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This book focuses on the fundamental processes involved in calcium signaling through fractional mathematical modeling. The intended reader of the book is mathematically proficient students of cell biology, applied mathematics and mathematical biology who are interested in learning about modeling in cell biology. The book will inspire the graduate students and researchers to collaborate with experimentalists while studying the direction needed to explore the modeling literature. Organized into four chapters, the book introduces to fractional calculus and devoted to understanding the receptor activation by the ligand, that is Thrombin via fractional model incorporating the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional operator. It studies the calcium profile in red blood cells with the help of the advection-diffusion equation. The book further studies the process of buffering, aiding to the lowering of the calcium concentration in the cytosol, which rises due to calcium influx from extracellular space and intracellular storage. A mathematical model is studied to characterize the anomalous subdiffusion of cytosolic calcium.

This book overviews ongoing and upcoming clinical applications of basic immunology. Recent advances in our knowledge of immunology coupled with new technologies have aided in the development of efficient cancer immunotherapy, as well as the control of emerging microorganisms such as SARS-CoV-2. However, knowledge of basic immunology has not been fully utilized even after the discoveries of immune checkpoint inhibition for cancer immunotherapy and the development of mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. There is still room for improving the clinical application of basic immunology. The book summarizes the achievements in clinical applications of basic immunology and highlights what can be further extended to make immunology a more practical human science. Basic immunology and its clinical applications are two wheels of the same cart in the immunology field, which aids in the development of more efficient cancer immunotherapy and rapid control of infectious diseases against microorganisms, including new viruses and classical toxoplasmosis. The exploration of ongoing and upcoming applications of basic immunology in this book makes it a useful resource for immunologists, physicians, molecular and genome biologists, bioinformaticians, and students in these fields.

The second edition of this book presents the role of osmolytes in human health and diseases. Some of the chapters deal about the possibility of the use of osmolytes as diagnostic biomarkers and potential drug design for neurodegenerative and other human diseases. Other chapters also include reviews on the role of osmolytes in cancer, metastasis, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, immunological disorders, and tissue regeneration. Importantly, the book also contain recent updates on the role of naturally occurring osmolytes in protein folding pathway, protein stability, and their underlying mechanisms. The book also covers the aspects that osmolytes could promote conformational alterations of transcription factors that favor metastatic behavior. Potential of the osmolytes in the various process of vaccine development, including enhancing the efficacy, production, and purification steps are also succintly described. Towards the end, the book also elucidates the use of specific molecules for the prevention of toxic gain of functions and restoration of function to disease-causing mutant protein. This book is an invaluable asset for the researchers especially working in osmolyte biology and scientists involved in basic and clinical research particularly neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, and metabolic disorders.

This book presents the latest cutting-edge research on phase separation. It discusses the benefits and risks of phase separation for living cells from the perspectives of physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.Phase separation is a physico-chemical process that induces a single solution of solvent and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to separate into two phases, one phase containing only solvent and the other containing IDPs in the solvent. A key molecule in phase separation is the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) proteins (IDPs), mostly comprised of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). One of the major roles of phase separation is to generate condensates, membrane-less organelles including stress granule, Cajal body, and nucleolus.Biological actions of phase separation in various aspects of science have received increasing attention in recent years. The book consists of four parts; Part I on physics and chemistry includes topics on structural biology of RBP FUS/TLS and chaperone for phase separation, computational approach of phase separation, and chemistry of G-quadruplex of DNA and RNA. Part II on molecular biology presents molecular mechanism of IDR sequence phase separation and potential cellular function of these labile fibers, formation of membrane-less organelles, and roles of noncoding RNAs in phase separation. Part III on biology covers topics from nuclear pore complex, developmental biology regarding force-dependent remodeling, and neurobiology and higher order brain functions. Finally, Part IV on medicine presents condensates and cancer therapy, pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases based on IDPs, and responses of microglia to amyloid. The last chapter highlights the latest topic on how the SARS-Cov-2 virus takes advantage of phase separation for its infections.This book brings together the studies of phase separation in each area in a single volume. The comprehensive approach provides new insights to the research andwill benefit the readers by responding to the emerging needs for understanding phase separation.

This book provides a comprehensive reference for various plant bioactive compounds for research and pharmacological significance across the entire spectrum of phytochemical genomics. The book opens with general information on diversity, analysis and genomic basis of phytochemicals, computational approaches, databases for responsible genes, and biosynthetic pathways, and it delves very much into the details behind phytochemical diversity and diverse roles of plant metabolites. The later parts of the book also explore the direct drug discovery and omics approaches including metabolomics, transcriptomics, as well as gene editing technology experiments to further inspire readers into its unlimited potentials. Each chapter includes detailed analysis and relevant experiments for better and deeper understanding of the concepts. The book will be an invaluable aid for medicinal plant researchers and a rich source of information and advice for advanced undergraduates and graduates in the fields of medicine, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, flavor, and fragrance studies.

Antimicrobial Peptides, Volume 663 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Unifying the classification of antimicrobial peptides in the Antimicrobial Peptide Database, Optimizing peptide library creation for PepSAVI-MS (RP libraries, etc.), Discovery of novel Antimicrobial peptides using BioProspecting, Screening for cysteine-stabilized scaffolds for developing protelytic-resistant AMPs, Exploring synergy and its role in antimicrobial peptide biology, Colorimetric assays for the rapid and high-throughput screening of antimicrobial peptide activity against diverse bacterial pathogens, and much more. Other chapters cover Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based analysis of naturally occurring neuropeptide diastereomers, Multiplexed Quantitative Neuropeptidomics via DiLeu Isobaric Tagging, In vitro evaluation of antibiotic resistance via proteomics, Molecular networking-based strategies in mass spectrometry, Development of Macrocyclic antimicrobial peptides and peptoids, and a host of other timely topics. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in Methods in Enzymology serials - Updated release includes the latest information on Antimicrobial Peptides

Plants produce secondary metabolites that humans harness for their own benefit. About half of drugs currently in clinical use are based on these chemicals found in nature. Chemistry of Natural Products covers secondary metabolites present in medicinal plants and their biosynthesis, biological activities, and isolation and separation techniques. This book is ideal for researchers in the areas of biochemistry, medicine, and pharmacology.

Biophotonics, Tryptophan and Disease is a comprehensive resource on the key role of tryptophan in wide range of diseases as seen by using optics techniques. It explores the use of fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman, imaging techniques and time-resolved spectroscopy in normal and diseased tissues and shows the reader how light techniques (i.e. spectroscopy and imaging) can be used to detect, distinguish and evaluate diseases. Diseases covered include cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other age-related diseases. Biophotonics, Tryptophan and Disease offers a clear presentation of techniques and integrates material from different disciplines into one resource. It is a valuable reference for students and interdisciplinary researchers working on the interface between biochemistry and molecular biology, translational medicine, and biophotonics. - Shows the key role of tryptophan in diseases - Emphasizes how optical techniques can be potent means of assessing many diseases - Points to new ways of understanding autism, aging, depression, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

NMR spectroscopy has found a wide range of applications in life sciences over recent decades. Providing a comprehensive amalgamation of the scattered knowledge of how to apply high-resolution NMR techniques to biomolecular systems, this book will break down the conventional stereotypes in the use of NMR for structural studies. The major focus is on novel approaches in NMR which deal with the functional interface of either protein-protein interactions or protein-lipid interactions. Bridging the gaps between structural and functional studies, the Editors believe a thorough compilation of these studies will open an entirely new dimension of understanding of crucial functional motifs. This in turn will be helpful for future applications into drug design or better understanding of systems. The book will appeal to NMR practitioners in industry and academia who are looking for a comprehensive understanding of the possibilities of applying high-resolution NMR spectroscopic techniques in probing biomolecular interactions.

This is the first book to explore the science underlying the Jerusalem artichoke, which is also known as Helianthus tuberosus L. and it is attracting increasing interest among food scientists and professionals worldwide. Due to a wide perspective for the production of inulin due to its high economic and ecological importance, the development of technologies for isolating and processing tuberous sunflower raw materials using environmentally friendly technologies (green chemistry and white biotechnology) and the global production of inulin shows an increasing tendency. Here we focus on the latest technological achievements related to the use of inulin in the food processing. In this book, readers will find full explanation of the conceptual aspects and the latest research results on a wide range of topics, including the relevant characteristics and applications from various fields. Written by leading scientists in the field, the book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of food chemistry, nutritional science, physiology, and bioengineers, as well as for professionals in the food industry.

Integrated Methods in Protein Biochemistry: Part A, Volume 677, the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as DNA and protein engineering to create protein bioswitches with new functions, Interaction and cross-talk of prelamin A with integral membrane zinc metalloproteases, An experimental protocol to study lipid transfer proteins, Synthesis of small heat shock proteins, Druggable p-p interacting sites for Co-chaperone DNAJA1 and its partner proteins, An experimental protocol for glycoconjugate analysis, Methods for proximity-based biotinylation combined with Mass Spectrometry, and more. Additional chapters cover Synthetic antibody fragments as conformational sensors of protein activation and trafficking, Expression, purification, functional analysis and crystallization of Rag GTPase, Purification of bacterial transcription elongation complexes by photoreversible immobilization, Inhibition of c-Myc-MAX heterodimerization, Fluorogenic RNA aptamers to probe transcription by multi-subunit RNA polymerases, and much more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series - Updated release includes the latest information on Integrated Methods in Protein Biochemistry

Methods in Enzymology, Volume 650 continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Chapters in this new release include Biophysical methods to study lanthanide-protein interactions, Genetically encoded sensors to study lanthanide biology, Spectrophotometric methods to determine the stability constants of lanthanide-macromolecule complexes, Lanthanide-based probes for amino acid modifications, In vitro selection and application of lanthanide-dependent DNAzymes, LRET biosensors for imaging protein interactions in living cells, Synthetic Modeling of the Structure and Function of the Lanthanide-Dependent, MDH Cofactor, EPR spectroscopy of lanthanides, Macromolecular crystallography for f-element complex characterization, and much more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series

The origin of life has been investigated by many researchers from various research fields, such as Geology, Geochemistry, Physics, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Astronomy and so on. Nevertheless, the origin of life remains unsolved. One of the reasons for this could be attributed to the different approaches that researchers have used to understand the events that happened on the primitive Earth. The origins of the main three members of the fundamental life system, as gene, genetic code and protein, could be only separately understood with these approaches. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the origins of gene, the genetic code, tRNA, metabolism, cell structure and protein not separately but comprehensively under a common concept in order to understand the origin of life, because the six members are intimately related to each other. In this monograph, the author offers a comprehensive hypothesis to explain the origin of life under a common concept. At the same time, the author offers the [GADV] hypothesis contrasting it with other current hypotheses and discusses the results of analyses of genes/proteins and the experimental data available in the exploration of the current knowledge in the field. This book is of interest for science students, researchers and the general public interested in the origin of life.

Vitamin C holds a unique place in scientific and cultural history. In this book, a group of leading scientific researchers describe new insights into the myriad ways vitamin C is employed during normal physiological functioning. In addition, the text provides an extensive overview of the following: the rationale for utilizing vitamin C in the clinic, updates on recent uses of vitamin C in cancer treatment through high-dose intravenous therapies, the role vitamin C plays in the treatment of sepsis and infectious disease, management of the ways vitamin C can improve stem cell differentiation, as well as vitamin C use in other important health situations.Features Includes chapters from a team of leading international scholars Reviews the history and recent research on the functions, benefits, and uses of vitamin C Focuses special attention on the way vitamin C can be used in the treatment of cancers Discusses how vitamin C can be employed against infectious disease Chapters 1, 3, 7, and 11 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.

This book explores the latest developments in the field the acute phase protein (APP), C-reactive protein or CRP in different diseases, highlighting the structural and functional aspects of CRP in disease biology.Divided into 5 sections, the book examines important topics such as the role of CRP in neurodegenerative, cardiac and parasitic diseases, as well as in cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, and the expression of CRP in pediatric respiratory diseases. In addition it discusses the clinical role of CRP in diagnostics and therapeutics, sepsis, ICU and ITU patients, and also as a primary marker for inflammation. Given its scope, this book will appeal to scholars in various fields of medicine and biology.

The book will be helpful for those students, who study biochemistry and/or human nutrition as one of the subjects in Food Technology, Food Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition and other allied streams of under-graduate levels. This book is mainly divided into two sections: 1) Biochemistry; 2) Human Nutrition. First section comprises eight chapters based on metabolism of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids), basics of vitamins, enzymes, hormones and nucleic acids. Second section deals with the digestion & absorption of macronutrients, nutritional requirements of different age groups, analytical methods for qualitative & quantitative determination of nutrients, milk intolerance & hypersensitivity, safety aspects of food additives, toxic elements and radionuclides and various nutritional polices.

In the current era, students of biology are faced with a vastly different landscape. The field has become more molecular-focused, with molecular biology tools playing a crucial role in advancing our understanding and solving longstanding problems related to the genomes of plants and animals. These tools have proven to be highly effective when combined with traditional research methods to study the structure and function of millions of genes. The book chapters included in this volume provide readers with up-to-date information on methods and protocols in a simplified format that is easy to understand and implement. These methods and protocols serve as a gold-standard reference for scientists aiming to develop and enhance their molecular biology skills towards the discovery of new biological relationships. The book has been organized into 10 chapters, each containing an introduction, principle, protocol, applications, and troubleshooting tips. It is designed to meet the needs of graduate and postgraduate students, as well as research scholars.

Biomolecules are molecules that are involved in the maintenance and metabolic processes of all living organisms. This fully revised second edition offers extensive coverage of important biomolecules from an organic chemistry point of view. The author discusses carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, proteins, enzymes, pyrimidines, purines, nucleic acids, terpenoids, and lipids. The various topics are described in simple, lucid language and explain the mechanisms of the reactions wherever required. Ideal for upper level undergraduates, graduates and researchers.Features: The author discusses the basic organic chemistry of the main families of biomolecules Gives comprehensive information on biogenic substances Covers a vast range of topics including nucleic acids, enzymes and lipids Includes alkaloids and terpenoids This second edition will now appeal to upper level undergraduates as well as graduates

In this book, the major paradigm-shifting discoveries made in the past century on key cellular nanomachines are described in great detail: their complex yet precise and elegant design and function, as well as the diseases linked to their dysfunction and the therapeutic approaches to overcome them. The major focus of this book is the “porosome” nanomachine, the universal secretory portal in cells. This is an ideal book for students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

In this book, a summary and update of the most important areas of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) research are presented, while raising relevant questions for further development. The CPP sequences are presented and discussed throughout the book. The methods for testing CPP mechanisms are discussed in detail. Various approaches for the testing of endocytotic pathways of CPP uptake are also described. Different CPP uptake experiments are compared since it is becoming clear that it is often best to apply several methods in a complementary manner in order to most comprehensively evaluate CPP uptake mechanisms due to the complexity of these processes. A brief summary of functionality issues of CPPs, both in vitro and in vivo, is discussed. Therapeutic potential of CPPs and commercial developments are discussed. The present, second edition of this book is the updated and expanded version of the first edition, published in 2019. The development of the field of cell-penetrating peptides in these five years has been obvious and exciting. This second edition of the book has been partly reorganized and comprehensively expanded with the exciting research in 2019-2023. Around 2500 novel scientific articles have become available, most of them are reviewed in the second edition. Additional rapidly growing areas of high impact presented in this second edition are therapeutic developments (Chapter 16) and delivery of oligonucleotides and proteins/peptides (Chapters 5 and 6) including novel reports on genome editing with CPP assistance. Also, several additional examples are available now on clinical trials using CPPs (Chapter 15). The book is written for researchers and students in the field.

Optochemical Biology, Volume 624, the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters on a variety of topics, including Cell Lineage Tracing in Zebrafish Embryos with an Expanded Genetic Code, Optical Control of Tumor Induction in the Zebrafish, Optogenetic Control by Pulsed Illumination, Optimizing the Photocontrol of bZIP Coiled Coils with Azobenzene Crosslinkers: Role of the Crosslinking Site, Site-Directed RNA Editing in Vivo Can Be Triggered by the Light-Driven Assembly of an Artificial Riboprotein, In Situ Formation of an Azo Bridge on Proteins Controllable by Visible Light, and much more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Methods in Enzymology series - Includes the latest information on optochemical biology

Aerobic organisms have evolved to utilise the intrinsic oxidising power of oxygen from the atmosphere. This so-called'activation'of oxygen is often catalysed by a heme-containing enzyme. This book highlights the many and varied catalytic activities of O2-dependent heme–iron enzymes, including monoxygenases and cytochrome P450, dioxygenases, oxidases and model heme systems. Dioxygen-dependent Heme Enzymes will be a useful resource for postgraduate students and researchers in biochemistry and metallobiology working in, or moving into, research areas involving heme proteins.

This book comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art strategies developed for protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors, and highlights the success stories in new drug discovery and development. Consisting of two parts with twelve chapters, it demonstrates the design strategies and case studies of small molecule PPI inhibitors. The first part discusses various discovery strategies for small molecule PPI inhibitors, such as high throughput screening, hot spot-based design, computational approaches, and fragment-based design. The second part presents recent advances in small molecule inhibitors, focusing on clinical candidates and new PPI targets. This book has broad appeal and is of significant interest to the pharmaceutical science and medicinal chemistry communities.

This book shows the various sandwich assays that are constructed from recognition molecules, such as antibodies, oligonucleotide sequences and aptamers, developed as a result of nano- and biotechnology advances. It consists of ten chapters presenting interesting examples of these assays, organized according to the type of analytic methods (colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical, etc.) and detected objects (protein, nucleic acid, small-molecule, ion, etc.). It also includes a chapter discussing the introduction of sandwich assays as biosensors for the detection of a range of targets. It is an interesting and useful resource for a wide readership in various fields of chemical science and nanotechnology.

Mass spectrometry is one of the most widespread technologies in chemistry and has been increasingly used in biology with the rise of omics sciences. This book summarizes some important methodological approaches in mass spectrometry and applications in the field of chemical biology. The core chapters build on basic concepts introduced in the opening chapter and explore established fields such as high throughput screening, proteomics and metabolomics. Emerging applications of mass spectrometry in elucidating biosynthetic pathways, enzyme mechanisms and protein-protein interactions are then presented. Connections between these diverse research fields are highlighted throughout. The book concludes with a discussion of databases and future perspectives. This book will be a useful tool to early chemical biology researchers wishing to incorporate mass spectrometry as a tool in their research.

Metal ions play key roles in biology. Many are essential for catalysis, for electron transfer and for the fixation, sensing, and metabolism of gases. Others compete with those essential metal ions or have toxic or pharmacological effects. This book is structured around the periodic table and focuses on the control of metal ions in cells. It addresses the molecular aspects of binding, transport and storage that ensure balanced levels of the essential elements. Organisms have also developed mechanisms to deal with the non-essential metal ions. However, through new uses and manufacturing processes, organisms are increasingly exposed to changing levels of both essential and non-essential ions in new chemical forms. They may not have developed defenses against some of these forms (such as nanoparticles). Many diseases such as cancer, diabetes and neurodegeneration are associated with metal ion imbalance. There may be a deficiency of the essential metals, overload of either essential or non-essential metals or perturbation of the overall natural balance. This book is the first to comprehensively survey the molecular nature of the overall natural balance of metal ions in nutrition, toxicology and pharmacology. It is written as an introduction to research for students and researchers in academia and industry and begins with a chapter by Professor R J P Williams FRS.

Published in 2014, Protein Deimination in Human Health and Disease was the first book on this novel post-translational modification, in which selected positively-charged arginine amino acids are converted to neutral citrulline amino acids by the peptidyl-arginine deiminase (PAD) family of enzymes. This area of research continues to expand rapidly, necessitating the need for this second edition. Chronicling the latest inflammatory, epigenetic, neurodegenerative, and carcinogenic processes, Protein Deimination in Human Health and Disease, Second Edition, updates the latest advances in deimination research, including new information on PAD enzyme structure and activity, and how PAD knock-out animals are being used to study known and newly-discovered links to various human diseases. The first edition outlined what was known about citrullinated proteins in normal tissues such as skin and hair, as well as in maladies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), glaucoma, peripheral nerve injury, neonatal hypoxic brain damage, and breast cancer. This second edition addresses numerous additional disorders such as diabetes, asthma, traumatic brain injury, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, bone disease, heart failure, fronto-temporal dementia, and prostate and colon cancer. It also provides updates on the deimination research covering the three seminal diseases first linked to this process (RA, MS and AD), and details how auto-antibodies against citrullinated proteins contribute to disease. In addition, new hypotheses on the possible pathologic mechanisms of citrullinated myelin basic protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein are also proposed. This second edition also outlines the latest developments in therapeutic strategies, including the use of new PAD antagonists and innovative techniques such as micro-vescicles and stem cells as possible mechanisms to treat these conditions.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience.Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating onthe methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

Since ancient times, plants have been used as a prime natural source of alternative medicines and have played an important role in our lives. The old tradition of medicinal plant application has turned into a highly profitable business in the global market, resulting in the release of a large number of herbal products. People have tried to find different sources of medicines to alleviate pain and cure different illnesses. Due to severe constraints of synthetic drugs and the increasing contraindications of their usage, there is a growing interest world over in the usage of natural products based on medicinal herbs, hence, there is an ever expanding market of herbs and herbal based medicinal preparations all over the world. This has culminated into an exponential increase in number of research groups in different geographical locations and generation of volume of research data in the field in a short span of time. The path breaking advancement in research methods and interdisciplinary approaches is giving birth to newer perspectives. Therefore, it becomes imperative to keep pace with the advancement in research and development in the field of medicinal herbs. There are a large number of researchers in different parts of the world working on various aspects of medicinal plants and ‘herbal medicines'. The idea is to bring their recent research work into light in the form of a book. The proposed book contains chapters by the eminent researchers in different countries and working with different disciplines of medicinal plants. Articles pertain to different disciplines such as: 1. Resources and conservation of medicinal plants 2. Biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of medicinal plants 3. Tissue culture, propagation and bioreactor technology of medicinal plants 4. Phytochemical research on medicinal plants 5. Herbal medicines and plant-derived agents in cancer prevention and therapy 6. Herbal medicines and plant-derived agents in metabolic syndrome management 7. Herbal medicines and plant-derived agents in modulation of immune-related disorders 8. Herbal medicines and hepatotoxicity The book will prove itself an asset for the researchers, professionals and also students in the area of medicinal plants and mechanism of their action.

This comprehensive, edited book explores carotenoids and their important functional roles in yeast, bacteria and plants and a profound exposition on the structures of carotenoid molecules, focusing in the first of three parts on the biosynthesis of carotenoids. The regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in photosynthesis as well as in plant, fruits, storage roots and algae is central to the second part, and discoveries about the function of carotenoids in human health feature in the third and final part. Many helpful illustrations, explanations, overviews and examples help to bring readers up to date on relevant themes including carotenogenic genes, carotenoids in fruits and metabolic engineering. The book explores where carotenoids are synthesized in nature, including in carrots and algae. Contributing expert authors examine enzyme functions and plant models, and analyze the structure of carotenoid molecules. The function of carotenoids in photosynthesis and in photosynthetic organs as well as during fruit ripening are then explored. A whole chapter is dedicated to the latest research on apocarotenoids and further chapters cover interesting and novel themes on plastid development and the epigenetic regulation that affects carotenoid synthesis in plants. The metabolic engineering of carotenoids that has been done in fruits, plants, and seeds is another area that readers can explore, along with evidences on the function of carotenoids in human nutrition, as antioxidants, as in the control of lipid metabolism and in the absorption of carotenoids. This is a highly informative and wide-ranging work which will update researchers in the field, as well as supporting students of plant physiology and biotechnology, as supplementary reading.

This book presents advanced expression technologies for the production of protein complexes. Since complexes lie at the heart of modern biology, the expression, purification, and characterization of large amounts of high-quality protein complexes is crucial for the fields of biomedicine, biotechnology, and structural biology. From co-expression in E. coli, yeast, mammalian and insect cells to complex reconstitution from individual subunits, this book offers useful insights and guidance for successful protein expressionists. Across several sections readers will discover existing opportunities for the production of protein complexes in bacterial systems (including membrane proteins and cell-free co-expression), methylotrophic and non-methylotrophic yeasts, protozoa (Leishmania terantolae and Dictyostelium discoideum), baculovirus-infected insect cells, mammalian cells, plants and algae. Complex reconstitution from individually purified subunits or subcomplexes is discussed as a complementary strategy. A last section introduces briefly some of the biophysical and structural characterization techniques for macromolecular complexes using state-of-the-art solution scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance. This work is a guided tour over some of the most powerful and successful protein expression technologies, with a focus on co-expression and high-throughput applications. It is addressed to everyone interested in the production and characterization of macromolecular complexes, from university students who want an accessible description of the major co-expression systems to researchers in biomedicine and the life sciences seeking for an up-to-date survey of available technologies.

This book covers the state-of-the-art of modern MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization) and its applications. New applications and improvements in the MALDI field such as biotyping, clinical diagnosis, forensic imaging, and ESI-like ion production are covered in detail. Additional topics include MS imaging, biotyping/speciation and large-scale, high-speed MS sample profiling, new methods based on MALDI or MALDI-like sample preparations, and the advantages of ESI to MALDI MS analysis. This is an ideal book for graduate students and researchers in the field of bioanalytical sciences.This book also:• Showcases new techniques and applications in MALDI MS• Demonstrates how MALDI is preferable to ESI (electrospray ionization)• Illustrates the pros and cons associated with biomarker discovery studies in clinical proteomics and the various application areas, such as cancer proteomics

The role of vitamin A in living organisms has been known throughout human history. In the last 100 years, the biochemical nature of vitamin A and its active derivative, retinoic acid, its physiological impact on growth processes, and the essential details of its mechanism of action have been revealed by investigations carried out by researchers using vertebrate and more recently invertebrate models to study a multiplicity of processes and conditions, encompassing embryogenesis, postnatal development to old age. A wealth of intercellular interactions, intracellular signaling systems, and molecular mechanisms have been described and the overall conclusion is that retinoic acid is essential for life. This book series, with chapters authored by experts in every aspect of this complex field, unifies the knowledge base and mechanisms currently known in detailed, engaging, well-illustrated, focused chapters that synthesize information for each specific area.In view of the recent information explosion in this field, it is timely to publish a contemporary, comprehensive, book series recapitulating the most exciting developments in the field and covering fundamental research in molecular mechanisms of vitamin A action, its role in physiology, development, and continued well-being, and the potential of vitamin A derivatives and synthetic mimetics to serve as therapeutic treatments for cancers and other debilitating human diseases. Volume II is divided into nine chapters contributed by prominent experts in their respective fields. Each chapter starts with the history of the area of research. Then, the key findings that contributed to development of the field are described, followed by a detailed look at key findings and progress that are being made in current, ongoing research. Each chapter is concluded with a discussion of the relevance of the research and a perspective on missing pieces and lingering gaps that the author recommends will be important in defining future directions in vitamin A research.

This book will cover several topics to elaborate how proteomics may enhance agricultural productivity. These include crop and food proteomics, farm animal proteomics, aquaculture, microorganisms and insect proteomics. It will also cover several technical advances, which may address the current need for comprehensive proteome analysis.An emerging field of the proteomics aim is to integrate knowledge from basic sciences and to translate it into agricultural applications to solve issues related to economic values of farm animals, crops, food security, health, and energy sustainability. Given the wealth of information generated and to some extent applied in agriculture, there is the need for more efficient and broader channels to freely disseminate the information to the scientific community.

This volume offers a careful selection of trend-setting topics in the field. In-depth review articles illustrate current trends in the field. Experienced experts presenta comprehensive overview concerning the electrochemical biosensing of glucose for diabetes care from an industrial research and development perspectivea survey of bioassay applications for individually addressable electrochemical arrays, focusing on liquid-phase bioanalytical assaysa review of recent advances in the development of electronic tongues based on the use of biosensor arrays coupled with advanced chemometric data analysisnovel strategies of DNA biosensor development and corresponding applications for studies of DNA damagea survey of recent trends in the electrochemistry of redox proteins, including the increasing diversity of redox proteins used in electrochemical studies, novel immobilization strategies, and biosensor / biofuel cell applicationsan overview of electrochemical sensing of blood gases with advanced sensor conceptsa survey of recent bioelectroanalytical studies with high spatial resolution using scanning electrochemical microscopy with a wide range of applications covering imaging of living cells, studies of metabolic activity, imaging of local enzyme activity, and studies of transport through biolayersThis timely collection will be of interest not only for experts in the field, but also to students and their teachers in disciplines that include analytical chemistry, biology, electrochemistry, and various interdisciplinary research areas.

This thesis focuses on the study of interactions between protein and peptides and their potential applications in cell imaging and nanoparticle surface modification. Drawing inspiration from naturally occurring coiled-coil binding pairs, it proposes a novel covalent peptide tag and probe system, based on the concept of “affinity guided covalent conjugation.” This newly established methodology provides complementary resolution to protein labeling, imaging and trafficking. By systematically investigating the coordination interaction between protein and quantum dots using various engineered protein ligands, this thesis proposes a general rule for protein self-assembly on the surface of quantum dots and reports a revolutionized nanobelt protein in accordance with this rule. It is an extraordinary example of interdisciplinary research, providing answers to real-life biological problems from a chemistry perspective.

The book provides an comprehensive overview on biology, genetics and cellular functions of serpins (serine protease inhibitors) in health and disease. With over 1000 members serpins are the most diverse family of protease inhibitors. Latest groundbreaking research findings are presented and broaden the understanding on inhibitory and non-inhibitory serpins, not only in mammalian organisms but also in insects, worms, plants and viruses.​

New York Times bestseller • Life on the Edge alters our understanding of our world's fundamental dynamics through the use of quantum mechanics.Life is the most extraordinary phenomenon in the known universe; but how did it come to be? Even in an age of cloning and artificial biology, the remarkable truth remains: nobody has ever made anything living entirely out of dead material. Life remains the only way to make life. Are we still missing a vital ingredient in its creation? Using first-hand experience at the cutting edge of science, Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe Macfadden reveal that missing ingredient to be quantum mechanics. Drawing on recent ground-breaking experiments around the world, each chapter in Life on the Edge illustrates one of life's puzzles: How do migrating birds know where to go? How do we really smell the scent of a rose? How do our genes copy themselves with such precision? Life on the Edge accessibly reveals how quantum mechanics can answer these probing questions of the universe.Guiding the reader through the rapidly unfolding discoveries of the last few years, Al-Khalili and McFadden describe the explosive new field of quantum biology and its potentially revolutionary applications, while offering insights into the biggest puzzle of all: what is life? As they brilliantly demonstrate in these groundbreaking pages, life exists on the quantum edge.Winner, Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication

This book addresses the differentiation control of skeletal muscle in different locations of the vertebrate body Particular attention is paid to novel regulatory molecules and signals as well as the heterogeneity of origin that have revealed a developmental overlap between skeletal and cardiac muscle. Different functional muscle groups are the product of the evolution of the vertebrate classes, making a phylogenetic comparison worthwhile for understanding the role of muscle stem cells and precursors in myogenesis. New insights into the hierarchy of transcription factors, particularly in the context of these different muscle groups have been gained from detailed investigations of the spatio-temporal and regulatory relationships derived from mouse and zebrafish genetics and avian microsurgery. Importantly, epigenetic mechanisms that have surfaced recently, in particular the role of MyomiRs, are also surveyed. With an eye to the human patient, encouraging results have been generated that identify parallels between embryonic myogenesis and regenerating myofibers due to common regulatory molecules. On the other hand, both processes differ considerably in quality and complexity of the processes employed. Interestingly, the heterogeneity in embryonic sources from which skeletal muscle groups in the vertebrate including the human body take origin is paralleled by differences in their susceptibility to particular muscle dystrophies as well as by the characteristics of the satellite cells involved in regeneration. The progress that has been made in the field of muscle stem cell biology, with special focus on the satellite cells, is outlined in this book by experts in the field. The authors review recent insights of the heterogeneous nature of these satellite cells regarding their gene signatures and regeneration potential. Furthermore, an improved understanding of muscle stem cells seems only possible when we study the impact of the cell environment on efficient stem cell replacement therapies for muscular dystrophies, putting embryological findings from different vertebrate classes and stem cell approaches into context.

This comprehensive volume discusses the protease ADAMTS13, summarizing the current status of basic and clinical research. The nine authoritative chapters begin with a historical perspective followed by exploration of the biochemistry and structure-function relationships of ADAMTS13 as well as its normal function in hemostasis (cleavage of von Willebrand factor). Emerging research themes for ADAMTS13 are covered, including its potential role in angiogenesis and other aspects of cell biology. Additional topics include laboratory assays for ADAMTS13, inherited ADAMTS13 deficiency, and acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency. A chapter on related thrombotic microangiopathic (TMA) disorders examines the differences between TMAs associated with ADAMTS13 deficiency and those not associated with ADAMTS13 deficiency. A final chapter reviews the preliminary information on emerging aspects of ADAMTS13, such as the status of recombinant ADAMTS13 products and their potential utility. Comprehensive in its exploration of the ADAMTS13 protease in disease, ADAMTS13: Biology and Disease is a significant resource for clinical hematologists, transfusion medicine physicians, and researchers interested in hemostasis, vascular biology, biochemistry, and metalloproteases.

This book covers the latest developments in the physical biology of proteins and peptides. Key insights into microscopic and macroscopic approaches to describe biologically relevant macromolecules and their interactions are provided. This book also covers a wide range of tools, including theoretical methods as statistical mechanics, normal mode analysis, kinetic theory and stochastic processes, and all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. New experimental techniques are also discussed, particularly related to amiloidogenic peptides and their mutations. This is an excellent book for molecular biologists, physicists, computational scientists, and chemists. It covers cutting-edge research in this exciting, interdisciplinary research field.This book also:Discusses the latest developments in the physical biology of proteins, peptides and enzymes covering theoretical, computational, and experimental approachesBroadens readers'understanding on the role of intra- and inter-molecular interactions as a fundamental cornerstone of macroscopic biological properties of macromoleculesProvides a wide and useful perspective on different aspects of the physics, biology, and chemistry of proteins and peptides suitable for interdisciplinary research.

This book provides a review of biochemistry as an algebra of molecules of living matter and utilizes Clifford algebras to discuss the basic biochemical processes of DNA replication, DNA transcription, RNA splicing and translation. Viral carcinogenesis is discussed in depth, specific attention is paid to the structural features of biomolecules that

This book is devoted to recent advances in analysis of the molecular basis and dynamics of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins for a comprehensive understanding of their key roles in cell signaling networks and diverse biological processes, and their perturbation in a variety of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The book includes research regarding PTMs and methods of their investigation derived from interdisciplinary collaborations between leading scientists in the fields of molecular, medical, proteomic, structural, and mathematical biology. This book consists of four sections. The first part focuses on recent advances in procedures for analysis of PTMs and cell signaling. The second part is devoted to mathematical simulation of signal transduction pathways and of the formation of protein complexes in living cells. The third part deals with structural and functional analyses of proteins involved in the regulation of PTMs and cell signaling. The fourth part describes cutting-edge findings regarding critical signal transduction pathways and their dysregulation in human diseases. This book is aimed at both established scientists and students in various fields of biology including molecular, cellular, structural, proteomic, and mathematical biology. Readers can access cutting-edge research and methodologies in their own field as well as interdisciplinary research that impacts on their field. The book can function as a reference for pharmaceutical scientists, biomedical researchers, and clinicians for the development of molecular-targeted therapy of human diseases.

This volume covers both the basic concepts and theory of bio-macromolecules under pressure and the various frontiers in high-pressure bioscience and biotechnology. A century has passed since Bridgman discovered the irreversible coagulation of egg white by applying pressure at 700 atmospheres in 1914. Today we are able to monitor pressure-dependent changes in protein structure as a reversible process even at atomic scale with modern spectroscopic techniques. We can study the fluctuating reality of protein structures as designed by nature, which is the basis for all dynamism of life on earth. We are currently facing a new era of high-pressure bioscience, in which pressure is no longer an “odd” or “foreign” variable to life, but rather an integrated part of it. Pressure is used as a crucial variable for disclosing the secrets of nature and as a powerful new tool for enhancing certain reactions in bio-macromolecules and even in living cells for our practical and industrial needs. A dramatic advancement of high-pressure bioscience both in the basic and the applied sciences is thus anticipated in near future, for which sharing the current advanced knowledge on structure and dynamics of bio-macromolecules under pressure among researchers in both fields is crucial.This book serves as a valuable resource not only for those working directly in a pressure-related field, but also for those working in many other fields of the biosciences. Particularly, the basic part of it is intended to serve as a classical text book on high-pressure bioscience to a wide audience including students and researchers in both basic and applied fields in years to come. Readers can focus on topics of immediate interest first, but may wish to go over other chapters if interest arises in a later occasion.

This interdisciplinary volume collates research work on kinesins and cancer. Authors attempt to validate members of the kinesin superfamily as potential targets for drug development in cancer chemotherapy. The work begins by highlighting the importance of kinesins, summarising current knowledge and how they are shown to be crucial for mitosis. Chapters go on to explore how this family of proteins are emerging as a novel target for chemotherapeutic intervention and drug development.Readers will learn how kinesins travel along microtubules to fulfill their many roles in intracellular transport or cell division. Several compounds that inhibit two mitotic kinesins (called Eg5 and CENP-E) have entered Phase I and II clinical trials and are explored in these chapters. Additional mitotic kinesins are currently being validated as drug targets, raising the possibility that the repertoire of kinesin-based drug targets may expand in the future.The book is suitable as a reference standard for the field of kinesins and cancer. It will interest those in academia and pharmaceutical companies, and anyone with an interest in the medical relevance of these proteins, which cutting edge methodologies are now enabling us to understand in astonishing detail.