The 1992 Seminar on Stochastic Processes was held at the Univer- sity of Washington from March 26 to March 28, 1992. This was the twelfth in a series of annual meetings which provide researchers with the opportunity to discuss current work on stochastic processes in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. Previous seminars were held at Northwestern University, Princeton University, University of Florida, University of Virginia, University of California, San Diego, University of British Columbia and University of California, Los An- geles. Following the successful format of previous years, there...

This text presents the topic of endocrinology viewed from the perspective of molecular biology.

Cells have evolved multiple strategies to adapt the composItIon and quality of their protein equipment to needs imposed by changing conditions within the organism. Extracellular stimuli that inform cells about such needs are hormones, cytokines and neurotransmitters, which bind to specific cell surface receptors. Inside the cell, secondary signals are then produced which, ultimately, initiate the expression of proteins giving novel functional properties to the stimulated cells. This process can be controlled at a transcriptional, posttranscriptional, translational or posttranslational level....

Cells have evolved multiple strategies to adapt the composition and quality of their protein equipment to needs imposed by changes in intra- and extracellular conditions. The appearance of pro teins transmit ting novel functional properties to cells can be controlled at a transcrip tional, posttranscriptional, translational or posttranslational level. Extensive research over the past 15 years has shown that transcriptional regulation is used as the predominant strategy to control the production of new proteins in response to extracellular stimuli. At the level of gene transcription, the...

Intracellular Receptors: New Instruments for a Symphony of Signals In the late eighteenth century, it was proposed on theoretical grounds that each of the body's organs, beginning with the brain, must be "a factory and laboratory of a specific humor which it returns to the blood," and that these circulating signals "are indispensable for the life of the whole" (Bordeu 1775). During the nineteenth cen- tury, some remarkable physiological experiments revealed the actions of humoral factors that affected the for and function of multiple tissues, organs and organ sys- tems within the body...

This book is the first volume in a new series Progress in Gene Expres- sion. The control of gene expression is a central-most topic in molecular biology as it deals with the utilization and regulation of gene informa- tion. As we see huge efforts mounting all over the developed world to understand the structure and organization of several complex eukaryotic genomes in the form of Gene Projects and Genome Centers, we have to remember that without understanding the basic mechanisms that gov- ern the use of genetic information, much of this effort will not be very productive. Fortunately,...

The intensive study of molecular events leading to cellular transformation in tissue culture or in intact organisms culminated in the identification of 100 or more genes that can be defined as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Functionally, these genes can be divided into several classes, each involved in a different step in transmission of signals from the exterior of the cell to the nucleus. The first oncogenes to be biochemically character- ized included membrane receptors for growth factors, growth factors themselves, protein kinases or small GTP binding proteins involved in signal...

The intensive study of molecular events leading to cellular transformation in tissue culture or in intact organisms culminated in the identification of 100 or more genes that can be defined as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Functionally, these genes can be divided into several classes, each involved in a different step in transmission of signals from the exterior of the cell to the nucleus. The first oncogenes to be biochemically character- ized included membrane receptors for growth factors, growth factors themselves, protein kinases or small GTP binding proteins involved in signal...