Apoptosis: Biology and Mechanisms


Book Description

Apoptosis is currently one of the fastest moving fields in biology with spectacular progress made over the past few years in delineating the molecular It is now indisputable that apoptosis mechanisms which underlie this process. plays an essential role in normal cell physiology and that aberrant apoptosis can manifest itself in a variety of human disorders. Published in two parts (Volumes 23 and 24 of the series entitled Results and Problems in Cell Differen tiation), this is an attempt to bring together many different aspects of apoptosis. Given that this is such a vast and rapidly expanding field, it is almost impossible to cover everything that is now known about apoptosis in two short books, but 1 hope these volumes prove to be a guidepost, providing basic essential information on the biology and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and its implications in some human diseases. As a significant am o unt of new information on apoptosis is emerging every week, it is unrealistic to expect that by the time these two books are published, all the articles will deliver up-to-date information. Nevertheless, 1 believe that the fundamentals of the apoptotic phenomenon are now firmly in place and are discussed at length in various chapters. Readers may find a small degree of overlap between some chapters. This was unavoidable since closely related areas of apoptosis research have been covered by more than one author.







Cell Death


Book Description

A million cells in our bodies die every second--they commit suicide by activating a process called apoptosis or other forms of programmed cell death. These mechanisms are essential for survival of the body as a whole and play critical roles in various developmental processes, the immune system, and cancer. In this second edition of Douglas Green's essential book on cell death, Green retains the bottom-up approach of the first edition, starting with the enzymes that carry out the execution (caspases) and their cellular targets before examining the machinery that connects them to signals that cause cell death. He also describes the roles of cell death in development, neuronal selection, and the development of self-tolerance in the immune system, as well as how the body uses cell death to defend against cancer. The new edition is fully updated to cover the many recent advances in our understanding of the death machinery and signals that control cell death. These include the mechanisms regulating necroptosis, mitophagy, and newly identified processes, such as ferroptosis. The book will thus be of great interest to researchers actively working in the field, as well as biologists and undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time.




Means to an End


Book Description

One million cells in our bodies die every secondthey commit suicide by a mechanism known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is essential for survival of the body as a whole and has critical roles in various developmental processes and the immune system. In Means To An End, Douglas Green provides a clear and comprehensive view of apoptosis and other cell death mechanisms. Taking a bottom-up approach, he starts with the enzymes that perform the execution process (a family of proteases termed caspases) and examines their cellular targets and the ways in which they are activated. He then looks at the molecular machinery that links signals that cause cell death to caspases, emphasizing the importance of the BCL-2 family of proteins and the role of cytochrome c released from mitochondria. The final stage of the process, phagocytic removal of dead or dying cells, is also covered. Green outlines the roles of apoptosis and death mechanisms such as necrosis in embryogenesis, neuronal selection, and the development of self-tolerance in the immune system. In addition, he explains how cell death defends the body against cancer and traces the evolutionary origins of the apoptosis machinery back over a billion years. The book is thus of great use to all biologists interested in how cells function in the context of multicellular organisms and will appeal to everyone from undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time to researchers actively working in the field.




Apoptosis


Book Description

This volume deals with many of the recent advances made in uncovering the molecular and cellular basis of apoptosis and elaborates on how this accumulating knowledge is helping us to understand the significance of apoptosis in pathogenesis of diseases arising from inappropriate cell death. Further, mechanistic aspects of cell death and role of apoptosis in disease is covered.







Apoptotic Cell Biology: Clearance and Mechanisms


Book Description

The total number of cells in every multicellular organism is fundamentally fixed to a specific range. A type of programmed cell death happens in such organisms to effectively control the number of cells. This programmed cell death is called apoptosis. Characteristic cell changes and eventually death happens in cells due to certain biochemical events. It is a carefully controlled, energy-dependent process. An average adult human loses between 50 and 70 billion cells each day due to apoptosis, and an average human child loses about 20 to 30 billion cells. Apoptosis can be pathogenic when the death of healthy neurons leads to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. This book contains some path-breaking studies in the field of apoptotic cell biology. It outlines the processes and mechanisms of apoptotic cells in detail. Researchers and students in this field will be greatly assisted by this book.




Apoptosis and Beyond


Book Description

These volumes teach readers to think beyond apoptosis and describes all of the known processes that cells can undergo which result in cell death This two-volume source on how cells dies is the first, comprehensive collection to cover all of the known processes that cells undergo when they die. It is also the only one of its kind to compare these processes. It seeks to enlighten those in the field about these many processes and to stimulate their thinking at looking at these pathways when their research system does not show signs of activation of the classic apoptotic pathway. In addition, it links activities like the molecular biology of one process (eg. Necrosis) to another process (eg. apoptosis) and contrasts those that are close to each. Volume 1 of Apoptosis and Beyond: The Many Ways Cells Die begins with a general view of the cytoplasmic and nuclear features of apoptosis. It then goes on to offer chapters on targeting the cell death mechanism; microbial programmed cell death; autophagy; cell injury, adaptation, and necrosis; necroptosis; ferroptosis; anoikis; pyronecrosis; and more. Volume 2 covers such subjects as phenoptosis; pyroptosis; hematopoiesis and eryptosis; cyclophilin d-dependent necrosis; and the role of phospholipase in cell death. Covers all known processes that dying cells undergo Provides extensive coverage of a topic not fully covered before Offers chapters written by top researchers in the field Provides activities that link and contrast processes to each other Apoptosis and Beyond: The Many Ways Cells Die will appeal to students and researchers/clinicians in cell biology, molecular biology, oncology, and tumor biology.




Mechanisms of Cell Death and Opportunities for Therapeutic Development


Book Description

Mechanisms of Cell Death and Opportunities for Therapeutic Development, volume four in the Perspectives in Translational Cell Biology series, offers content for professors, students and researchers across basic and translational biology. The book covers fundamental mechanisms, ranging from different forms of cell death and drug development, to efforts for treating disease, providing a valuable resource for readers interested in understanding cell death and relevant translational research. The book's editor, Diaqing Liao, has over twenty years’ experience teaching topics of cell death. Provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on the process of apoptosis, its potential role in health and disease, and a discussion of potential alternative forms, such as autophagy Covers fundamental mechanisms and relevant translational research




Apoptosis, Cell Signaling, and Human Diseases


Book Description

These volumes present a concise synthesis of recent developments in the understanding of both cell survival and apoptotic pathways. Particular attention is given to apoptosis in human diseases, such as different forms of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. These comprehensive volumes integrate the most innovative and current findings from several related disciplines of scientific research, including pathology, genetics, virology, cell biology, immunology, and molecular biology.