Biochemistry Of Apoptosis And Autophagy

One of the most intriguing and compelling issues to impact contemporary biology to date is the concept that cell death is genetically regulated. Observations by Kerr and Wyllie, made more than 30 years ago on the basis of distinct morphological criteria, markedly distinguished apoptosis from classical cell death by necrosis. Apoptosis is a highly regulated, evolutionary conserved, genetic program of cell death essential for normal development and tissue homeostasis. The discovery of apoptosis as a regulated event and potentially amenable to therapeutic interventions has generated considerable excitement because it meant that disease entities resulting from either too much, or too little, apoptosis could be potentially cured with new therapies that target apoptosis. While there is little doubt that necrosis induced by massive cellular trauma is likely an unregulated event, several lines of investigation have challenged the dogma that necrotic cell death is merely unregulated. Emerging data has shifted the paradigm in our thinking about necrosis as a regulated event. Autophagy is another cellular process that has received considerable attention over the past two decades and its remarkable involvement in the processes of cell survival, death and tumorigenesis. Macro autophagy is a catabolic process that involves the selective and targeted removal of oxidized proteins, macromolecular structures and organelles through an elaborate cellular process involving a lysosome mediated pathway. Other forms of autophagy involving adapter proteins, commonly referred to as chaperone mediated autophagy, involves the selective removal of cellular cargo by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The book will serve as a reference guide for basic and clinical scientists who are interested in understanding how these critical cellular processes impact the pathogenesis of human disease.

This is the second edition of the comprehensive, concise summary of apoptosis research. It covers the major concepts, molecular architecture, the biochemical pathways, and pathophysiological significance of apoptosis. This book provides a guideline of standard biochemical and cell biologic approaches to apoptosis bench work with an emphasis on translational clinical applications for immune disorders, cancer research, ischemia, and neuronal degeneration. Since the original publication in 2003, the apoptosis field has expanded rapidly – chapters not only need to be revised and expanded, but there is a need for all new chapters covering exciting advances in bioinformatics, systems biology, oxidative stress, etc.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically encoded, active process which results in the death of individual cells, tissues, or whole organs. PCD plays an essential role in plant development and defense, and occurs throughout a plant’s lifecycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. In plant biology, PCD is a relatively new research area, however, as its fundamental importance is further recognized, publications in the area are beginning to increase significantly. The field currently has few foundational reference books and there is a critical need for books that summarizes recent findings in this important area. This book contains chapters written by several of the world’s leading researchers in PCD. This book will be invaluable for PhD or graduate students, or for scientists and researchers entering the field. Established researchers will also find this timely work useful as an up-to-date overview of this fascinating research area.

Richly illustrated and referenced.

The third and final installment of Daniel J. Klionsky's new three-volume treatment of autophagy, this volume focuses on monitoring autophagy with regard to disease connections, and presents methods that can be used to analyze autophagy in clinical samples. Edited by one of the leading authorities in the field, this volume and its companion volumes, Autophagy: Lower Eukaryotes and Autophagy in Mammalian Systems, provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques involved in studying autophagy in eukaryotes and simple animal systems, mammalian cells and non-human animals, and humans. 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. In the future, research in this field will help to design clinical approaches that can turn on autophagy and halt tumor growth. * Provides an overview of autophagy in regards to humans, specifically regarding disease connections and clinical samples. * Includes methods to evaluate the role of autophagy in the drug-induced cell death of cancer cells in culture *Presents reliable methods that, in this relatively new field, allow the reader to find appropriate techniques to identify, monitor, and quantify autophagic processes

Regulated Cell Death Part A & Part B of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. This volume covers research methods in apoptosis focusing on the important areas of intrinsic pathway, extrinsic pathway, caspases, cellular assays and post-apoptotic effects and model organisms; as well as topics on necroptosis and screening approaches. Continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field Covers research methods in biomineralization science Regulated Cell Death Part A & Part B contains sections on such topics as apoptosis focusing on the important areas of intrinsic pathway, extrinsic pathway, caspases, cellular assays and post-apoptotic effects and model organisms; as well as topics on necroptosis and screening approaches

One million cells in our bodies die every second--they commit suicide by a mechanism known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is essential for survival of the body as a whole and has critical roles in various developmental processes and the immune system. In Cell Death, Douglas Green provides a clear and comprehensive view of apoptosis and other cell death mechanisms. Taking a bottom-up approach, he starts with the enzymes that perform the execution process (a family of proteases termed caspases) and examines their cellular targets and the ways in which they are activated. He then looks at the molecular machinery that links signals that cause cell death to caspases, emphasizing the importance of the BCL-2 family of proteins and the role of cytochrome c released from mitochondria. The final stage of the process, phagocytic removal of dead or dying cells, is also covered. Green outlines the roles of apoptosis and death mechanisms such as necrosis in embryogenesis, neuronal selection, and the development of self-tolerance in the immune system. In addition, he explains how cell death defends the body against cancer and traces the evolutionary origins of the apoptosis machinery back over a billion years. This new edition contains critical new information on recent exciting advances in the field, such as new forms for cell death and important insights into the mechanisms and control of apoptosis. The book is thus of great use to all biologists interested in how cells function in the context of multicellular organisms and will appeal to everyone from undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time to researchers actively working in the field.

This book series consists of 3 volumes covering the basic science (Volume 1), clinical science (Volume 2) and the technology and methodology (Volume 3) of autophagy. Volume 1 focuses on the biology of autophagy, including the signaling pathways, regulating processes and biological functions. Autophagy is a fundamental physiological process in eukaryotic cells. It not only regulates normal cellular homeostasis, and organ development and function, but also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of human diseases. Thanks to the rapid development of molecular biology and omic technologies, research on autophagy has boomed in recent decades, and more and more cellular and animal models and state-of the-art technologies are being used to shed light on the complexity of signaling networks involved in the autophagic process. Further, its involvement in biological functions and the pathogenesis of various diseases has attracted increased attention around the globe. Presenting cutting-edge knowledge, this book series is a useful reference resource for researchers and clinicians who are working on or interested in autophagy.