetic analysis will be largely directed towards cellular systems. Thus, we hope that this book will be of interest to all those working in the fields of molecular and cell biology, as well as biophysics and biochemistry.

Handbook of Cell Signaling, Three-Volume Set, 2e, is a comprehensive work covering all aspects of intracellular signal processing, including extra/intracellular membrane receptors, signal transduction, gene expression/translation, and cellular/organotypic signal responses. The second edition is an up-to-date, expanded reference with each section edited by a recognized expert in the field. Tabular and well illustrated, the Handbook will serve as an in-depth reference for this complex and evolving field. Handbook of Cell Signaling, 2/e will appeal to a broad, cross-disciplinary audience interested in the structure, biochemistry, molecular biology and pathology of cellular effectors. - Contains over 350 chapters of comprehensive coverage on cell signaling - Includes discussion on topics from ligand/receptor interactions to organ/organism responses - Provides user-friendly, well-illustrated, reputable content by experts in the field

The rapid developments in immunology in recent immunomodulatory drugs can be distinguished years have dramatically expanded our knowledge of from their beneficial therapeutic effects. mammalian host defence mechanisms. The molecu- Currently,it is only possible to obtain an overview lar mechanisms of cellular interactions during of these various aspects of immunopharmacology immune responses have been unravelled,the intra- by reading a range of immunological,pharmacol- cellular responses involved in signal transduction ical,diagnostic and toxicological literature. Good delineated and an ever-increasing number of soluble immunological textbooks are available, while mediators of immune and inflammatory reponses immunopharmacology is covered mainly in terms of have been discovered. the inflammatory response. Principles of Immuno- The initial result of this explosion of knowledge pharmacology is intended to provide for the first time has been to provide the researcher and the clinician in a single volume a basic understanding of with an arsenal of diagnostic tools with which the immunological mechanisms,a review of important immunological bases of disease processes can be immunodiagnostic tools and a description of the investigated. This has made disease diagnosis much main pharmacological agents which modify the more precise,enabling the physician to tailor therapy immune response,together with an introduction to much more closely to the individual patient's needs. immunotoxicology. As such we hope that it will be However,better understanding of disease processes useful as a reference text for physicians,researchers only provides a gradual improvement in therapy. This and students with a rudimentary knowledge of is because the new molecular targets that have beenimmunology.

Heart Physiology and Pathophysiology, 4E, provides the foundation for the scientific understanding of heart function and dysfunction, and bridges the gap between basic cardiovascular science and clinical cardiology. This comprehensive text covers all the important aspects of the heart and vascular system. The most important and relevant disorders are presented, with emphasis on the mechanisms involved. The first three editions of this book developed a reputation as the leading reference in cardiovascular science for researchers and academic cardiologists. This recent edition has been updated, expanded, and includes a number of new contributors. It has also been remodeled to expand its usage as a text reference for cardiology residents, practicing cardiologists, and graduate students.Key Features• The most comprehensive book available on this topic• Clear, concise, and complete coverage of all important aspects of cardiovascular physiology/pathophysiology• Completely updated version of the foremost reference on cardiovascular science, including new information on pathophysiology and electrophysiology• Useful tool in bridging the gap between basic science, pathophysiology, and clinical cardiology

This authoritative book gathers together a broad range of ideas and topics that define the field. It provides clear, concise, and comprehensive coverage of all aspects of cellular physiology from fundamental concepts to more advanced topics. The Third Edition contains substantial new material. Most chapters have been thoroughly reworked. The book includes chapters on important topics such as sensory transduction, the physiology of protozoa and bacteria, the regulation of cell division, and programmed cell death. - Completely revised and updated - includes 8 new chapters on such topics as membrane structure, intracellular chloride regulation, transport, sensory receptors, pressure, and olfactory/taste receptors - Includes broad coverage of both animal and plant cells - Appendixes review basics of the propagation of action potentials, electricity, and cable properties - Authored by leading experts in the field - Clear, concise, comprehensive coverage of all aspects of cellular physiology from fundamental concepts to more advanced topics

Ion channels are membrane proteins that act as gated pathways for the movement of ions across cell membranes. They play essential roles in the physiology of all cells. In recent years, an ever-increasing number of human and animal diseases have been found to result from defects in ion channel function. Most of these diseases arise from mutations in the genes encoding ion channel proteins, and they are now referred to as the channelopathies. Ion Channels and Disease provides an informative and up-to-date account of our present understanding of ion channels and the molecular basis of ion channel diseases. It includes a basic introduction to the relevant aspects of molecular biology and biophysics and a brief description of the principal methods used to study channelopathies. For each channel, the relationship between its molecular structure and its functional properties is discussed and ways in which genetic mutations produce the disease phenotype are considered. This book is intended for research workers and clinicians, as well as graduates and advanced undergraduates. The text is clear and lively and assumes little knowledge, yet it takes the reader to frontiers of what is currently known about this most exciting and medically important area of physiology. - Introduces the relevant aspects of molecular biology and biophysics - Describes the principal methods used to study channelopathies - Considers single classes of ion channels with summaries of the physiological role, subunit composition, molecular structure and chromosomal location, plus the relationship between channel structure and function - Looks at those diseases associated with defective channel structures and regulation, including mutations affecting channel function and to what extent this change in channel function can account for the clinical phenotype

Sarcoplasmic reticulum is a form of endoplasmic reticulum found in large quantities in mature muscle cells. Anthony Martonosi presents general information about the development and function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum within a framework of contemporary research on the molecular biology of biosynthetic and signaling processes. Focusing on the deve

A multi-authored and comprehensive text, Cell Physiology Source Book enables graduate students in various biological sub-disciplines to gain a thorough understanding of cell physiology. It begins with a reviewof the physical chemistry of solutions, protein structure, and membrane structure, and ends with an Appendix featuring reviews of electricity, electrochemistry, and cable properties of cells. In between, this book is loaded with information on membrane potentials, cell metabolism, signal transduction, transport physiology and pumps, membrane excitability and ion channels, synaptic transmission, sensory transduction, muscle contraction, excitation-contraction coupling, bioluminescence, photosynthesis, andplant cell physiology.This exhaustive work provides graduate students with detailed and authoritative coverage of nearly all aspects of cell physiology. Such broad coverage of this field within a single source makes for a unique text.Chapters written in a clear, concise, and didactic style, and appropriate reviews of basic physics and chemistry are among the many distinguishing features of this monumental treatise.Comprehensive source-book of cell physiologyAuthoritative and multi-authored by leading experts in the fieldUnique features include broad coverage and review of relevant physics, chemistry, and metabolismClear, concise, and didacticIncludes reviews of physical chemistry of solutions, protein structure, membrane structure, electrochemistry, and electricityTopic covered include plant cell physiology, photosynthesis, bioluminescence, effects of pressure, cilia, and flagellaeDetailed treatise on ion channels and their regulation

This multi-volume set within International Review of Cytology encompasses the recent advances in the understanding of structure-function relationships at the molecular level of receptors, transporters, and membrane proteins. Several diverse families of membrane receptors/proteins are discussed with respect to the molecular and cellular biology of their synthesis, assembly, turnover, and function. Included are such receptor superfamilies as G-proteins, immunoglobulins, ligand-gated receptors, interleukins, and tyrosine kinases as well as such transporter/protein families as pumps, ion channels, and bacterial transporters. Each section of each volume features a'perspectives/commentary'chapter which includes comments on the recent advances and predictions on new directions. Written by acknowledged experts in the field, this volume, 137C, highlights recent developments in pumps, channels, and transporters. - The latest on several important protein families, including: - The G-protein-coupled receptors - The interleukin receptors - Sugar transporters - Several ion channels and pumps

This handbook provides a thorough account of recent directions in membrane channel research. Each subject is covered in terms of channel biophysics, pharmacology, and molecular biology. The introductory chapter reviews methodologies of molecular biology currently used for studying molecular structure and function of membrane channels and specific domains in channel proteins.

It should not come as too much of a surprise that biological membranes are considerably more complex than lipid bilayers. This has been made quite clear by the fluid-mosaic model which considers the cell membrane as a two-dimensional solution of a mosaic of integral membrane proteins and glycoproteins firmly embedded in a fluid lipid bilayer matrix. Such a model has several virtues, chief among which is that it allows membrane components to diffuse in the plane of the membrane and orient asymmetrically across the membrane. The model is also remarkable since it provokes the right sort of questions. Two such examples are: Does membrane fluidity influence enzyme activity? Does cholesterol regulate fluidity? However, it does not go far enough. As it turns out, there is now another version of this model, the so-called post-fluid mosaic model which incorporates two concepts, namely the existence in the membrane of discrete domains in which specific lipid-lipid, lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions occur and ordered regions that are in motion but remain separate from less ordered regions. We must admit that both are intriguing problems and of importance in guiding our thinking as to what the next model might be.We have chosen not to include the subject of membrane transport in the present volume. This obviously represents a break with convention. However, the intention is to have the topic covered subsequent volumes relating to organ systems. It would be right to regard this as an attempt to strengthen the integrated approach to the teaching of medicine.

This book supplies an application-oriented introduction to molecular simulation techniques used to study a wide range of problems in molecular biology. Each chapter focuses in detail on one kind of application, including the scientific background, the appropriate methodology and the relationship to experimental results. The book contains many areas of interest to basic and industrial scientists, including: - flexibility of peptides - protein-peptide interactions - ion translocation across membranes - modelling protein and nucleic acid conformations - stability of mutant proteins - modelling conformational transitions Currently the only up-to-date compilation available, this book enables readers to get an overview of the methods and how they are used in various specialized applications without having to search for them in a large number of papers in different journals.

Advances in Cancer Research

This volume deals with aspects of the cytoskeleton in different cell types and also describe examples of changes in the cytoskeleton which occur during various pathological states. These studies bring the exciting area of cytoskeleton research into the domain of medical science.