Ubiquitination Governing DNA Repair


Book Description

DNA damage response (DDR) and lesion repair are vital processes ensuring genome integrity through various pathways depending mainly on the nature of DNA injury and cell cycle stage. DDR is finely regulated at many levels in co-ordination with other ongoing processes as is genome replication and cell cycle progression. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), affecting both protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, play a crucial role in finely tuning all processes involved in the restoration of genome lesions. Regarding damaged chromatin, PTMs serve in many cases as recruitment platforms for DNA repair mechanisms by facilitating binding sites or regulating interactions between involved proteins. Ubiquitination, the addition of ubiquitin moieties on a target protein, apart from controlling protein availability through degradation, is also involved, together with partner small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), in controlling many pathways involved in DDR by modifying the structure-function relationship and thus interacting with partner molecules. The aim of this book is to cover a broad spectrum of current topics in ubiquitination and to a lesser extent SUMOylation involvement in regulation of DDR and repair in health and disease. This book is intended for pre- and postgraduate students and young scientists in this field. Members of both academic and research institutions, actively involved in the field, have described their current understanding of major mechanisms involved, highlighted key events, described ongoing applications in both developmental diseases and cancer and provided hints for future potential applications.




Fundamentals of Chromatin


Book Description

​​​​​​​​​​​​​While there has been an increasing number of books on various aspects of epigenetics, there has been a gap over the years in books that provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of chromatin. ​Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the genetic material of chromosomes. Its primary function is to package DNA to fit into the cell, to strengthen the DNA to prevent damage, to allow mitosis and meiosis, and to control the expression of genes and DNA replication. The audience for this book is mainly newly established scientists ​and graduate students. Rather than going into the more specific areas of recent research on chromatin the chapters in this book give a strong, updated groundwork about the topic. Some the fundamentals that this book will cover include the structure of chromatin and biochemistry and the enzyme complexes that manage it.




Ubiquitin Proteasome System


Book Description

The human ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is comprised of nearly 1000 proteins. Although originally identified as a mechanism of protein destruction, the UPS has numerous additional functions and mediates central signaling events in myriad processes involved in both cellular and organismal health and homeostasis. Numerous pathways within the UPS are implicated in disease, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. The goal of this book is to deliver a collection of synopses of current areas of UPS research that highlights the importance of understanding the biology of the UPS to identify disease-relevant pathways, and the need to elucidate the molecular machinations within the UPS to develop methods for therapeutic modulation of these pathways.







Systems Biology of Cancer


Book Description

An overview of the current systems biology-based knowledge and the experimental approaches for deciphering the biological basis of cancer.




The Ubiquitin System


Book Description




SUMO Regulation of Cellular Processes


Book Description

This is the second edition of a very well received book that details how the sumoylation system functions and how it modulates numerous cellular activities. SUMO is a post-translational modifier in the ubiquitin super-family that has gained recognition over the last twenty years as an essential and prevalent regulatory molecule. Individual chapters explore the biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology of the sumoylation system and its substrate proteins. The book is divided into three themed parts: Molecular Functions (I), Cell Growth Regulation (II), and Diseases (III). Parts I and II focus on the contribution of sumoylation to cellular activities in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. The nuclear activities covered include nucleic acid metabolism (both RNA and DNA), chromosome structure and replication, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. Cytoplasmic processes presented include regulation of membrane ion channels, general metabolism, and apoptotic signalling. Topics in Part III include the role of sumoylation in developmental abnormalities (craniofacial and cardiovascular), diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and infections with viruses and bacteria. Each of the corresponding chapter authors is an active researcher who has made significant contributions to understanding sumoylation. This second edition provides updates and revisions to most of the original chapters plus adds six new chapters to address important developing areas of sumoylation research. This volume is intended for a scientific audience from undergraduates to independent researchers. The content will serve as both a solid introduction for the novice reader and an in depth treatment for the advanced scholar.




Homology Molecular Modeling


Book Description

Homology modeling is an extremely useful and versatile technique that is gaining more and more space and demand in research in computational and theoretical biology. This book, “Homology Molecular Modeling - Perspectives and Applications”, brings together unpublished chapters on this technique. In this book, 7 chapters are intimately related to the theme of molecular modeling, carefully selected and edited for academic and scientific readers. It is an indispensable read for anyone interested in the areas of bioinformatics and computational biology. Divided into 4 sections, the reader will have a didactic and comprehensive view of the theme, with updated and relevant concepts on the subject. This book was organized from researchers to researchers with the aim of spreading the fascinating area of molecular modeling by homology.




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.




Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Regulation


Book Description

Many inheritable changes in gene function are not explained by changes in the DNA sequence. Such epigenetic mechanisms are known to influence gene function in most complex organisms and include effects such as transposon function, chromosome imprinting, yeast mating type switching and telomeric silencing. In recent years, epigenetic effects have become a major focus of research activity. This monograph, edited by three well-known biologists from different specialties, is the first to review and synthesize what is known about these effects across all species, particularly from a molecular perspective, and will be of interest to everyone in the fields of molecular biology and genetics.