Pcr Protocols In Molecular Toxicology

Molecular toxicology is an emerging discipline that utilizes molecular and cell biology to understand how drugs and chemicals result in their unwanted effects. PCR Protocols in Molecular Toxicology is a practical guide to the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to help examine, on a molecular and cellular level, how toxic responses are manifested. It offers a basic understanding of PCR and its optimization, as well as describing specific, high-impact areas of molecular toxicology and recent advances. The following techniques are described in detail: Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and methods to examine gene expression Differential display cloning Cloning and library screening by PCR Genotype and polymorphism analysis of drug and toxicant metabolizing enzymes Basic, non-PCR based molecular biology methods PCR Protocols in Molecular Toxicology will aid both novices and experienced PCR practitioners in using PCR to its fullest potential.

A collection of cutting-edge techniques for analyzing genotoxic exposure and detecting the resulting biological effects-including endogenous metabolites-up to and including the development of cancer. The authors emphasize analytical methods that can be specifically applied to human populations and patients. Among the applications detailed are the analysis of interactions between such cellular macromolecules as DNA and proteins and chemical and physical agents, the assessment of medically relevant toxicity, and the characterization of genetic alterations induced in transgenic animals by in vivo systems. There are also methods for the analysis of genotoxic exposure during gene expression, of cytotoxicity caused by the induction of apoptosis, of genetic alterations in reporter genes and oncogenes, early (premalignant) detection of altered oncogenes, and of individual variation in biotransformation and DNA repair capacity.

In this new edition, the editors have thoroughly updated and dramatically expanded the number of protocols to take advantage of the newest technologies used in all branches of research and clinical medicine today. These proven methods include real time PCR, SNP analysis, nested PCR, direct PCR, and long range PCR. Among the highlights are chapters on genome profiling by SAGE, differential display and chip technologies, the amplification of whole genome DNA by random degenerate oligonucleotide PCR, and the refinement of PCR methods for the analysis of fragmented DNA from fixed tissues. Each fully tested protocol is described in step-by-step detail by an established expert in the field and includes a background introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, equipment and reagent lists, tips on trouble shooting and avoiding known pitfalls, and, where needed, a discussion of the interpretation and use of results.

Volume 14 in the series Comprehensive Toxicology extends and complements the previously published 13-volume set. This volume will be available separately. Toxicology is the study of the nature and actions of chemicals on biological systems. In more primitive times, it really was the study of poisons. However, in the early 1500s, it was apparent to Paracelsus that "the dose differentiates a poison and a remedy". Clearly, the two most important tenets of toxicology were established during that time. The level of exposure (dose) and the duration of exposure (time) will determine the degree and nature of a toxicological response. Since that time the discipline of toxicology has made major advances in identifying and characterizing toxicants. The growth of toxicology as a scientific discipline has been driven to a large extent by the use of extremely powerful molecular and cell biology techniques. The overall aim of this volume is to demonstrate how these advances are being used to elucidate causal pathways (or linkages) for potential adverse health consequences of human exposure to environmental chemicals or radiation. A unique feature of this volume is its illustration of how carefully-designed studies of the molecular mechanisms of chemical action provide not only understanding of the potential toxicity of the chemical under investigation, but also new insights into the functioning of the biological system used as an experimental model. Each chapter contains a listing of major peer-reviewed articles and reviews and useful web-sites. In addition, each chapter contains a broad introductory section that outlines the subsequent sections. These Introductory and Overview sections are designed to be stand alone chapters, and may be packaged as a textbook in graduate level courses.

Information Resources in Toxicology, Third Edition is a sourcebook for anyone who needs to know where to find toxicology information. It provides an up-to-date selective guide to a large variety of sources--books, journals, organizations, audiovisuals, internet and electronic sources, and more. For the Third Edition, the editors have selected, organized, and updated the most relevant information available. New information on grants and other funding opportunities, physical hazards, patent literature, and technical reports have also been added.This comprehensive, time-saving tool is ideal for toxicologists, pharmacologists, drug companies, testing labs, libraries, poison control centers, physicians, legal and regulatory professionals, and chemists. Serves as an all-in-one resource for toxicology information New edition includes information on publishers, grants and other funding opportunities, physical hazards, patent literature, and technical reports Updated to include the latest internet and electronic sources, e-mail addresses, etc. Provides valuable data about the new fields that have emerged within toxicological research; namely, the biochemical, cellular, molecular, and genetic aspects

The use of molecular biology and biochemistry to study the regulation of gene expression has become a major feature of research in the biological sciences. Many excellent books and reviews exist that examine the experimental methodology employed in specific areas of molecular biology and regulation of gene expression. However, we have noticed a lack of books, especially textbooks, that provide an overview of the rationale and general experimental approaches used to examine chemically or disease-mediated alterations in gene expression in mammalian systems. For example, it has been difficult to find appropriate texts that examine specific experimental goals, such as proving that an increased level of mRNA for a given gene is attributable to an increase in transcription rates. Regulation of Gene Expression: Molecular Mechanisms is intended to serve as either a textbook for graduate students or as a basic reference for laboratory personnel. Indeed, we are using this book to teach a graduate-level class at The Pennsylvania State University. For more details about this class, please visit http://moltox. cas. psu. edu and select “Courses. ” The goal for our work is to provide an overview of the various methods and approaches to characterize possible mechanisms of gene regulation. Further, we have attempted to provide a framework for students to develop an understanding of how to determine the various mechanisms that lead to altered activity of a specific protein within a cell.