"Based on the First International Symposium on Metals and Genetics held recently at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The only book of its kind to focus on the effects of metals on DNA. Provides up-to-date information on new developments in the field and their wide-ranging implications. Discusses the molecular mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity."

During the past few years, major scientific discoveries have greatly contributed to our understanding of the relationship between metals and genetics. The fields which have contrib uted to this area range from Clinical Medicine and Genetics to Biochemistry and Chemistry. The aim of this book is to bring together investigators from these diverse fields to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume begins with a tribute to the late Karen Wetterhahn, an outstanding scien tist in the field, who will be sadly missed by her friends and colleagues because of her un timely death. The book has 28 chapters contributed by scientists who are internationally known for their expertise and outstanding research. The subject matters are divided into five major sections. The first section discusses genetic response to environmental expo sure to metals. Potentially devastating health crises have been reported in recent years from several parts of the world, which stem from environmental exposure to metals. In this section, authors report their findings on the effects and influence of metals in gene ex pression and their consequences to human health. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage, presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecu lar mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This topic is at the very heart of our understanding of how cancer may be caused by various metals.

The term “heavy metals” is used as a group name of toxic metals and metalloids (semimetals) causing contaminations and ecotoxicity. In strict chemical sense the density of heavy metals is higher than 5 g/cm3. From biological point of view as microelements they can be divided into two major groups. a. For their physiological function organisms and cells require essential microelements such as iron, chromium (III), cobalt, copper, manganese, molidenium, zinc. b. The other group of heavy metals is toxic to the health or environment. Of highest concern are the emissions of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl. The toxicity of heavy metals is well known at organizational level, while less attention has been paid to their cellular effects. This book describes the toxicity of heavy metals on microorganisms, yeast, plant and animal cells. Other chapters of the book deal with their genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. The toxicity of several metals touch upon the aspects of environmental hazard, ecosystems and human health. Among the cellular responses of heavy metals irregularities in cellular mechanisms such as gene expression, protein folding, stress signaling pathways are among the most important ones. The final chapters deal with biosensors and removal of heavy metals. As everybody is eating, drinking and exposed to heavy metals on a daily basis, the spirit of the book will attract a wide audience.

Phytoremediation is an exciting, new technology that utilizes metal-accumulating plants to rid soil of heavy metal and radionuclides. Hyperaccumulation plants are an appealing and economical alternative to current methods of soil recovery. Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soil and Water is the most thorough literary examination of the subject available today. The successful implementation of phytoremediation depends on identifying plant material that is well adapted to specific toxic sites. Gentle remediation is then applied in situ, or at the contamination site. No soil excavation or transport is necessary. This severely contains the potential risk of the pollutants entering the food chain. And it's cost effective. The progress of modern man has created many sites contaminated with heavy metals. The effected land is toxic to plants and animals , which creates considerable public interest in remediation. But the commonly used remedies are ex situ, which poses an expensive dilemma and an even greater threat. Phytoremediation offers the prospect of a cheaper and healthier way to deal with this problem. Read Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soil and Water to learn just how far this burgeoning technology has developed.

Chapters in this book review the remarkable advances in the field of zinc biology over the last decade. Zinc is essential for life, in particular for growth and development, through its role in hundreds of zinc enzymes and thousands of zinc proteins. Its catalytic, structural, and regulatory functions in these proteins impact metabolism, gene expression, and signal transduction, including neurotransmission. Among the micronutrients, zinc may rank with iron as to its importance for public health. The topics covered range from single molecules to cells and to whole organisms: the chemistry, design, and application of fluorophores for the determination of cellular zinc; the role of zinc in proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells; proteins that transport, sense, and distribute zinc and together form a cellular homeostatic system; the coordination chemistry of zinc in metalloproteins; the role of zinc in the brain as a neuromodulator/transmitter; the dependence of the immune system on zinc; zinc homeostasis in the whole human body.

Handbook of Bioremediation: Physiological, Molecular and Biotechnological Interventions discusses the mechanisms of responding to inorganic and organic pollutants in the environment using different approaches of phytoremediation and bioremediation. Part One focuses specifically on inorganic pollutants and the use of techniques such as metallothionein-assisted remediation, phytoextraction and genetic manipulation. Part Two covers organic pollutants and consider topics such as plant enzymes, antioxidant defense systems and the remediation mechanisms of different plant species. This comprehensive volume is a must-read for researchers interested in plant science, agriculture, soil science and environmental science. The techniques covered in this book will ensure scientists have the knowledge to practice effective bioremediation techniques themselves. Provides a comprehensive review of the latest advances in bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants Discusses a range of different phytoremediation techniques Evaluates the role of genomics and bioinformatics within bioremediation

This volume of Current Topics in Membranes focuses on metal transmembrane transporters and pumps, a recently discovered family of membrane proteins with many important roles in the physiology of living organisms. The book summarizes the most recent advances in the field of metal ion transport and provides a broad overview of the major classes of transporters involved in homeostasis of heavy metals. Various families of the transporters and metal specificities are discussed with the focus on the structural and mechanistic aspects of their function and regulation. The reader will access information obtained through a variety of approaches ranging from X-ray crystallography to cell biology and bioinformatics, which have been applied to transporters identified in diverse biological systems, such as pathogenic bacteria, plants, humans and others. Field is cutting-edge and a lot of the information is new to research community Wide breadth of topic coverage Contributors of high renown and expertise