The book Heat Shock Protein 60 in Human Diseases and Disorders provides the most comprehensive review on contemporary knowledge on the role of HSP60 in human diseases and disorders. Using an integrative approach, the contributors provide a synopsis of novel mechanisms and signal transduction pathways. To enhance the ease of reading and comprehension the book has further been subdivided into various section including; Section I: Biomolecular Aspects of HSP60; Section II: HSP60 and Cancer; Section III: HSP60 and Inflammatory Diseases and Disorders; Section IV: HSP60 and Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders; Section V: HSP60 and Neurological and Neurosciences; Section VI: Biomolecular Aspects of HSP60; Section VII: HSP60 and Skeletal Muscle Diseases and Disorders; and Section VIII: HSP60 in Human Health. Key basic and clinical research laboratories from major universities, academic medical hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world have contributed chapters that review present research activity and importantly project the field into the future. The book is a must read for graduate students. medical students, basic science researchers and postdoctoral scholars in the fields of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research, Human Physiology, Biotechnology, Neurology & Neuroscience, Oncology, Cardiovascular Disease, Skeletal Muscle Diseases and Disorders, Cell & Molecular Medicine, Pharmaceutical Scientists and Researchers involved in Drug Discovery.

In this unique overview of the Hsp60 chaperonin, Peter Bross addresses molecular biologists, medical research scientists and individuals interested in molecular or general biology. First, Bross discusses the basics of the Hsp60 chaperonin in terms of its structure and the molecular mechanisms determining its function. Second, the author highlights the multiple roles of Hsp60 for cellular systems and regulatory pathways, especially in connection with neurodegenerative diseases caused by Hsp60 deficiency. Finally, the author highlights controversial observations suggesting additional, non-standard functions of Hsp60 in and outside mitochondria as well as possible gaps in our understanding of the chaperonin. This volume serves as a snapshot suitable for experienced researcher working in fields related to molecular chaperones yet still accessible to researchers entering the field.

The first of its kind, this volume presents the latest research findings on the chaperonins, the best studied family of a class of proteins known as molecular chaperones. These findings are changing our view of some fundamental cellular processes involving proteins, especially how proteins fold into their functional conformations. - Origins of the new view of protein folding - Prokaryotic chaperonins - Eukaryotic chaperonins - Evolution of the chaperonins - Refolding of denatured proteins - Organelle biosynthesis - Biomedical aspects

Heat shock proteins are emerging as important molecules in the development of cancer and as key targets in cancer therapy. These proteins enhance the growth of cancer cells and protect tumors from treatments such as drugs or surgery. However, new drugs have recently been developed particularly those targeting heat shock protein 90. As heat shock protein 90 functions to stabilize many of the oncogenes and growth promoting proteins in cancer cells, such drugs have broad specificity in many types of cancer cell and offer the possibility of evading the development of resistance through point mutation or use of compensatory pathways. Heat shock proteins have a further property that makes them tempting targets in cancer immunotherapy. These proteins have the ability to induce an inflammatory response when released in tumors and to carry tumor antigens to antigen presenting cells. They have thus become important components of anticancer vaccines. Overall, heat shock proteins are important new targets in molecular cancer therapy and can be approached in a number of contrasting approaches to therapy.

This volume of Advances in Protein Chemistry provides a broad, yet deep look at the cellular components that assist protein folding in the cell. This area of research is relatively new--10 years ago these components were barely recognized, so this book is a particularly timely compilation of current information. Topics covered include a review of the structure and mechanism of the major chaperone components, prion formation in yeast, and the use of microarrays in studying stress response. Outlines preceding each chapter allow the reader to quickly access the subjects of greatest interest. The information presented in this book should appeal to biochemists, cell biologists, and structural biologists.

This book will deal with heat shock proteins and more generally with stress-related inducible gene expression as a pleiotropic adaptive response to stress. It presents a textbook-like overview of the field not only to heat shock experts, but to physiologists, pharmacologists, physicians, neuropsychologists and others as well. It is intended to be a state-of-the-art and perspective book rather than an up-to-date presentation of recent data. It should provide a basis for new experimental approaches to fields at the edge of the classical heat shock field. Drugs, UV irradiation and environmental toxics will considered as important modulators of the stress response. Radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutases and inducible regulatory proteins of metallic ion status such as ferritin as well as immunophilins and protein disulfide isomerases will be considered within the frame of stress proteins. The potential practical applications of heat shock proteins in toxicology and medicine for the diagnosis, prognosis and eventually therapy of clinical conditions associated with an increased oxidative burden will be outlined. The role of heat shock proteins in the modulation of immune responses will also be included. The book considers heat shock from a broad perspective including fields for which heat-shock may become of importance in the very near future such as cellular responses to environmental stresses and complex stress responses under specific conditions. It was also felt timely to incorporate a whole section on medical and technological applications of stress proteins.

The fourth edition of The Cytokine Handbook provides an encyclopedic coverage of the molecules that induce and regulate immune responses. Expanded to two volumes, the scope of the book has been broadened to include a major emphasis on the clinical applications of cytokines. The early chapters discuss individual cytokines, chemokines and receptors. Additional chapters discuss the clinical implications and applications of cytokines, including cytokine gene transfer, antisense therapy and assay systems.