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Molecular chaperones are involved in a wide variety of essential cellular processes in living cells. A subset of molecular chaperones have been initially described as heat shock proteins protecting cells from stress damage by keeping cellular proteins in a folding competent state and preventing them from irreversible aggregation. Later it became obvious that molecular chaperones are also expressed constitutively in the cell and are involved in complex processes such as protein synthesis, intracellular protein transport, post-translational modification and secretion of proteins as well as receptor signalling. Hence, it is not surprising that molecular chaperones are implicated in the pathogenesis of many relevant diseases and could be regarded as potential pharmacological targets. Starting with the analysis of the mode of action of chaperones at the molecular, cellular and organismic level, this book will then describe specific aspects where modulation of chaperone action could be of pharmacological and therapeutic interest.
Together with the microfilament, microtubule and intermediate-filament networks, septins constitute an integral part of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Historically identified as proteins critical for septum formation in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, septin family GTPases are expressed and participate in the process of cytokinesis in most eukaryotes except higher plants. More than a dozen septin genes in mammals, together with various splice variants displaying tissue-specific expression patterns and flexible hetero-polymeric higher-order assembly achieve an unfathomable complexity superior to the other cytoskeletal components. Even though the initial studies in the septin field w...
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are evolutionarily conserved in all eukaryotes and allow cells to respond to changes in the physical and chemical properties of the environment and to produce an appropriate response by altering many cellular functions. MAPKs are among the most intensively studied signal transduction systems. MAPK research is a very dynamic field in which new perspectives are continuously opening to the scientific community. Importantly, many MAPK inhibitors have been developed during the last years and are currently being tested in preclinical and clinical assays for inflammatory diseases and cancer treatment. In this research topic, we have gathered 14 paper...
In this book leading researchers in the field discuss the state-of-the-art of many aspects of SAPK signaling in various systems from yeast to mammals. These include various chapters on regulatory mechanisms as well as the contribution of the SAPK signaling pathways to processes such as gene expression, metabolism, cell cycle regulation, immune responses and tumorigenesis. Written by international experts, the book will appeal to cell biologists and biochemists.
Mammalian cells have evolved a complex multicomponent machinery that enables them to sense and respond to a wide variety of potentially toxic agents present in their environment. These stress responses are often associated with an increased cellular capacity to tolerate normally lethal levels of an insult. The realization that the mammalian stress response may be intimately linked with many human diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia, fever, infection, and cancer, has led to an explosion of interest in this research area. Stress Response: Methods and Protocols brings together a diverse array of practical methodologies that may be employed to address various aspects of the respon...
The precise shape of a protein is a crucial factor in its function. How do proteins become folded into the right conformation? Molecular chaperones and protein folding catalysts bind to developing polypeptides in the cytoplasm and ensure correct folding and transport. This Guidebook catalogues the latest information on nearly 200 of these molecules, including the important class of heat shock proteins; each entry is written by leading researchers in the field.