Download or read book Chaperonin Protocols written by Christine Schneider and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Flavoprotein Protocols written by Steven K. Chapman and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a scientist with an interest in proteins you will, at some time in your career, isolate an enzyme that turns out to be yellow—or perhaps you already have. Alternatively, you may identify a polypeptide sequence that is related to known flavin-containing proteins. This may, or may not, be your first encounter with flavoproteins. However, even if you are an old hand in the field, you may not have exploited the full range of experimental approaches applicable to the study of flavoproteins. We hope that Flavoprotein Protocols will encourage you to do so. In this volume we have sought to bring together a range of experimental methods of value to researchers with an interest in flavoproteins, whether or not these researchers have experience in this area. A broad range of techniques, from the everyday to the more specialized, is described by scientists who are experts in their fields and who have ext- sive practical experience with flavoproteins. The wide range of approaches, from wet chemistry to dry computation, has, as a consequence, demanded a range of formats. Where appropriate (particularly for analytical methods) the protocol described is laid out in easy-to-follow steps. In other cases (e. g. , the more advanced spectroscopies and computational methods) it is far more apt to describe the general approach and relevance of the methods. We hope this wide-ranging approach will sow the seeds of many future collaborations - tween laboratories and further our knowledge and understanding of how f- voproteins work.
Download or read book Neurotrophin Protocols written by Robert A. Rush and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The past decade has seen an extraordinary growth in research interest in neurotrophic factors, and the study of the neurotrophin family has led this activity. Nevertheless, this area of research has often struggled as a result of techniques that were either inadequate or just emerging from other research fields and disciplines. Neurotrophin Protocols has brought together many leaders in the neurotrophin field who detail their special expertise in a wide variety of techniques. Though most procedures are valid across many diff- ent fields of research, some of those described here have been developed to address particular issues within the neurotrophic factor field. The protocols cover a broad range of biochemical, histological, and biological techniques that are often required by the modern laboratory. However, all have been written with sufficient detail to allow any laboratory to achieve proficiency without need of reference to other texts. Neurotrophin Protocols is divided into four sections dealing with p- tein, RNA, recombinant, and in vivo techniques. Protein techniques have in general been less successfully employed than those dealing with RNA or DNA. However, procedures that achieve localization and quantification of the neurotrophins are now being used more extensively. Their inclusion here should assist further studies at the protein level. Transgenic cell lines and animals are commonplace in the scientific research literature, but their inc- sion in several chapters in this book provide some novel uses that are not readily available elsewhere.
Download or read book Mycotoxin Protocols written by Mary W. Trucksess and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mycotoxins produced by molds are common contaminants of many important crops, including wheat, corn, rice, and peanuts. Some mycotoxins are found in fruits and vegetables. These contaminants have a broad range of toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. The occurrence of mycotoxins in foods is an unavoidable worldwide problem. About 80 countries have imposed regulatory limits to minimize human and animal exposure to mycotoxins. Regulatory limits, including international standards, have tremendous economic impact and must be developed using science-based risk assessments. The purpose of Mycotoxin Protocols is to provide the scientific and technological basis for analytical methods for use in obtaining the exposure data needed for risk assessments. Mycotoxin Protocols is divided into four sections, which are interc- nected. The first section: Chapters 1–5 describe the general techniques for mycotoxin analysis with emphasis on the importance of method validation based on statistical parameters; sampling procedures for collecting a sample as representative as possible of a bulk lot; the isolation of mycotoxins for use as analytical standards or for toxicological studies; the evaluation of purity and preparation of standards; and the detection and identification of impu- ties in isolated mycotoxins. Sections 2–4: Chapters 6–19 describe the most current chromatographic and immunochemical methods for studies on the major mycotoxins.
Download or read book Plant Hormone Protocols written by Gregory A. Tucker and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-04 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Established investigators from around the world describe in step-by-step detail their best techniques for the study of plant hormones and their regulatory activities. These state-of-the-art methods include contemporary approaches to identifying the biosynthetic pathways of plant hormones, monitoring their levels, characterizing the receptors with which they interact, and analyzing the signaling systems by which they exert their effects. Comprehensive and fully detailed for reproducible laboratory success, Plant Hormone Protocols offers plant biologists an indispensable compendium of today's most powerful methods and strategies to studying plant hormones, their regulation, and their activities.
Download or read book Neuropeptide Y Protocols written by Ambikaipakan Balasubramaniam and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The observation that neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the most abundant peptide present in the mammalian nervous system and the finding that it elicits the most powerful orexigenic signal have led to active investigations of the properties of the NPY family of hormones, including peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP). Nearly two decades of research have led to the identification of several NPY receptor subtypes and the development of useful receptor selective ligands. Moreover, these investigations have imp- cated NPY in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases, including feeding disorders, seizures, memory loss, anxiety, depression, and heart failure. Vigorous efforts are therefore continuing, not only to understand the bioche- cal aspects of NPY actions, but also toward developing NPY-based treatments for a variety of disorders. To facilitate these efforts, it was decided to produce the first handbook on NPY research techniques as part of the Methods in Molecular Biology Series. In compiling Neuropeptide Y Protocols, I have gathered contributions on techniques considered critical for the advancement of the NPY field from experts in various disciplines. Each chapter starts with a brief introduction, with Materials and Methods sections following. The latter sections are presented in an easy to follow step-by-step format. The last section of the chapter, Notes, highlights pitfalls and the maneuvers employed to overcome them. This information, not usually disseminated in standard research pub- cations, may prove extremely useful for investigators employing these te- niques in NYP research.
Download or read book Developmental Biology Protocols written by Rocky S. Tuan and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2000-01-21 with total page 570 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This three-volume set, consisting of 142 chapters, is intentionally broad in scope, because of the nature of modern developmental biology.
Download or read book Gene Knockout Protocols written by Martin J. Tymms and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the major task of sequencing the human genome is near completion and full complement of human genes are catalogued, attention will be focused on the ultimate goal: to understand the normal biological functions of these genes, and how alterations lead to disease states. In this task there is a severe limitation in working with human material, but the mouse has been adopted as the favored animal model because of the available genetic resources and the highly conserved gene conservation linkage organization. In just of ten years since the first gene-targeting experiments were p- formed in embryonic stem (ES) cells and mutations transmitted through the mouse germline, more than a thousand mouse strains have been created. These achievements have been made possible by pioneering work that showed that ES cells derived from preimplantation mouse embryos could be cultured for prolonged periods without differentiation in culture, and that homologous rec- bination between targeting constructs and endogenous DNA occurred at a f- quency sufficient for recombinants to be isolated. In the next few years the mouse genome will be systematically altered, and the techniques for achi- ing manipulations are constantly being streamlined and improved.
Download or read book Matrix Metalloproteinase Protocols written by Ian M. Clark and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 547 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research in the matrix metalloproteinase field began with the demonstration by Gross and Lapière, in 1962, that resorbing tadpole tail expressed an enzyme that could degrade collagen gels. These humble beginnings have led us to the elucidation of around twenty distinct vertebrate MMPs, along with a variety of homologs from such diverse organisms as sea urchin, plants, nematode worm, and bacteria. This, coupled with four known specific inhibitors of MMPs, the TIMPs, gives a complex picture. Part I of Matrix Metalloproteinase Protocols provides the reader with a selective overview of the MMP arena, and a chance to come to grips with where the field has been, where it is, and where it is going. I hope that this complements all of the methodology that comes later. Part II presents the reader with a diverse set of methods for the expression and purification of MMPs and TIMPs, bringing together the long and often hard-earned experience of a number of researchers. Part III allows the reader to detect MMPs and TIMPs at both the protein and mRNA level, whereas Part IV gives the ability to assay MMP and TIMP activities in a wide variety of circumstances.
Download or read book DNA Topoisomerase Protocols written by Neil Osheroff and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with the Escherichia coli ? protein, or bacterial DNA topoisomerase I, an ever-increasing number of enzymes have been identified that catalyze changes in the linkage of DNA strands. DNA topoisomerases are ubiquitous in nature and have been shown to play critical roles in most p- cesses involving DNA, including DNA replication, transcription, and rec- bination. These enzymes further constitute the cellular targets of a number of clinically important antibacterial and anticancer agents. Thus, further studies of DNA topology and DNA topoisomerases are critical to advance our und- standing of the basic biological processes required for cell cycle progression, cell division, genomic stability, and development. In addition, these studies will continue to provide critical insights into the cytotoxic action of drugs that target DNA topoisomerases. Such mechanistic studies have already played an important role in the development and clinical application of antimicrobial and chemotherapeutic agents. The two volumes of DNA Topoisomerase Protocols are designed to help new and established researchers investigate all aspects of DNA topology and the function of these enzymes. The chapters are written by prominent investigators in the field and provide detailed background information and st- by-step experimental protocols. The topics covered in Part I: DNA Topology and Enzymes, range from detailed methods to analyze various aspects of DNA structure, from linking number, knotting/unknotting, site-specific recombi- tion, and decatenation to the overexpression and purification of bacterial and eukaryotic DNA topoisomerases from a variety of cell systems and tissues.
Download or read book Adrenergic Receptor Protocols written by Curtis A. Machida and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 563 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adrenergic receptors are important modulators in the sympathetic c- trol of various metabolic processes in the central and peripheral nervous s- tems. These receptors are localized at multiple sites throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and serve as important regulators of CNS-mediated behavior and neural functions, including mood, memory, neuroendocrine c- trol, and stimulation of autonomic function. Adrenergic Receptor Protocols consists of 35 chapters dealing with va- ous aspects of adrenergic receptor analyses, including the use of genetic, RNA, protein expression, transactivator, second messenger, immunocytochemical, electrophysiological, transgenic, and in situ hybridization approaches. This volume details the use of various methods to examine the adrenergic receptor system, using aspects of the genetic flow of information as a guide (DNA? RNA ? transactivator ? protein expression ? second messenger analyses ? cellular analyses ? transgenic whole animal approaches). Adrenergic Receptor Protocols displays step-by-step methods for s- cessful replication of experimental procedures, and would be useful for both experienced investigators and newcomers in the field, including those beg- ning graduate study or undergoing postdoctoral training. The Notes section contained in each chapter provides valuable troubleshooting guides to help develop working protocols for your laboratory. With Adrenergic Receptor Protocols, it has been my intent to develop a comprehensive collection of modern molecular methods for analyzing adrenergic receptors. I would like to thank the many chapter authors for their contributions.
Download or read book Transcription Factor Protocols written by Martin J. Tymms and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The effort to sequence the human genome is now moving toward a c- clusion. As all of the protein coding sequences are described, an increasing emphasis will be placed on understanding gene function and regulation. One important aspect of this analysis is the study of how transcription factors re- late transcriptional initiation by RNA polymerase II, which is responsible for transcribing nuclear genes encoding messenger RNAs. The initiation of Class II transcription is dependent upon transcription factors binding to DNA e- ments that include the core or basal promoter elements, proximal promoter elements, and distal enhancer elements. General initiation factors are involved in positioning RNA polymerase II on the core promoter, but the complex - teraction of these proteins and transcriptional activators binding to DNA e- ments outside the core promoter regulate the rate of transcriptional initiation. This initiation process appears to be a crucial step in the modulation of mRNA levels in response to developmental and environmental signals. Transcription Factor Protocols provides step-by-step procedures for key techniques that have been developed to study DNA sequences and the protein factors that regulate the transcription of protein encoding genes. This volume is aimed at providing researchers in the field with the well-detailed protocols that have been the hallmark of previous volumes of the Methods in Molecular TM Biology series.
Download or read book Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols written by Stephen Misener and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-02 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Computers have become an essential component of modern biology. They help to manage the vast and increasing amount of biological data and continue to play an integral role in the discovery of new biological relationships. This in silico approach to biology has helped to reshape the modern biological sciences. With the biological revolution now among us, it is imperative that each scientist develop and hone today’s bioinformatics skills, if only at a rudimentary level. Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols was conceived as part of the Methods in Molecular Biology series to meet this challenge and to provide the experienced user with useful tips and an up-to-date overview of current developments. It builds upon the foundation that was provided in the two-volume set published in 1994 entitled Computer Analysis of Sequence Data. We divided Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols into five parts, including a thorough survey of the basic sequence analysis software packages that are available at most institutions, as well as the design and implemen- tion of an essential introductory Bioinformatics course. In addition, we included sections describing specialized noncommercial software, databases, and other resources available as part of the World Wide Web and a stimul- ing discussion of some of the computational challenges biologists now face and likely future solutions.
Download or read book Glycoprotein Methods and Protocols written by Anthony P. Corfield and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-10-26 with total page 491 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The mucins (mucus glycoproteins) have long been a complex corner of glycoprotein biology. While dramatic advances in the separation, structural an- ysis, biosynthesis, and degradation have marked the progress in general glycop- tein understanding, the mucins have lagged behind. The reasons for this lack of progress have always been clear and are only now being resolved. The mucins are very large molecules; they are difficult to separate from other molecules present in mucosal secretions or membranes; they are often degraded owing to natural protective functions or to isolation methodology and their peptide and oligos- charide structures are varied and complex. Understanding these molecules has demanded progress in several major areas. Isolation techniques that protect the intact mucins and allow dissociation from other adsorbed but discrete molecules needed to be developed and accepted by all researchers in the field. Improved methods for the study of very large molecules with regard to their aggregation and polymerization were also needed. Structural analysis of the peptide domains and the multitude of oligosaccharide chains was required for smaller sample sizes, for multiple samples, and in shorter time. In view of these problems it is perhaps not surprising that the mucins have remained a dilemma, of obvious biological importance and interest, but very difficult to analyze.
Download or read book Calpain Methods and Protocols written by John S. Elce and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of Calpain Methods and Protocols is quite straightf- ward: it is to present the actual experimental methods used in many different laboratories for the study of calpain. It will provide the vital experimental detail, and the discussion of possible pitfalls, for which the standard journals no longer provide space. This will make it as easy as possible for investi- tors interested in calpain to adopt established methods without repeating old mistakes, and to adapt and apply these methods in novel approaches to the many outstanding calpain questions. These questions range from purely biochemical problems of protein structure and enzyme regulation at the molecular level, through large areas of cell biology, to applied and clinical aspects of calpain function in human d- ease. Within this panoply of topics, a wide range of investigators will find many fascinating and as yet unanswered questions about calpain. Calpain Methods and Protocols will provide instant access to many essential te- niques, while saving them the time and effort involved in developing a new method. In addition to questions relating to the normal physiological roles of the calpains, there is considerable evidence that inappropriate calpain activity may have pathological effects in many tissues, for example, following ischemia. This provides a major stimulus for the development of specific calpain inhi- tors for therapeutic purposes, and for the development of methods to evaluate such inhibitors.
Download or read book Cytoskeleton Methods and Protocols written by Ray H. Gavin and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past two decades experimental studies have solidified the int- pretation of the cytoskeleton as a highly dynamic network of microtubules, actin microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and myosin filaments. Rather than a network of disparate fibers, these polymers are often interconnected and display synergy, which is the combined action of two or more cytoskeletal polymers to achieve a specific cellular structure or function. Cross-commu- cation among cytoskeletal polymers is thought to be achieved through cytoskeletal polymer accessory proteins and molecular motors that bind two or more cytoskeletal polymers. Development of the modern concept of the cytoskeleton is a direct o- growth of advances in experimental tools and reagents that are available to cell and molecular biologists. Technological advances and refinements in cell imaging have made it possible to selectively image a single cytoskeletal po- mer and monitor its dynamics through the use of fluorescence probes in vitro and in vivo. Two decades ago, cytoskeletal research was limited to a few perturbation reagents that included colchicine and cytochalasin. Today, the perturbation arsenal has expanded to a highly selective group of reagents that includes Taxol, nocodazole, benomyl, latrunculin, jasplakinolide, and such endogenous proteins as gelsolin. These reagents enable the investigator to selectively perturb or destroy a cytoskeletal polymer while leaving other cytoskeletal polymers intact. Site-specific monoclonal antibodies that target a specific cytoskeletal polymer have proven to be highly selective affinity tools for cytoskeletal research.
Download or read book Complement Methods and Protocols written by B. Paul Morgan and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The complement system, first described more than a century ago, was for many years the ugly duckling of the immunology world, but no more. Complement in recent years has blossomed into a fascinating and fast moving field of immediate relevance to clinical scientists in fields as diverse as transplantation biology, virology, and inflammation. Despite its emergence from the shadows, complement retains an unwarranted reputation for being “difficult.” This impression derives in large part from the superficially complicated nomenclature, a relic of the long and tortuous process of unraveling the system, of naming components in order of discovery rather than in a syst- atic manner. Once the barrier of nomenclature has been surmounted, then the true simplicity of the system becomes apparent. Complement comprises an activation system and a cytolytic system. The former has diverged to focus on complement to distinct targets—bacteria, - mune complexes, and others—so that texts now describe three activation pa- ways, closely related to one another, but each with some unique features. The cytolytic pathway is the same regardless of the activation process and kills cells by creating pores in the membrane. Complement plays an important role in killing bacteria and is essential for the proper handling of immune complexes. Problems occur when complement is activated in an inappropriate manner—the potent inflammation-inducing products of the cascade then cause unwanted tissue damage and destruction.