Describes purification, activities, antibodies and genes for each protein.

Intended for postgraduate and professional researchers in biochemistry, biomedical sciences and cell biology, this text includes coverage of - actin and associated proteins, centrosomal proteins, motor proteins and intermediate filaments.

This book is for biology, physics, and engineering students who want to learn about the principles of protein mechanics and how it applies to the morphology and motility of cells. Part I explains how small particles like proteins respond to mechanical, thermal, and chemical forces, Part II focuses on cytoskeletal filaments, and Part III focuses on motor proteins. Chapters are centered on topics such as structure, chemistry, and mechanics, and different filaments or motors are discussed together. All concepts are introduced from first principles, and numerous boxed examples and figures aid the nonmathematical reader. For the mathematically inclined, detailed proofs of important results are included in the Appendix.

The biology of the 1980s and 1990s may well come to be remembered as the era of discovery of new proteins. Recent advances in molecular biology, genetics, and protein purification have conspired to accelerate the rate at which cellular proteins and their amino acid sequences are being identified. Now that the floodgate of discovery has been opened wide, the amount of new information on cellular proteins is exceeding most scientists' capacity for assimilation. At the same time, however, it has become imperative for research workers to expand their knowledge base because interactions between previously unconnected sets of proteins are being uncovered at such a rapid pace. These considerations have led Thomas E. Kreis and Ronald D. Vale to compile both the Guidebook to Cytoskeletal and Motor Proteins and the Guidebook to the Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Proteins. Both books are distinguished by numerous outstanding features, including: concise compendiums of molecular information, consolidation of information from widely scattered sources, key references, clearly designed pages with many high-quality illustrations, and the first compilations of concise descriptions of the structure, function, and distribution of the proteins covered. Guidebook to Cytoskeletal and Motor Proteins covers actin and actin binding proteins, tubulin and associated proteins, the intermediate filaments, motor proteins, cytoskeletal anchor proteins, organelle membrane associated structural proteins, and other proteins. Introductory chapters provide overviews for each class of protein. Biological and structural attributes of about 200 individual proteins, or groups of closely related proteins, are concisely described by investigators who participated in their discovery or characterization. In addition, information regarding purification methods, assays of activity, and available reagents, together with a list key review and research articles, are included. Over 240 authors contributed to the entries. Guidebook to the Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Proteins provides a concise compendium of the proteins found in the extracellular matrix and those known to be involved in cell-cell contact and adhesion. Organized alphabetically, it summarizes the key characteristics of these proteins and includes the same features--such as introductory chapters and contributions from the field's leading experts--that make its companion volume so essential. Designed to explain the each protein in an accessible manner, the book is also referenced for in-depth reading and provides excellent overviews.

The latest knowledge on molecular motors is vital for the understanding of a wide range of biological and medical topics: cell motility, organelle movement, virus transport, developmental asymmetry, myopathies, and sensory defects are all related to the function or malfunction of these minute molecular machines. Since there is a vast amount of information on motor mechanisms and potential biomedical and nanobiotechnological applications, this handbook fulfills the need for a collection of current research results on the functionality, regulation, and interactions of cytoskeletal, DNA, and rotary motors. Here, leading experts present a concise insight, ranging from atomic structure, biochemistry, and biophysics to cell biology, developmental biology and pathology. Basic principles and applications make this book a valuable reference tool for researchers, professionals, and clinicians alike - all set to become a "classic" in the years to come.

Intended for postgraduate and professional researchers in biochemistry, biomedical sciences and cell biology, this text offers a guide to the extracellular matrix and adhesion proteins.

Motility Assays for Motor Proteins describes convenient and quantitative methods for studying purified motor proteins such as myosins, dyneins, and kinesins. This laboratory guidebook also covers techniques neededfor studying organelle transport and mitotic movements in crude cell extracts. Each chapter presents a particular type of motility assay in sufficient detail to allow investigators to perform such experiments in their own laboratories. This volume shouldbe of practical value to investigators of the cytoskeleton and related areas of cell biology. Features microscopy as a research tool for assay of motor proteins Enables users to set up and troubleshoot assays in their own laboratories Details applications to studies of cell movement, cell division, muscle contraction, and intracellular particle transport Describes protocols accessible to researchers and students in cell biology and related fields