Since 1982, Ras proteins have been the subject of intense research investigation by the biomedical research community. The wide interest in Ras has been stimulated for three key reasons.

First, their frequent mutational activation in human cancers establishes Ras proteins as important mediators of oncogenesis and targets for anti-cancer drug discovery. Second, Ras proteins act as signalling nodes activated by diverse extracellular stimuli, and activated Ras in turn regulates a diversity of cytoplasmic signalling networks. Third, Ras proteins are founding members of a large...

Research into the paraoxonase (PON) multigene family has really only blossomed in the last 10 years. Before this time only PON1 was known and research was restricted to toxicologists investigating the metabolism of organophosphate insecticides and nerve gases and a few mad scientists searching for natural substrates.

Since this time two new members PON2 and PON3 have been discovered, all 3 PONs have been shown to act as antioxidants and the PON family has taken centre stage as major players in the development of a wide variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes...

In 1980 a case of myxedema was treated in Lisbon by the implantation of a sheep thyroid gland with the immediate improvement in the patient s condition. A few years later, medications for the then ill-explained condition of the menopause included tablets made from cow ovaries. In the first quarter of the 20^th century the identification vitamin D₃ and its sunlight driven production in skin paved the way to the elimination of rickets as a major medical problem. Twenty years or so later Sir Vincent Wigglesworth established the endocrine basis of developmental moulting in...

This is the first comprehensive book on Smad signal transduction. Forward looking reviews of Smads are provided in a series of 22 cutting-edge chapters.

The book is written for an audience with basic understanding of molecular and cell biology. This volume provides an in-depth review of a rapidly developing field and extensive cross-references between chapters are provided.