Over the past few years there have been considerable advances in our understanding of cellular control mechanisms, and current research is now linking areas of biology that were previously thought of as being quite separate. Molecular Aspects of Cellular Regulation is a series of occasional books on multidisciplinary topics which illustrate general principles of cellular regulation. Previous volumes described Recently Discovered Systems of Enzyme Regulation by Reversible Phosphorylation (Volumes 1 and 3), The Molecular Actions of Toxins and Viruses (Volume 2), Molecular Mechanisms of Transmembrane Signalling (Volume 4) and Calmodulin (Volume 5). This sixth volume, The Hormonal Control of Gene Transcription, has now been published to highlight recent important advances in our understanding of this topic which is linking two of the most active areas of current biochemical and molecular biological research (hormone action and gene transcription) and leading to the emergence of unifying concepts.

Hormones and Signaling focuses on the mechanisms of gene regulation at the cellular level. It also describes the actions of hormones in modulating gene regulation and animal development. Glococorticoid and mineralcorticoid signaling Orphan nuclear receptors Nuclear receptor coactivators Cytokines and STAT signaling Coordination of cAMP signaling events through PKA anchoring G protein-coupled extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+0)-sensing receptor (CaR) Pancreatic islet development Genetic analysis of androgen receptors in development and disease Antioprogestin regulable gene switch for induction of gene expression in vivo Steroid receptor knockout model

The International Foundation for Biochemical Endocrinology is incorporated as a nonprofit research and educational organization. It is dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge, cooperative research programs, and cultural interaction on an international basis. The Foundation is concerned with both basic research and practical applications of biological knowledge to the betterment of humanity. Among our interests are global resource management, human reproduction, hormonal regulation of normal and cancer cells, study of aging and degenerative diseases, brain peptides, peptide neurotransmitter compounds, mechanism of action of hormones, peptide hormone synthesis, and recombinant DNA techniques. This monograph is the ninth sponsored by the Foundation in the Biochemical Endocrinology series. The previous four have been: Hormonally Active Brain Peptides: Structure and Function (1982), K. W. McKerns and V. Pantie, eds.; Reproductive Processes and Contraception (1981), K. W. McKerns, ed.; Synthesis and Release of Adenohypophyseal Hormones (1980), M. Jutisz and K. W. McKerns, eds.; and Structure and Function of the Gonadotropins (1978), K. W. McKerns, ed. These have all been published by Plenum Press.

Hormones and Signaling focuses on the mechanism of gene regulation at the cellular level. It also covers the way hormones act to modulate gene regulation and animal development. Includes information on: Nuclear receptors, coactivators, and corepressors Membrane receptors, kinases, and phosphorylation on cascades Hormonal regulation of development Calcium channels and neurotransmitters Chromatin, transcription factors, and regulation of gene expression JAK/STAT pathways Hormone-regulated development and gene "knock-out"

This volume summarizes the Fourth Meadowbrook Symposium held in October 1988. Exciting new findings are discussed in the following areas: The synthesis of a nucleotide sequence that binds a specific steroid receptor and acts as controlling element for gene expression; the control of gene transcription by the interaction between transacting factors and DNA recognition sequences; the membership of the transacting factors in a large gene family that includes also steroid hormone receptors, transcription factors, protooncogenes, and homeobox proteins. Other topics are receptor down regulation and quantitive relationships between receptor binding and biological response.

This text summarizes recent progress on the regulation of target gene transcription by steroid hormone receptors. Steroid hormones travel via the blood stream to thier target cells which they enter by diffusion. Steroid hormone receptors exist in these cells in inactive forms either in the cytoplasm or nucleus. Upon binding to their respective hormone ligands, the receptors go through a transformation step and become activated. The activated receptor can then activate transcription of hormone response genes.

Within the last two decades endocrinological research has taken a definite tum toward biochemistry and molecular biology. This has resulted in a new discipline called' 'molecular endocrinology. " Studies on the mechanism of hormone action have continued to make headlines with fundamental discov eries in receptor action and gene regulation. Recently the insect endocrino logists have also begun to explore the molecular mechanism of steroid hor mone action taking advantage of the vast number of Drosophila mutants, the library of Drosophila gene, and several well-characterized cell-lines. The availability ofthe recombinant DNA technology has provided a truly revolu tionary tool in the hands of the molecular endocrinologists. "Gene Regula tion by Steroid Hormones" is compiled and presented in this frontier spirit, and we hope that this volume will serve not only the active investigators in the field but will also be very useful to students and researchers with a gen eral interest in regulatory biology. The book is an offshoot of the Conference on Molecular Mechanism of Steroid Hormone Action held at the Meadow Brook Mansion of Oakland University in the fall of 1978. We wish to acknowledge the financial assist ance from the National Science Foundation and Oakland University. The conferees will never forget the warmest hospitality of Dr. LOWELL EKLUND and his staff at the Meadow Brook center and we also wish to express per sonal gratitude to many of our students and colleagues for helping us to make the conference a great success.