The P53 Family


Book Description

This volume offers a comprehensive review of the functions of the p53 family. The contributors examine the normal roles of these transcription factors, their evolution, the regulatory mechanisms that control p53 activity, and the part played by p53 mutations in tumorigenesis.




Genome Stability


Book Description

Genome Stability: From Virus to Human Application, Second Edition, a volume in the Translational Epigenetics series, explores how various species maintain genome stability and genome diversification in response to environmental factors. Here, across thirty-eight chapters, leading researchers provide a deep analysis of genome stability in DNA/RNA viruses, prokaryotes, single cell eukaryotes, lower multicellular eukaryotes, and mammals, examining how epigenetic factors contribute to genome stability and how these species pass memories of encounters to progeny. Topics also include major DNA repair mechanisms, the role of chromatin in genome stability, human diseases associated with genome instability, and genome stability in response to aging. This second edition has been fully revised to address evolving research trends, including CRISPRs/Cas9 genome editing; conventional versus transgenic genome instability; breeding and genetic diseases associated with abnormal DNA repair; RNA and extrachromosomal DNA; cloning, stem cells, and embryo development; programmed genome instability; and conserved and divergent features of repair. This volume is an essential resource for geneticists, epigeneticists, and molecular biologists who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of this rapidly expanding field, and can also be of great use to advanced students who are looking to gain additional expertise in genome stability. - A deep analysis of genome stability research from various kingdoms, including epigenetics and transgenerational effects - Provides comprehensive coverage of mechanisms utilized by different organisms to maintain genomic stability - Contains applications of genome instability research and outcomes for human disease - Features all-new chapters on evolving areas of genome stability research, including CRISPRs/Cas9 genome editing, RNA and extrachromosomal DNA, programmed genome instability, and conserved and divergent features of repair




Protein Phosphorylation in Human Health


Book Description

15 chapters on protein phosphorylation and human health written by expert scientists. Covers most important research hot points, such as Akt, AMPK and mTOR. Bridges the basic protein phosphorylation pathways with human health and diseases. Detailed and comprehensive text with excellent figure illustration.




MicroRNA Cancer Regulation


Book Description

This edited reflects the current state of knowledge about the role of microRNAs in the formation and progression of solid tumours. The main focus lies on computational methods and applications, together with cutting edge experimental techniques that are used to approach all aspects of microRNA regulation in cancer. We are sure that the emergence of high-throughput quantitative techniques will make this integrative approach absolutely necessary in the near future. This book will be a resource for researchers starting out with cancer microRNA research, but is also intended for the experienced researcher who wants to incorporate concepts and tools from systems biology and bioinformatics into his work. Bioinformaticians and modellers are provided with a general perspective on microRNA biology in cancer, and the state-of-the-art in computational microRNA biology.




Cancer Genomics


Book Description

The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) involvement in cancer a decade ago, and the more recent findings of long non-coding RNAs in human diseases, challenged the long-standing view that RNAs without protein-coding potential are simply “junk” transcription within the human genome. These findings evidently changed the dogma that “DNA makes RNA makes protein” by showing that RNAs themselves can be essential regulators of cellular function and play key roles in cancer development. MiRNAs are evolutionarily conserved short single-stranded transcripts of 19–24 nucleotides in length. They do not code for proteins, but change the final output of protein-coding genes by regulating their transcriptional and/or translation process. Ultraconserved genes (UCGs) are non-coding RNAs with longer length (>200bp) that are transcribed from the ultraconserved genomic region. Both miRNAs and UCGs are located within cancer-associated genomic regions (CAGRs) and can act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In this chapter, we present principles and concepts that have been identified over the last decade with respect to our understanding of the function of non-coding RNAs, and summarize recent findings on the role of miRNAs and UCGs in cancer development. Finally, we will conclude by discussing the translational potential of this knowledge into clinical settings such as cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.




Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer


Book Description

Telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomeres and endows eukaryotic cells with immortality, was first discovered in tetrahymena in 1985. In 1990s, it was proven that this enzyme also plays a key role in the infinite proliferation of human cancer cells. Now telomere and telomerase are widely accepted as important factors involved in cancer biology, and as promising diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Recently, role of telomerase in “cancer stem cells” has become another attractive story. Until now, there are several good books on telomere and telomerase focusing on biology in ciliates, yeasts, and mouse or basic sciences in human, providing basic scientists or students with updated knowledge.




The Cell Biology of Stem Cells


Book Description

Stem cells have been gaining a lot of attention in recent years. Their unique potential to self-renew and differentiate has turned them into an attractive model for the study of basic biological questions such as cell division, replication, transcription, cell fate decisions, and more. With embryonic stem (ES) cells that can generate each cell type in the mammalian body and adult stem cells that are able to give rise to the cells within a given lineage, basic questions at different developmental stages can be addressed. Importantly, both adult and embryonic stem cells provide an excellent tool for cell therapy, making stem cell research ever more pertinent to regenerative medicine. As the title The Cell Biology of Stem Cells suggests, our book deals with multiple aspects of stem cell biology, ranging from their basic molecular characteristics to the in vivo stem cell trafficking of adult stem cells and the adult stem-cell niche, and ends with a visit to regeneration and cell fate reprogramming. In the first chapter, “Early embryonic cell fate decisions in the mouse”, Amy Ralson and Yojiro Yamanaka describe the mechanisms that support early developmental decisions in the mouse pre-implantation embryo and the current understanding of the source of the most immature stem cell types, which includes ES cells, trophoblast stem (TS) cells and extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells.




Heat Shock Proteins in Signaling Pathways


Book Description

This edited volume offers an insightful overview of contemporary research on signaling pathways. These signaling processes are the comprehensive mechanisms by which all cellular organisms communicate internally and externally with their microenvironment. The volume is focused on heat shock proteins (HSP), which are uniquely involved in a number of critical signaling pathways. Errors in signaling pathways and in the processing of cellular information are known to be responsible for the majority of diseases including cancer, inflammatory and neurological disorders. The knowledge gained from better understanding these mechanisms can help in elucidating disease processes and will assist in development and design of novel targeted treatment therapies to combat human diseases and disorders. Key basic and clinical research laboratories from major universities, academic medical hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world have contributed chapters that review present research activity and importantly project the field into the future. The book is a must read for graduate students. medical students, basic science researchers and postdoctoral scholars in the fields of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research, Human Physiology, Biotechnology, Cell & Molecular Medicine, Pharmaceutical Scientists and Researchers involved in Drug Discovery.




MYC and the Pathway to Cancer


Book Description

The MYC gene family plays essential roles in normal development and in multiple cellular functions. Moreover aberrant MYC gene activation is profoundly involved in the etiology of a wide range of cancers. MYC encodes a transcriptional regulator that modulates expression of genes controlling cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and death. Deregulation of these expression programs has been linked to MYC's function in tumor initiation, progression, and survival. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine covers all aspects of MYC biology. The contributors discuss its normal functions in the control of cell growth, cell competition, pluripotency, and development, as well as the molecular basis for the effects of the MYC protein on transcription. In addition, they examine how MYC interacts with other proteins, induces apoptosis, and impacts metabolism, genomic stability, and microRNA expression. The authors also provide a detailed analysis of the role of MYC in tumor initiation and progression. Its involvement in cancers such as medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma is examined, as are the prospects for anti-MYC therapies in cancer treatment. This book is essential reading for all cancer biologists, as well as researchers studying the regulation of gene expression.




Glucosinolates


Book Description

This is the first comprehensive reference compilation on the substance class of glucosinolates. This handbook introduces the reader to the sulfur-containing glucosinolates (S-glucosides), a class of secondary metabolites of almost all plants of the order Capparales, in particular in the family Brassicaceae (e.g. broccoli and other cabbages), derived from glucose and an amino acid. The book illustrates the natural variety of glucosinolate structures, mainly derived from the precursor amino acid. Chapters describe the resulting rich bioactivity of the glucosides, for example as anti-cancer agents, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, their potential phytotoxic effects, antimicrobial activity and their possible role in neurodegenerative diseases and human health. Different methods for the extraction, characterization, quantification and processing of the glucosinolates are introduced, and potential applications are discussed. The fate of glucosinolates during food processing is also briefly addressed. This handbook is written by leading experts and structured in different sections addressing the natural occurrence of glucosinolates, their (bio-)synthesis, bioactivity, food processing of glucosinolate-containing vegetables, health and disease-related aspects, biotechnology, and methods applied in glucosinolate-research. It is thus a rich reference source for every reader working in the field, from chemists and biotechnologists, to life scientists, pharmacists and medical scientists.