Bücher der Reihe Molecular and Cell Biology Updates

On the basis of the agreement signed between UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Poland the International Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology of UNESCO was officially inaugurated in October 1995 in Warsaw, Poland, as part of the activity of the Global Network for Molecular and Cell Biology (MCBN) of UNESCO.

The basic knowledge of cell biology and molecular genetics in oncology is increasingly attracting the interest of clinical oncologists and is close to reaching a helpful application at the bedside. IV - Clinical Applications, following the strategy that chm*acterized the entire meeting: from molecule to bedside.

Adenine Nucleotides play a major role in cellular metabolism and functions, serving as high-potential phosphate transfer compounds in energy metabolism and as substrates and co-factors for proteins involved in signal transduction. During the last few years definite advancement has been made in elucidating the molecular and genetic aspects of the enzyme involved in oxidative phosphorylation, the so-called FoFl H~-ATP synthase. Non-invasive NMR technologies have been developed to monitor in vivo the energy level of tissues based on determination of the concentrations of adenine nucleotides, phosphate and phosphate esters. Thus it became clear that the capacity of oxidative phosphorylation adapts itself to the ATP demand which changes continuously with the physiological state in various tissues. This is achieved by regulation of the enzyme activity as well as by regulation of its biogenesis. The reversible phosphorylation of proteins is re­ cognised as a major regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic as well as in prokaryotic cells for cellular signal transduction and control of gene expression, cell growth, differentation and oncogenesis. The same applies to the role played by cAMP. A further topic of growing interest concerns the discovery of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of transport proteins which includes systems of primary importance in medicine such as the multi-drug resistance P glycoprotein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the 70 kd peroxisomal membrane protein. Finally, much attention is being devoted in many laboratories to the molecular structure and role of ATP­ modulated channels.

Antioxidants inhibit the formation and spread of free radicals which can be damaging in biological systems. Free radicals form in biological systems through metabolism, but it is also realized that exogenous environmental sources, such as radiation, food, and drugs, contribute significantly to the generation of free radicals in biological systems.

This book provides an account of the recent advances in our understanding of the role of proteases under physiological and pathological conditions.

Many systems involved in animal signaling are now shown to be present also in plants, and in view of the fast progress in this area, it will be possible in the near future to fully describe the content of the "black boxes" in the reaction chain specifically triggered by a signal.

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade.

This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on the clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer.

Since the appearance of photosynthesis on our planet, all living organisms have been facing a new abundant, extremely reactive element, oxygen.

Oxidative stress and aging Over the past several years there has been an extraordinarily rapid growth in our knowledge of free radical chemistry and its possible involvement in both normal essential biology and age­ related disease and dysfunction. Much of this growth in the traditionally separate sciences of chemistry and molecular gerontology occurred independently, with little interaction or communi­ cation between the scientists working in these two fields. In view of the growing maturity of the two fields and the potential importance of advancing our knowledge in the area of oxidative stress and aging, we perceived a critical need to organize an international conference the "First Inter­ national Conference on Oxidative Stress and Aging" in Hawaii in 1994 to bring together the world's leading scientists in the fields of reactive oxygen species and molecular gerontology. The objective of this conference was to provide a unique opportunity for scholars working in these two related and rapidly growing fields to participate in the exchange, integration, and synthesis of new concepts and ideas, to engage in constructive criticism and to initiate new collaborative research projects. The conference focused on the molecular and cellular aspects of aging as related to oxidative stress. It was one of the largest and most comprehensive international conferences held in molecular gerontology. At this conference a call was made for submission of papers to be used in the publication of a book covering the major contributions of the meeting.

This book is based on two keywords: Bioradical and ESR. Research on the structure and function of bioradicals has been attrac ting growing attention in the field of biological science, and comprehensive investigations from many fields are helping to understand the real features of these species.

Many systems involved in animal signaling are now shown to be present also in plants, and in view of the fast progress in this area, it will be possible in the near future to fully describe the content of the "black boxes" in the reaction chain specifically triggered by a signal.

In 1898 Camillo Golgi reported his newly observed intracellular structure, the apparato reticolare interno, now universally known as the Golgi Apparatus.

Free radical-mediated reactions have been well known in chemistry and physical chemistry for many years.

Skeletal muscle consumes significant amounts of oxygen, and its oxygen flux increases significantly under conditions of exercise and muscle contraction. The consequences of muscle oxidative stress have resulted mainly in increased muscle protein oxidation, elevation of lipid peroxidation, and depletion of muscle antioxidants.

This book consists of a series of reviews on selected topics within the rapidly and vastly expanding field of membrane biology. Its aim is to highlight the most significant and important advances that have been made in recent years in understanding the structure, dynamics, and functions of cell membranes. The progress that is being made in research in this field is due to the application of integrated experimental ap­ proaches, utilizing sophisticated and novel techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics and biochemistry. Due to the advances made, many problems have been or are being solved at the molecular level. With the help of an Editorial Advisory Board consisting of Jean-Pierre Changeux (Paris), Paolo Comoglio (Torino), Rainer Jaenicke (Regens­ burg), Sten Orrenius (Stockholm), Lorenzo Pinna (Padova), Konrad Sandhoff (Bonn), and Gottfried Schatz (Basel), we have selected a number of topics in areas in which progress has been particularly rapid, and have invited internationally acknowledged experts in the field to review these topics. The areas covered in this monograph are: 1) Signal transduction; 2) Membrane traffic: Proteins and lipids; 3) Bioenergetics: Energy transfer and membrane transport; 4) Cellular ion homeostasis; 5) Growth factors and adhesion molecules; 6) Structural analysis of mem­ brane proteins; and 7) Membranes and disease.

This book brings together wide-ranging recent findings on the structure(function relationships, gene regulation, and genetic defects of the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes, namely the pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes.