The last several years have been a landmark period in the ubiquitin field. The breadth of ubiquitin's roles in cell biology was first sketched, and the importance of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis as a regulatory mechanism gained general acceptance. The many strands of work that led to this new perception are re counted in this book. A consequence of this progress is that the field has grown dramatically since the first book on ubiquitin was published almost a decade ago [M. Rechsteiner (ed. ), Ubiquitin, Plenum Press, 1988]. In this span, students of the cell cycle, transcription, signal transduction, protein sorting, neuropathology, cancer, virology, and immunology have attempted to chart the role of ubi quit in in their particular experimental systems, and this integration of the field into cell biology as a whole continues at a remarkable pace. We hope that for active researchers in the field as well as for newcomers and those on the fence, this book will prove helpful for its breadth, historical perspective, and practical tips. Structural data are now available on many of the components of the ubiquitin pathway. The structures have provided basic insights into the unusual biochemical mechanisms of ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Because high-speed computer graphics can convey structures more effectively than print media, we have supplemented the figures of the book with a Worldwide Web site that can display the structures in a flexible, viewer-controlled format.

Advances in Immunology presents current developments as well as comprehensive reviews in immunology. Articles in this volume address topics such as protein degradation and the generation of MHC class I-presented peptides, proteolysis and antigen presentation by MHC Class II molecules, cytokine memory of T-helper lymphocytes, Ig gene hypermutation, generalization of single immunological experiences by idiotypically mediated clonal connections, and aging of the immune system. Edited and authored by the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research.

Vaccination has been established as an efficient procedure to prevent infections. Over the past few years, a new method of subunit vaccination has attracted the attention of immunologists. Despite its popularity, it is only recently that the basic mechanisms that drive the immune response to the encoded antigen have begun to unfold. The multidisciplinary approach of this book outlines the basic characteristics of gene (DNA) vaccination, the role of APCs or bone marrow derived cells in the induction of the immune response. It points out the potential applications for various infectious and allergic diseases and describes the multifaceted properties of DNA in initiating and determining the subsequent immune responses to the encoded antigen.

This book is centered on a comprehensive list of MHC peptide motifs and ligands as known to date, together with selected T cell epitopes, arranged in an easy-to-read fashion. This information is put into context by chapters on MHC gene organization, MHC structure, T cell epitope prediction, antigen processing and T cell responses. In addition, the book provides a great deal of complementary information: amino acid sequences of MHC class I alpha1 and alpha2 domains and of class II alpha1 and beta1 domains, the established or predicted composition and specificity of MHC pockets, notes on MHC nomenclature including old assignments and reference to useful internet addresses. A handy reference manual that should be helpful for all those dealing with MHC-associated peptides.