Specific complexes of protein and RNA carry out many essential biological functions, including RNA processing, RNA turnover, and RNA folding, as well as the translation of genetic information from mRNA into protein sequences. Messenger RNA (mRNA) decay is now emerging as an important control point and a major contributor to gene expression. Continuing identification of the protein factors and cofactors and mRNA instability elements responsible for mRNA decay allow researchers to build a comprehensive picture of the highly orchestrated processes involved in mRNA decay and its regulation. - Covers the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) or mRNA surveillance pathway - Expert researchers introduce the most advanced technologies and techniques - Offers step-by-step lab instructions, including necessary equipment and reagents

Dysfunction of nuclear-cytoplasmic transport systems has been associated with many human diseases. Thus, understanding of how functional this transport system maintains, or through dysfunction fails to maintain remains the core question in cell biology. In eukaryotic cells, the nuclear envelope (NE) separates the genetic transcription in the nucleus from the translational machinery in the cytoplasm. Thousands of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) embedded on the NE selectively mediate the bidirectional trafficking of macromolecules such as RNAs and proteins between these two cellular compartments. In this book, the authors integrate recent progress on the structure of NPC and the mechanism of nuclear-cytoplasmic transport system in vitro and in vivo.

The diversity of RNAs inside living cells is amazing. We have known of the more “classic” RNA species: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, snRNA and snoRNA for some time now, but in a steady stream new types of molecules are being described as it is becoming clear that most of the genomic information of cells ends up in RNA. To deal with the enormous load of resulting RNA processing and degradation reactions, cells need adequate and efficient molecular machines. The RNA exosome is arising as a major facilitator to this effect. Structural and functional data gathered over the last decade have illustrated the biochemical importance of this multimeric complex and its many co-factors, revealing its enormous regulatory power. By gathering some of the most prominent researchers in the exosome field, it is the aim of this volume to introduce this fascinating protein complex as well as to give a timely and rich account of its many functions. The exosome was discovered more than a decade ago by Phil Mitchell and David Tollervey by its ability to trim the 3’end of yeast, S. cerevisiae, 5. 8S rRNA. In a historic account they laid out the events surrounding this identification and the subsequent birth of the research field. In the chapter by Kurt Januszyk and Christopher Lima the structural organization of eukaryotic exosomes and their evolutionary counterparts in bacteria and archaea are discussed in large part through presentation of structures.

Methods in Enzymology volumes provide an indispensable tool for the researcher. Each volume is carefully written and edited by experts to contain state-of-the-art reviews and step-by-step protocols. In this volume, we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on RNA, complementing the traditional content that is found in past, present and future Methods in Enzymology volumes. - Indispensable tool for the researcher - Carefully written and edited by experts to contain step-by-step protocols - In this volume we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on RNA

This work integrates the current knowledge about RNA helicases from diverse fields ranging from cell and developmental biology to mechanistic enzymology and structural biology into one useful resource.

This is the companion volume to Daniel Klionsky's Autophagy: Lower Eukaryotes, which features the basic methods in autophagy covering yeasts and alternative fungi. Klionsky is one of the leading authorities in the field. He is the editor-in-chief of Autophagy. The November 2007 issue of Nature Reviews highlighted his article, "Autophagy: from phenomenology to molecular understanding in less than a decade. He is currently editing guidelines for the field, with 230 contributing authors that will publish in Autophagy.Particularly in times of stress, like starvation and disease, higher organisms have an internal mechanism in their cells for chewing up and recycling parts of themselves. The process of internal "house-cleaning in the cell is called autophagy – literally self-eating. Breakthroughs in understanding the molecular basis of autophagy came after the cloning of ATG1 in yeast. These ATG genes in yeast were the stepping stones to the explosion of research into the molecular analysis of autophagy in higher eukaryotes. In the future, this research will help to design clinical approaches that can turn on autophagy and halt tumor growth. - Establishes the functional roles of specific cellular proteins in selective and nonselective autophagy in mammalian cells, which aides researchers in determining why autophagy is shut down in neoplastia (growth of abnormal tissue mass) and turned on during bacterial invasion - Includes methods to evaluate the role of autophagy in the drug-induced cell death of cancer cells in culture, which helps researchers design clinical approaches that can turn on autophagy and halt tumor growth - Covers higher eukaryotes including lifespan in C.elegans to marine organisms and bridging into the clinical aspects, including autophagy in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML is one of four types of leukemia), lung cancer, prostate cancer, and cardiac cells

This volume of Methods in Enzymology is the third of 3 parts looking at current methodology for the imaging and spectroscopic analysis of live cells. The chapters provide hints and tricks not available in primary research publications. It is an invaluable resource for academics, researchers and students alike. Publisher's note.