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,...

Since the appearance of photosynthesis on our planet, all living organisms have been facing a new abundant, extremely reactive element, oxygen. This element is used for the synthesis of highly energetic compounds, but can also generate molecules capable of damaging constituents of living structures, including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. It is therefore no surprise that all biological organisms have evolved multiple and sophisticated ways to reduce the detrimental effects of oxygen. For cells and tissues of highly organized animals, particularly cells of the immune system,...

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. Being reactive species, free radicals are short-lived and do not travel far from cellular targets. Their concentration in biological systems is very low and is difficult to detect directly by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Indirect...

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolic pathways during oncogenesis. 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. The book presents recent findings on the regulation of cell growth in...

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 occasion was marked by the bringing together in Warsaw of a broad spectrum of cell and molecular biologists from around the world under the auspices of the Global MCBN UNESCO. At the conclusion of that week-long celebration it became clear that Polish cell and molecular...

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. This book comprises recent results on the regulation of cell growth in normal and neoplastic tissues by growth factors including hormones, and by the activation and inactivation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolism pathways during oncogenesis.

Skeletal muscle consumes significant amounts of oxygen, and its oxygen flux increases significantly under conditions of exercise and muscle contraction. This makes the muscle vulnerable to oxidative stress since concomitantly with the increase of oxygen flow there is an increase of free oxygen radicals which are a byproduct of muscle respiration. A number of studies in the last decade have documented the involvement of free oxygen radicals in exercising muscles. The consequences of muscle oxidative stress have resulted mainly in increased muscle protein oxidation, elevation of lipid...

Free radical-mediated reactions have been well known in chemistry and physical chemistry for many years. Applying this knowledge to living organisms, biochemists have shown that reactive free radicals are formed at many intracellular sites during normal metabolism, and they have started to suggest possible roles in various pathological processes and conditions, for example in radiation damage, in the metabolism of xenobiotics, in carcinogenesis and in metabolic disorders. At present, a large and relevant mass of experimental evidence supports the view that reactive free radicals are involved...

Increasing interest has been emerging in the last decade in the field of signal recognition and transduction. This is particularly true for animal systems where an impressive amount of literature is appearing and where many important pathways have been clarified at a molecular level. In the elucidation of the functions of single components of a given pathway, gene cloning has played a major role and opened the field to the genetic engineering of these complex systems. At variance with this situation, plant systems are less well elucidated, even if in recent years exciting research of...

This book provides an account of the recent advances in our understanding of the role of proteases under physiological and pathological conditions. It reviews the contributions that have been made in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, medicine, agriculture and ecology. In addition there is an account of the growing number of practical applications in biotechnology, reflecting the fact that peptidases are major targets for medical and agricultural purposes. The book shows how the numerous protease structures are essential for drug design. The contributions place special emphasis on...