Examines the available information on the structure of the RNA binding STAR domain

Provides insights into how STAR proteins discriminate between different RNA targets

Overviews the post-translational modifications of STAR proteins and their effects on biological functions

Reviews what is known about STAR proteins and human disease including osteoporosis, schizophrenia, cancer, infertility and ataxia

This book aims to bring to the forefront a field that has been developing since the late 1990s called the STAR pathway for Signal Transduction and Activation of RNA. It is a signaling pathway that targets RNA directly; in contrast to the canonical signal—kinase cascade—transcription factor—DNA—RNA. It is proposed to allow quick responses to environment changes such as those necessary in many biological phenomenon such as the nervous system and during development.

-Provides an overview of the organism-level biology of neuropeptidergic function in insects and helminths

-Discusses discovery of insecticides and anthelmintics, a review of drugs that affect similar systems in nematodes

-Summary of drug discovery efforts that target mammalian neuropeptide receptors for therapy of non-infectious diseases in humans

This book was assembled to focus attention on this promising field by compiling a comprehensive review of recent research on neuropeptides in arthropods and helminths, with contributions from many of the leading laboratories working on these systems. The organization of the chapters is intended to provide an overview of the organism-level biology of neuropeptidergic function in insects and helminths, progressing to an understanding of the molecular biology of the genes that encode their precursors and receptors in these organisms. We include for perspective consideration of the state of the art in discovery of insecticides and anthelmintics, a review of drugs that affect similar systems in nematodes, and a summary of drug discovery efforts that target mammalian neuropeptide receptors for therapy of non-infectious diseases in humans.

The conjugation of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers by activating enzymes (E1), conjugating enzymes (E2) and ligases (E3) has been a subject of intensive research in the past years. The complexity of the conjugation cascades with dozens of E2 enzymes and hundreds of E3 enzymes requires that emerging common principles are delineated. On the other hand the functional implications for each modifier need to be considered. In this book leading experts actively investigating the conjugation and deconjugation enzymes for ubiquitin, SUMO, NEDD8, ISG15 and FAT10 review the progress in the specific fields. Moreover, novel insights into the function of the respective modifiers are presented. This book should allow scientists from all areas of cell biology and molecular medicine as well as students and young scientists entering this field to get an introduction to ubiquitin modifier conjugation and to get an update on recent insights into this intensively investigated area of research.

The Cell Biology of Stem Cells discusses 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. It provides much of the current understanding of the cell biology of stem cells and discusses many of the open questions that remain to be answered.

-Includes a series of mouse animal models currently available for studying the role of sphingolipids in embryonic development, aging and a series of pathological processes

-Represents a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of sphingolipid signaling and that research scientists can use it as a reference for their studies

-Features studies of sphingolipids in different system models

This book attempts to analyze the latest discoveries in sphingolipid biology and how the alteration of their metabolism leads to altered signaling events and to the development of pathobiological disorders, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, diabetes, inflammation and infectious diseases.

* Focuses on the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting apoptosis pathways in the context of human disease

* Provides an overview of the emerging roles of BCL‑2 family members in different physiological and pathological conditions

* Presents alternative functions of BCL‑2 family proteins

In this book, scientists pioneering the field have compiled a series of focused chapters to highlight the relevance of the BCL‑2 family of proteins in apoptosis, physiology and disease. An important focus of this volume is considering the potential TH ERA PEUT IC benefits of targeting apoptosis pathways in the context of human disease. Readers interested in understanding how a cell handles stress and the consequences of dysregulation of this process for human disease will find this book very valuable. It attempts to describe a fascinating area of research where physiology and biomedicine converge at different levels, revealing a trip from the molecular regulation of apoptosis to the impact of this process to the physiology of a whole organism.

The focus of this book is on the role of protein metabolism and homeostasis in aging. An overview is provided of the current knowledge in the area, including protein synthesis, accuracy and repair, post‑translational modifications, degradation and turnover, and how they define and influence aging. The chapters mainly focus on well‑characterized factors and pathways, but new areas are also presented, where associations with aging are just being elucidated by current experimental data.

* Examines the role of cytokines, novel costimulatory molecules and other signals coming from the microenvironment in the generation and maintenance of memory T cells

* Looks at the generation and maintenance of memory CD8 T cells during acute or chronic viral infection

Immunological memory has fascinated microbiologists and immunologists for decades as one of the new frontiers to conquer to better understand the response to pathogens, cancer and vaccination. Over the past decade, attention has turned to the intrinsic properties of the memory T cells themselves, as it has become clear that the eradication of both infected cells and tumors requires T cells. This book is an attempt to capture the wave of discoveries associated with these recent studies. Its chapters represent a wide collection of topics related to memory T cells by laboratories that have invested their skills and knowledge to understand the biology and the principles upon which memory T cells are generated, maintained and expanded upon re-encounter with antigen. Ultimately, these studies are all aimed at a better understanding of the function of memory T cells in protection against disease.