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Four years ago The Blue Light Syndrome was published as the Proceed­ ings of the 1 st International Conference on the Effect of Blue Light in Plants and Microorganisms. Subsequently the interest in this fascinating and growing field of re­ search has further increased, as is reflected by numerous publications. Blue light effects cover such a wide spectrum of organisms, responses and methods that communication among scientists with backgrounds in biology, biochemistry, and biophysics is particularly necessary. These facts not only justified, but demanded calling the'Blue Light Family'together again. In spite of many fmancial problems, the second confer­ ence attracted 113 active members from 19 countries. The 2nd International Conference on The Effect of Blue Light in Plants and Microorganisms was held in July 1984, like the first at the University of Marburg. The organizer could again rely on the help of the International Advisory Committee (W. Briggs, Stanford; M. Furuya, Tokyo; J. Gressel, Rehovot; S. Miyachi, Tokyo; W. Rau, Miinchen; J. Schiff, Waltham; P.-S. Song, Lubbock). The very generous financial as­ sistance from the DFG and the support of the Philipps-Universitat Mar­ burg and its Sonderforschungsbereich'Zellenergetik and Zelldifferen­ zierung'were the prerequisites to organizing the conference. The present book consists of 56 original papers. The partitioning into eight chapters is always a problem. The grouping of different aspects of the papers into these chapters has not always been obvious, so that one or the other contribution could possibly fit in another chapter.

As indicated in the Preface, the contributions to this volume are based upon the papers presented at the symposium on Thermoreceptors and Temperature Regula­ tion held in July 1988 at the Institute of Physiology of the University of Marburg (Federal Republic of Germany) to celebrate and commemorate the life and achievements of HERBERT HENSEL, who directed that Institute from 1955 until his death in 1983, and whose most notable and significant contributions to thermo­ physiology were in the areas of the properties and characteristics of thermo sensors, mammalian thermoregulation more generally, and the psychophysiology of ther­ mal sensation. All the papers in this volume deal, to a greater or lesser extent, with these discernibly different but closely allied aspects of mammalian physiology. The editors have sought to achieve cohesion, flow, and balance both in the contributed articles and in their order of presentation, without either large gaps or redundancies in the coverage of the recent advances in the understanding of thermoreceptors and thermoregulation. At the same time we have sought to avoid such a degree of editorial control as to destroy the individuality of the contributions, and the judgements upon which they were based. We have also sought to look both backwards and forwards, and to include some legitimate extension of the con­ sideration of thermosensitivity and thermoregulation into such areas as climatic adaptation and fever. Hence the'greater or lesser'of the closeness of this series of papers to HERBERT HENSEL'S scientific interests.

Egg and Ego is a lighthearted look at the nature of academic science. It is intended for anyone interested in biology but particularly for biology students who want to find out what is in store for them in the future. It starts with an account of one particular experiment, which is later opened out to introduce the excitement arising from recent progress in associated areas of biology. It then describes the everyday aspects of scientific work, ignored by philosophers of science. These range from cleaning up radioactive contamination, to how to fill in biohazard forms, to how newly appointed professors bargain for money. The'Egg'of the title refers to the science of developmental biology, which is the specialty of the author, and which provides the material for many of the anecdotes. The'Ego'relates to the vanity of the scientists themselves. Academic scientists have to struggle to maintain their research funding. To do this they must persuade other scientists that they are very good, and that means work at a good institution, publishing papers in the most fashionable journals and giving lectures at the most prestigious meetings. Success often goes to those with the largest egos and their style of operation is described in this book. The final chapter is about relations between science and the outside world in the shape of the media, illustrated by the remarkable'case of the headless frog'. The author is a well-known scientist who has worked at both universities and research institutes. He has published over 100 scientific papers and an influential book about embryonic development:'From Egg to Embryo'.

During the past decade there has been a dramatic expansion of our knowledge on phospholipases in general, and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in particular. Progress in this field has been evident on many fronts, with novel information rapidly accumulating in the literature regarding the chemistry and molecular biology of this enzyme and its role in many important physiological processes. These include cellular signal transduction via the G-protein cycle, and in the generation of many cellular mediators, such as the platelet activating factor (PAF) and the eicosanoids that participate in the initiation and propagation of inflammation, to mention a few. This symposium was organized to obtain an overview of current investigations on this enzyme from the standpoint of its chemistry, molecular biology and physiology. Another important focus of this symposium concerns the regulation of PLA2, including endogenous and synthetic inhibitors and activators of this enzyme. To review these important areas in PLA2 research we invited scientists who made significant contributions in this field. The papers in this volume are organized to emphasize the recent advances in several areas of investigation, including: (I) the structure and mechanism of action of PLA2, (2) mechanism of activation of PLA2, (3) molecular biology, physiology and endogenous inhibitors of this enzyme and finally, (4) clinical investigations emphasizing the pathophysiological role of this enzyme in human diseases. The first article in this volume is by Dr.

The relatively simple, stratified nature of the retina and its spe- fied use in the visual process has long made it an inviting tissue to study both for its own sake and as a model for the more complex processes of the brain. For these dual purposes, the retina can be thought of as basically consisting of two functional pans. First, the outer retina, comprised of the photoreceptor cells and attendant pigment epithelium, serves to capture the photic energy and convert it into a neurochemical response. Second, the inner layers of the retina, mainly bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells (and their attendant Maller cells), function more clearly as a typical part of the CNS, transmitting the photic signals to the brain. Between the 8th and 12th of August 1988 more than seventy scientists from allover the world gathered in Oldenburg (Federal Republic of Gennany) for a meeting'The neurobiology of the inner retina'which was devoted entirely to the neural mechanism of the inner synaptic layer of the verte­ brate retina. The meeting comprised twenty - three separate lectures and four specially arranged discussion groups. In addition, a number of posters were displayed and a period was allotted specifically for the discussion of these posters. The articles contained in this book will serve as a record of the papers delivered at the Oldenburg Meeting and illustrate the advances made in trying to understand the importance of the diversity of amacrine cell morphology and physiology in retinal function.

'So long as a person is capable of self renewal they are a living being.'-Amiel Cereals have been the source of life to the human race, providing nutritional and ma­ terial needs since the dawn of civilization. As with all dynamic industries, the Cereal in­ dustry has renewed itself in the past; as the millennium approaches, it is on the brink of another renewal, in which the versatility and providence of cereals are being rediscovered, but in new and exciting ways. Cereals are richly diverse; over 10,000 varieties convert minerals and the energy of the sun into a bursting catalog of functional and versatile biomolecules and biopolymers. Processing technology allows these components to be accessed, separated, isolated and purified, while chemical science allows modification for even greater diversity and speci­ ficity. The last century has seen the move from cereal- to oil-based chemical and materials industries. But cereals contain a greater variety and functionality of macromolecules than oil. Starch, protein, bran and straw, already diverse across cereal varieties, can be fraction­ ated into more specific elements, modified chemically to enhance function, or used as feedstocks in fermentation-based bioconversion systems, to produce a range of bulk and fine chemicals for industries as diverse as food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, textiles, pulp and paper, transport, composites and boards, adhesives and energy.

There has been a considerable upsurge in interest in insect bio­ chemistry and physiology in recent years and this has been reflected in a notable expansion in the number of original papers in this field. Whereas insect physiology has tended to receive ample attention from reviewers, the same has not always been true for the more of insect research. This book is a venture to help biochemical aspects redress the balance. No attempt has been made to cover all aspects of insect biochemistry, but rather a few topics have been selected which seemed to us to merit a review at the present time. One reason for this increased interest in insect biochemistry is perhaps the growing realization that insects can be very useful organisms to act as model systems for the experimental study of general biochemical principles. One remembers, for instance, that Keilin's perceptive observations on the flight muscles of living bees and wax moths led to his discovery of the cytochromes. The fundamental unity of biochemistry has long been accepted as a dogma by the faithful and the insect kingdom provides no exception to it. The main biochemical processes in insects are being revealed as essentially the same as in other life forms but, as so often found in comparative biochemistry, there are interesting variations on the central theme.

The latest edition in this continuing series includes the newest advances in the rapidly evolving field of animal cell culture, genetic manipulations for heterologous gene expression, cell line enhancements, improved bioreactor designs and separations, gene therapy manufacturing, tissue engineering, anti-apoptosis strategies and cell cycle research. The contents include new research articles as well as critical reviews on emerging topics such as viral and viral-like agent contamination of animal cell culture components. These papers were carefully selected from contributions by leading academic and industrial experts in the biotechnology community at the recent Cell Culture Engineering VI Meeting in San Diego, USA, 1998. However, the book is not merely a proceedings. Audience: Biochemical engineers, cell biologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, immunologists and other disciplines related to cell culture engineering, working in the academic environment and the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

This year we remember the 39th anniversary of the atomic bomb explo­ sions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which led to the exposure of thou­ sands of people to high doses of ionizing radiations. Nearly 18 years earlier, on the 15th of September, 1927, H. J. Muller presented his paper The Problem of Genic Modification at the Fifth International Congress of Genetics in Berlin, in which he brilliantly demonstrated the muta­ genic activity of X-rays. In 1928, K. H. Bauer formulated his mutation theory of the origin of cancer, and already in 1914, Th. Boveri speculat­ ed that tumor cells originate from an abnormal chromosomal comple­ ment. In the meantime we have learned that also nonionizing radiation and an immense number of environmental chemicals, both, man-made and naturally occurring, are mutagenic in a variety of test systems, in­ cluding human cells. In no case has it been shown unequivocally that physical or chemical mutagens have led to an elevation of the mutation rate in the germ cells of man, but in view of the huge body of experi­ mental data this seems to be a problem of detection. It can be expect­ ed that germ cell mutations are induced as a consequence of exposure to mutagens in man, as yet undetectable with the methods at hand. An uncontrolled addition of mutations to the human gene pool may well have unforeseen and catastrophic consequences in future genera­ tions for whom we should feel responsible.

Both functions of the mammalian ovary, the endocrine and (synthesis and secretion of steroid hormones) and exocrine (production of ova), depend upon the presence and cyclic growth of follicles, as the depletion of primordial follicles from the ovary leads to cessation of these f-unctions or female reproduction in mammals, or to postmenopausal period in humans. Actually, various fertility and sterility problems at the ovarian level are related to follicles. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the biology of ovarian follicles in mammals is of fundamental interest to a wide variety of academic and scientific disciplines. Study of their structure, function, and control involves mor­ phology, including ultrastructure, cell biology, physiology, endocrinology, biochemis­ try, immunology, neurobiology and pharmacology. Zoologists take interest in comparative and evolutionary aspects of biology of ovarian follicles in many different groups of mammals. Agricultural scientists and wildlife biologists need a thorough knowledge of the biology of follicles to control more effectively fecundity in domestic animals and endangered species of mammals. Finally, clinical scientists, toxicologists and physicians want to know the normal and pathological features of ovarian follicles in women, especially in relation to health and the regulation of fertility. Having in view the great importance of studying various aspects of biology of ovarian follicles, numerous papers and reviews on several aspects of ovarian follicles are published annually in a wide variety of scientific journals.

Once considered merely `selfish'or `parasitic'DNA, transposable elements are today recognized as being of major biological significance. Not only are these elements a major source of mutation, they have contributed both directly and indirectly to the evolution of genome structure and function. On October 8-10, 1999, 100 molecular biologists and evolutionists representing 11 countries met on the campus of The University of Georgia in Athens for the inaugural Georgia Genetics Symposium. The topics of presentations ranged from how the elements themselves have evolved to the impact transposable elements have had on the evolution of their host genomes. The papers in this volume therefore represent state-of-the-art thinking, by leading world experts in the field, on the evolutionary significance of transposable elements.

The 18th ESACT meeting was celebrated in Granada (Spain) in May 2003, and was entitled'Animal Cell Technology Meets Genomics', in order to reflect that the emerging technologies in the area of genomics, proteomics and other'-omics'-type disciplines will provide key technological assets to increase knowledge and open new horizons in animal cell technology. During the meeting a variety of top-class emerging technologies were presented together with the lastest advances in more mature industrial areas. The meeting was opened by a first session devoted to the understanding of basic cellular mechanisms, and four sessions focused on applied aspects of animal cell technology: Cell-based therapies and gene-based therapies, target discovery and biopharmaceuticals. The Granada Meeting has also seen a special focus on forefront industrial case studies. The spirit and scientific excellence of the 18th ESACT meeting is now reflected in different chapters of the book. The book presents, in form of short papers, a high number of the contributions to the meeting, and has been prepared with the aim to provide a relevant reference of the current research efforts in Animal Cell Technology.

This book integrates the research progress of Tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolites in animal nutrition and human health. It recapitulates the effects of Trp nutrition on the regulation of various physiological functions in farmed animals as well as the clinical connections between Trp metabolism and human diseases. Furthermore, this book includes detailed information about the manufacturing process of industrial Trp production and methodologies to study Trp metabolism. This book not only brings numerous benefits to academic communities worldwide but also provides practical values for industrial professionals/companies. Both of these two aspects will expand our understanding of how amino acid metabolism contributes to the maintenance of host health.

This book comprehensively summarizes the biological mechanisms of coloration and pattern formation of animals at molecular and cellular level, offering up-to-date knowledge derived from remarkable progress in the last 10 years. The brilliant coloration, conspicuous patterns and spectacular color changes displayed by some vertebrates and invertebrates are generally their strategies of the utmost importance for survival. Consists of mainly three parts, starts with introductory chapter, such as Pigments and Pigment Organelles, Developmental Genetics of Pigment Cell Formation, Adult Pigment Patterns, and Color Changes, this book introduces new pigment compounds in addition to classically known pigments and organelles, explains how the generation of multiple types of pigment cell is genetically controlled, describes the mechanisms underlying the zebrafish stripe formation as well as other animals and also summarizes the mechanism of physiological and morphological color changes of teleost, amphibian and cephalopod. Written by experts in the field, this book will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers in biological fields who are interested in pigmentation mechanisms of animals.

Advances in Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, Volume 4, presents five papers on the different aspects of comparative physiology. The first two studies deal with movement. The first examines the effects of environmental conditions on the motile behavior of amoebas. The second investigates the mechanisms and coordination of cellular movement. The third study on the endocrine functions of the hypothalamus in the fishes, amphibians, and reptiles provides the comparative endocrinologist with a basis for integrating the state of knowledge on non-mammalian and mammalian function of this organ complex. The fourth study deals with the central and peripheral control of arthropod movements. The final study surveys the comparative physiology of populations of gametes. Aside from providing readers with a comparative vista of reproductive physiology from a unique perspective, it introduces a new hypothesis on the overproduction of gametes commonly found in living organisms — a hypothesis which may have far-reaching consequences for the interpretation of the reproductive process.

The connection between the study of insects. their development. behaviour and biochemistry. and chromatography is perhaps not immediately obvious. However. this connection exists and it is of fundamental importance to our understanding of many areas of insect physiology. Insects range in size from small to minute and consequently the amounts of hormones or pheromones they produce are equally minute. Ultimately any attempt at understanding the processes which control development, social behaviour or the biochemistry of insects requires some means of isolating the tiny quantities of the hormones and pheromones responsible in sufficient quantity and purity for identification. The ability to devise novel techniques to separate these materials from frequently complex biological mixtures including precursors and metabolites and to devise detection systems for them is vital. Methods for the quantification of these substances at different stages in the life cycle. or in response to environmental change or stress. are then essential. Chromatography. both as a means for isolation and as a method for quantitative analysis. has'been an essential tool in these studies. This volume represents the outcome of a joint international symposium organized by the Chromatographic and Royal Entomological Societies at the University of Reading between the 21st and 23rd March 1989 aimed specifically at discussing the chromatography and isolation of insect hormones. pheromones and related substances.The papers presented at that meeting. and collected together here. covered many aspects of the subject including the chromatography of juvenile hormones. ecdysteroids. peptides. pheromones and semio­ chemicals.

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 is the second monograph by the author on biological materials of marine origin. The initial book is dedicated to the biological materials of marine invertebrates. This work is a source of modern knowledge on biomineralization, biomimetics and materials science with respect to marine vertebrates. For the first time in scientific literature the author gives the most coherent analysis of the nature, origin and evolution of biocomposites and biopolymers isolated from and observed in the broad variety of marine vertebrate organisms (fish, reptilian, birds and mammals) and within their unique hierarchically organized structural formations. There is a wealth of new and newly synthesized information, including dozens of previously unpublished images of unique marine creatures including extinct, extant and living taxa and their biocomposite-based structures from nano- to micro – and macroscale. This monograph reviews the most relevant advances in the marine biological materials research field, pointing out several approaches being introduced and explored by distinct modern laboratories.

This volume contains the proceedings of the Second International Peptide Symposium and the Seventeenth American Peptide Symposium, held on 9-14 June, 2001, at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, California. The biennial meeting was held under the auspices of the American Peptide Society. In addition to the main Symposium, we were honored to have the Merrifield Satellite Symposium, honoring Bruce Merrifield's accomplishments on his 80th birthday. Over 1250 participants from around the world attended the lectures, posters, and exhibits. Reflecting the international nature of the Symposium, there were participants from 37 countries in attendance. In addition to the 75 plenary lectures, there were over 575 poster presentations, and 70 commercial exhibits as well as booths from the American, Australian, Chinese, European, and Japanese Peptide Societies. These proceedings include plenary lectures and oral and poster presentations collected from a wide diversity of topics providing a truly comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the field of peptide science. This publication contains essential reference information for researchers active in peptide science.

In Volume 25, leading experts present studies on the value of increased ascorbic acid intake and explore its specific contributions to human and animal health.

Lipids traditionally have been viewed as serving two functions: to form cellular membranes and to serve as energy stores. During the last two decades, a new role for lipids has taken center stage: lipids can act as signalling molecules. This book deals with a variety of lipids that have been shown to be messengers. Leading scientists explore all known lipid classes except steroid hormones. Researchers and educators in biochemistry as well as in molecular and cellular biology will appreciate this volume.

The clinical biochemistry ofhepatobiliary diseases is very widely studied, and publica­ tions abound on this topic. However, there is no recent publication that provides a comprehensive collection of the various leading aspects that go to make up this complex theme. Therefore, we thought it useful to gather together a few scientists whose work has focused on the various clinical biochemistry-aspects of these disorders in order that they might discuss their experience and expertise. The aim of the International Satellite Symposium on Clinical Biochemistry in Hepatobiliary Disease, in addition to reviewing the individual aspects, was to describe the state-of-the-art so as to provide useful data for laboratory scientists and also for physicians working in the field of hepatobiliary diseases, and these two aims are clearly reflected in the chapters of this volume. The volume opens with an introductory chapter that gives a general overview of the various aspects of the clinical biochemistry of these disorders, while the closing chapter deals with an important aspect that deserves to be increasingly emphasized in laboratory medicine, i.e., strategies to integrate information coming from the laboratory to make them more useful for clinical diagnosis.

MICROBIAL BIOFILMS: PROTECTIVE NICHES IN ANCIENT AND MODERN GEOMICROBIOLOGY J. W. Costerton and Paul Stoodley Center for Biofilm Engineering Montana State University As this book is published based on discussions of a conference that was held in 2001, it may be useful to provide an update on the most recent revelations about biofilms, so that this excellent exposition of the contribution of microbial biofilms to geological processes may be placed in a modem context. The importance of the contribution of microbial biofilms to global processes is only now being appreciated as it is revealed that all terrestrial surfaces are teeming with microbial life in the form of biofilm communities. These communities live on soil particles, in rock fissures, marine and river sediments and at the very extremes of terrestrial habitats from inside Antarctic ice to the walls of deep sea hydrothermal vents. The contribution of these biofilm communities generally went unrecognized because it was the water that was where microbiologists looked for life, not the surfaces, although, evidence of the early association of microbes with surfaces was in fact present in the fossil record (Rasmussen, 2000; Reysenbach, and Cady, 2001). It is also revealing that biofilm formation is found in prokaryotes from the most deeply rooted branches of the phylogenetic tree in both the Archaea and Bacteria kingdoms, the Korarchaeota and Aquificales respectively (Jahnke et al. 2001; Reysenbach et al. 2000).

Sequence - Evolution - Function is an introduction to the computational approaches that play a critical role in the emerging new branch of biology known as functional genomics. The book provides the reader with an understanding of the principles and approaches of functional genomics and of the potential and limitations of computational and experimental approaches to genome analysis. Sequence - Evolution - Function should help bridge the'digital divide'between biologists and computer scientists, allowing biologists to better grasp the peculiarities of the emerging field of Genome Biology and to learn how to benefit from the enormous amount of sequence data available in the public databases. The book is non-technical with respect to the computer methods for genome analysis and discusses these methods from the user's viewpoint, without addressing mathematical and algorithmic details. Prior practical familiarity with the basic methods for sequence analysis is a major advantage, but a reader without such experience will be able to use the book as an introduction to these methods. This book is perfect for introductory level courses in computational methods for comparative and functional genomics.

Crystallographic texture or preferred orientation has long been known to strongly influence material properties. Historically, the means of obtaining such texture data has been though the use of x-ray or neutron diffraction for bulk texture measurements, or transmission electron microscopy or electron channeling for local crystallographic information. In recent years, we have seen the emergence of a new characterization technique for probing the microtexture of materials. This advance has come about primarily through the automated indexing of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) patterns. The first commercially available system was introduced in 1994, and since then of sales worldwide has been dramatic. This has accompanied widening the growth applicability in materials scienceproblems such as microtexture, phase identification, grain boundary character distribution, deformation microstructures, etc. and is evidence that this technique can, in some cases, replace more time-consuming transmission electron microscope (TEM) or x-ray diffraction investigations. The benefits lie in the fact that the spatial resolution on new field emission scanning electron microscopes (SEM) can approach 50 nm, but spatial extent can be as large a centimeter or greater with a computer controlled stage and montagingofthe images. Additional benefits include the relative ease and low costofattaching EBSD hardware to new or existing SEMs. Electron backscatter diffraction is also known as backscatter Kikuchi diffraction (BKD), or electron backscatter pattern technique (EBSP). Commercial names for the automation include Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM™) and Automated Crystal Orientation Mapping (ACOM).

The study of microglial cells has recently gained importance for those researching degeneration and regeneration. Microglia in the regenerating and degenerating CNS supports the assertion that understanding microglial biology could perhaps be pivotal for unraveling the pathogenetic mechanisms that underlie Alzheimer's disease, In addition, microglia are also critical for understanding the sequelae of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and for the important post-traumatic repair processes. This book gives an up to date account of the role of microglia in degeneration and regeneration of the nervous system and reviews their cell function and physiology.

In recent years, because of advances in karyological techniques, we have witnessed a remarkable renewal of interest in studies of mammalian chromosomes. These techniques, generally involving the use of tissue culture, colchicine and hypotonic solution pretreatments, allow for a much clearer display of metaphase chromosomes of mammalian cells than the classic direct squash or tissue section methods. Consequently, what was known about the chromosome complement of most mammals must be revised. The most astonishing revision, of course, was that made by Tjio and Levan in 1956, who demonstrated that the diploid number of man is 46, not 48 as previously believed. Similar revisions will have to be made for many other mammalian species, either in number or in karyotype structure. Many animals are being examined cytologically for the first time. The findings are now extensive and scattered; they appear in numer­ ous periodicals and newsletters, or they are kept in cytologists'file drawers without being published. It is difficult to have access to perti­ nent data for comparison among related species or for evaluation of various karyological characteristics within a karyotype. Such evaluations can be done only when reasonably uniform material is collected and placed side by side for comparison, accompanied by relative references. We considered that probably an Atlas of Mammalian Chromosomes would fulfill such a need. Needless to say, it is impossible to present karyotypes of all mam­ malian species at one time.

Here is the first effort in a single volume to cover all of the integrative functions of calcium signalling - how changes in intracellular calcium coordinate a variety of coherent cellular responses. Written by a team of internationally established researchers, Integrative Aspects of Calcium Signalling provides the latest experimental data and concepts, bringing together a detailed analysis of the events, processes, and functions regulated by calcium signalling. A unique resource for professionals and students of physiology, biophysics, neurobiology, biochemistry, and all related fields.

In the last decade, research on platelet-activating factor (PAF) has expanded exponentially. Previous conferences on PAF in Paris, 1983, and the subsequent conferences in Gatlinburg, Ten­ nessee, Tokyo, Snowbird, Utah, and Berlin, at three-yearly intervals, have chronicled the devel­ opments in the field ofPAF. This volume records the proceedings of the Fifth International Con­ gress on PAF and Related Lipid Mediators, held at the Free University Medical Hospital Ben­ jamin Franklin in Berlin, from September 12-16, 1995. We are very much indebted to Free Uni­ versity Berlin for providing tremendous facilities and financial support. It was a great pleasure to have positive and generous input from the German Science Council (DFG), Bonn, Germany, and British·Biotech, Oxford, United Kingdom. Their support was crucial in making the congress a scientific success. Twenty other organizations provided additional financial support, for which we extend our deepest appreciation. The editors would like to thank all of those who participated in this congress and the authors for their contributions. The organization and planning of the Berlin Congress were carried out by an organizing committee. We gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the organizing commit­ tee members, especially Renate Nigam and Renate Roux for their untiring efforts to make the congress successful. Many colleagues also supported the congress with dedication, hard work, and expert input. We are grateful to them. We also wish to acknowledge the support of G. Sravan Kumar and Louis Kock for their efforts in producing this volume.

Following the two meetings on Lactoferrin Structure and Function that were held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1993 and 1995, the Third International Conference on Lactoferrin Structure and Function was held in Le Touquet, France, and has successfully reinforced and diversified the previously created bridges between biochemists, clinicians, and companies. In fact, scientists, physicians, and people of industry from different domains have brought a wealth of recent information concerning biochemistry and technical advances in the identification of lactoferrin-derived compounds as well as cell biology, molecular biol­ ogy, pathology, and medical applications of lactoferrin and lactoferrin-derived com­ pounds. We were so delighted with the rapid growth of knowledge concerning many biologi­ cal and immunological functions of lactoferrins and the relationships between their struc­ ture and function, we wanted to share our pleasure with the readers interested in this field. The present book. which represents a review of some of the most exciting contributions, is intended to reflect the status of our knowledge and transmit our hopes for the future devel­ opment of in vivo applications of natural and recombinant lactoferrins. We would like to express our gratitude to the sponsors who contributed to the or­ ganization of the meeting in such a pleasant place and allowed the participation of several young researchers. We would also like to thank all the participants who have answered with enthusiasm our invitation and to every one of the Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique for the constant and efficient help.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Regulatory Mechanisms of Neuron to Vessel Communication in the Brain held in Salo, Italy, September 3-8, 1988

The picture on the following page is being reproduced here, at the request of the partici­ pants in the Advanced Research Workshop'Amino Acid Availability and Brain Function in Health and Disease'. I displayed this limewood carving, entitled'Neurochemistry', during my closing remarks to this extraordinarily stimulating and productive workshop so ably organized by my collaborator Dr. Gerald Huether. We scientists need two sturdy legs to carry us through all the twists and turns of our academic careers. We should also have, as it were, a reserve leg handy, to help us stay upright when this career ends. My'third leg'is wood carving. The idea for'Neurochemis­ try'came to me in the plane carrying me to the congress of the International Neuro­ chemical Society in Jerusalem. We need the hands for our meticulous experimental work, and at least one ear to listen to the messages our neurons send us. A few years ago it would have been premature to hold a workshop on this subject. Now, however, the time was just right to allow an overview of the status of current re­ search, and to point out the promising new openings it has created. There is no doubt that the book to be published as a result of this workshop will be, for the next years at least, the standard text on the subject. Hearty thanks to all speakers for their brilliant con­ tributions and to all participants for the lively, uninhibited and stimulating discussion.

The Nato Advanced Research Workshop on Plant Hormone Receptors was held at the Physik Zentrum in Bad Honnef near Bonn, August 18-22, 1986. This workshop was mainly supported by the Nato Scientific Affairs Division and additionally cosponsered by Hoechst AG, Frankfurt and BASF AG, Ludwigshafen. The workshop aimed at focusing research on plant hormone recep­ tors. It should provide an opportunity to all who work in this field to report on their very recent data and to discuss their results with the most competent'colleagues. The total number of participants was limited to 30 to ensure personal contact and intensive discussions. Everyone had to either give a lecture or practical course. One half of the participants were invited, the other was selected by applications. Plant hormone receptors are assumed to exist but clear results are still rare. Nevertheless encouraging results have been published over the last years. Receptors for animal hormones and neuronal transmitters are well characterized, both structu­ rally and functionally. Therefore scientists dealing with recep­ tors for steroid hormones - Prof. E.E. Baulieu, Paris and Prof. J. R. Gustafsson, Huddinge - and for acetylcholine - Prof. A. Maelicke, Dortmund - were invited to participate in the workshop.

Representing the latest knowledge of the ecology and the physiology of cold-adapted microorganisms, plants and animals, this book explains the mechanisms of cold-adaptation on the enzymatic and molecular level, including results from the first crystal structures of enzymes of cold-adapted organisms.

Molecular biology has provided a tool with which problems in cellular differentiation can be answered. Recombinant DNA technology has been used to obtain quantities of the erythropoietic hormone, erythropoietin. The availability of the hormone has provided a much-needed impetus in learning how erythropoiesis is controlled. Knowledge of the genetic components, transcription and translation of the erythropoietin gene and finally the release of the mature hormone under various physiological conditions should be forthcoming in the near future. This volume will give the reader some indication as to the different aspects of erythropoiesis. They include the regulation of production of the hormone under normal and abnormal conditions, ontogeny and cellular interactions and the assay of the hormone itself.

Studies on the colon not only serve medical interest or clinical purposes, but are also a highly interesting subject of comparative physiology, from which we can learn much about the basic principles in physiology. Presented here are examples of research on colonic ion transport of each vertebrate group, including the classical models of epithelia, rat and rabbit, and also on the special and unique features in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and selected mammals such as the guinea pig. Physiology and pathophysiology of ion transport in the human large intestine are as well covered as the use of colonic cell cultures as model systems for crypt cell properties.

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost identical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary metabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organisms, of single'chemical races'or even of a certain stage of differentiation of special­ ized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as'secondary metabolism', and the compounds formed are called'secondary products'. Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsible for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g., alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used by industry, e. g., rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary products in microorganisms, plants, and animals. It shows that the formation of secondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material. It demon­ strates that the. biosynthesis of secondary products is typically without signifi­ cance for the individual producer cell, but may play a decisive role in the develop· ment and function of the producer organism as a whole.

Animal cell technology is a growing discipline of cell biology, which aims not only to understand structures, functions, and behaviours of differentiated animal cells but also to ascertain their ability to be used for industrial and medical purposes. The goal of animal cell technology includes accomplishments of clonal expansion of differentiated cells with useful ability, optimisation of their culture conditions, modulation of their ability for production of medically and pharmaceutically important proteins, and the application of animal cells to gene therapy, artificial organs, and functional foods. This volume gives the reader a complete review of the present state of the art in Japan and other countries where this field is well advanced. The Proceedings will be useful for cell biologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, immunologists, biochemical engineers, and other disciplines related to animal cell culture, working in either academic environments or in industries of biotechnology and pharmacy.

Volume II features a variety of animal and human prion diseases, including the newly-identified atypical forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and scrapie in animals, and variably protease-sensitive prionopathy in humans, prions in the environment, Tau pathology in human prion disease, transmission of the disease by blood transfusion, mammalian and non-mammalian models, conventional and advanced diagnoses, prion-specific antibodies, as well as decontamination of prions and development of therapeutics of prion diseases, such as the application of immunomodulation. This volume provides up-to-date knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, classification, histopathological, and clinical aspects of the highly publicized animal and human prion diseases.

This volume is dedicated to Professor Ullrich Trendelenburg. It contains the proceedings of a symposium which was held in his honour on the occasion of his retirement and took place March 22-24, 1991 in Wiirzburg. Ullrich Trendelenburg was the head of the Department of Pharmacology at Wiirzburg University from 1968 till the end of March 1991. He is famous internationally for his contributions to the physiology and pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system, and his impact on pharmacology in general throughout the world has been outstanding. The various phases of his life and his career have been delineated recently by Youdim and Riederer (Journal of Neural Transmission; Suppl. 32, 1990). The articles included in this volume reflect a considerable range of current research work dealing with various aspects of neuropharmacology, i. e., the field of research Ullrich Trendelenburg has influenced most. One or more authors of each chapter are either former or present students and coworkers or close friends of Ullrich Trendelenburg. The first section is devoted to the synthesis and metabolism of catecholamines as well as to the mechanisms by which amine transmitters are removed from the extracellular fluid; three chapters deal with the two types of extraneuronal uptake of catecholamines. The second section concentrates on the release of catecholamines in the peripheral and the central nervous system, the regulation of transmitter release and the noradrenaline-ATP co-transmis­ sion. The third section deals with the pharmacology of various receptors, including agrenoceptors, adenosine, 5-HT and glutamate receptors.

Eminent researchers provide broad coverage of plant molecular biology and genetic engineering, detailing technological advances in plant cell transformation and responses. This state-of-the-art text includes coverage of molecular action of plant growth hormone, signal transduction, light mediated expression of genes, and genetic engineering of crop plants and trees.

This volume and future ones in the series, which is now under new editorship. depart from the pattern established by previous volumes in containing chapters loosely related to one another. It is thus appropriate that each volume should have a relevant subtitle. In the present volume the underlying theme is immu­ nology and its application to the study of a number of different biochemical systems. Almost inevitably, the study of the cell-surface antigens and glycoproteins of a number of different tissues tends to dominate the contents, but considerable emphasis is also placed on subcellular organelles and enzymes. Undoubtedly, it is the impact of readily available monoclonal antibodies that dominates work in the field. The epitope specificity provided by monoclonal antibodies gives the biochemist a powerful lever with which to probe the location, structure, and function of cellular protein and glycoprotein antigens. A number of the chapters included in this volume have a strong biomedical emphasis. This is indeed intentional, as it is now the policy of the series to cover the more applied aspects ofthe subject, while in no way neglecting more fundamentaltopics in subcellular biochemistry.

Scientific reviews are now of two complementary types: short, very up-to-date articles, as are found in the Trends series, and the more traditional longer re­ views, which are more comprehensive but take longer to publish. The Subcellu­ lar Biochemistry series belongs to the latter category where a number of reviews on a broad topic are collected together in the one volume. It has been the aim of this volume to summarize the present state of knowledge of membrane assembly. It is appreciated that some relevant topics have not been included, and an editor's selection is restricted by the many calls on potential authors who are unable to meet all requests made to them. The absence of a discussion of the roles of lipids is,'however, a reflection of the fact that a recent volume in this series, edited by Dr. H. 1. Hilderson, has been devoted to this subject (Vol. 16, Intracellular Transfer of Lipid Molecules), and readers are recommended to this source.

The Sixth International Meeting on Cholinesterases and Related Proteins, Choli­ nesterases'98, was organized by Palmer Taylor and his associates at the University of California-San Diego and convened in La Jolla, California, USA, in March of 1998. This was the first conference of the series to be held in the United States, let alone on the Pa­ cific Rim. Nearly 200 delegates from twenty countries-from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America-heard 75 oral presentations and viewed 90 posters on current research on cholinesterases and related proteins. The meeting framework was structured to include two days of plenary sessions, followed by two days of concurrent sessions and workshops in specific areas. Communication at the concurrent sessions was facilitated by the conference settings of the Martin Johnson House, on a scenic bluff overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center, which enabled projection and rotation of protein structures in three dimensions for a large audience. This book is the compilation of the presentations at the Sixth International Meeting on Cholinesterases and Related Proteins into a volume that describes recent investigations on the structure, catalytic and non-catalytic functions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and related proteins, as well as studies on the molecular and cellular biology of these enzymes and the genes that encode them.

With over 43,000 species, spiders are the largest predacious arthropod group. They have developed key characteristics such as multi-purpose silk types, venoms consisting of hundreds of components, locomotion driven by muscles and hydraulic pressure, a highly evolved key-lock mechanism between the complex genital structures, and many more unique features. After 300 million years of evolutionary refinement, spiders are present in all land habitats and represent one of the most successful groups of terrestrial organisms.Ecophysiology combines functional and evolutionary aspects of morphology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology with ecology. Cutting-edge science in spiders focuses on the circulatory and respiratory system, locomotion and dispersal abilities, the immune system, endosymbionts and pathogens, chemical communication, gland secretions, venom components, silk structure, structure and perception of colours as well as nutritional requirements. Spiders are valuable indicator species in agroecosystems and for conservation biology. Modern transfer and application technologies research spiders and their products with respect to their value for biomimetics, material sciences, and the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

50 years of DNA double helix; what was before, and afterwards The present book, although written mainly for science students and research scientists, is also aimed at those readers who look at science, not for its own sake, but in search of a better understanding of our world in general. What were the fundamental questions asked by the early pioneers of molecular biology? What made them tick for decades, trying to elucidate the basic mechanisms of heredity and life itself? In each chapter, the development of a particular aspect of modern biology is described in a historical and logical context, not missing to take into account human aspects of the protagonists of the story. At the end of each chapter, there are some excursus with additional information, technical and otherwise, which can be read separately. The book is enriched with many illustrations, including facsimile reproductions from the original descriptions of key experiments.