Protein Sequencing Protocols
Protein Sequencing Protocols

Author: Bryan John Smith

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-02

Total Pages: 489

ISBN-13: 1592593429

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Determination of the protein sequence is as important today as it was a half century ago, even though the techniques and purposes have changed over time. Mass spectrometry has continued its recent rapid development to find notable application in the characterization of small amounts of protein, for example, in the field of proteomics. The “traditional” chemical N-terminal sequencing is still of great value in quality assurance of the increasing number of biopharmaceuticals that are to be found in the clinic, checking processing events of recombinant proteins, and so on. It is joined in the armory of me- ods of protein analysis by such techniques as C-terminal sequencing and amino acid analysis. These methods are continually developing. The first edition of Protein Sequencing Protocols was a “snapshot” of methods in use in protein biochemistry laboratories at the time, and this, the second edition, is likewise. Methods have evolved in the intervening period, and the content of this book has similarly changed, the content of some chapters having been superceded and replaced by other approaches. Thus, in this edition, there is inclusion of approaches to validation of methods for quality assurance work, reflecting the current importance of biopharmaceuticals, and also a guide to further analysis of protein sequence information, acknowledging the importance of bioinformatics.

2-D Proteome Analysis Protocols
2-D Proteome Analysis Protocols

Author: Andrew J. Link

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-02

Total Pages: 585

ISBN-13: 1592595847

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With the completion of sequencing projects and the advancement of a- lytical tools for protein identification, proteomics—the study of the expressed part of the genome—has become a major region of the burgeoning field of functional genomics. High-resolution 2-D gels can reveal virtually all p- teins present in a cell or tissue at any given time, including posttranslationally modified proteins. Changes in the expression and structure of most cellular proteins caused by differentiation or external stimuli can be displayed and eventually identified using 2-D protein gels. 2-D Proteome Analysis Protocols covers all aspects of the use of 2-D protein electrophoresis for the analysis of biological problems. The contri- tors include many of the leaders in the fields of biochemistry and analytical chemistry who were instrumental in the development of high-resolution 2-D gels, immobilized pH gradients, computer analysis, and mass spectromet- based protein identification methodologies. This book is intended as a benchtop manual and guide both for novices to 2-D gels and for those aficionados who wish to try the newer techniques. Any group using protein biochemistry—especially in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, and cell biology—should find this book eminently useful. 2-D Proteome Analysis Protocols takes the researcher through the c- plete process of working with 2-D protein gels from making the protein - tract to finally identifying the proteins of interest. It includes protocols for generating 2-D protein extracts from most of the standard model organisms, including bacteria, yeast, nematode, Drosophila, plants, mouse, and human.

Inflammation Protocols
Inflammation Protocols

Author: Paul G. Winyard

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-03

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 1592593747

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Inflammation has been described as the basis of many pathologies of human disease. When one considers the updated signs of inflammation, they would be vasodilation, cell migration, and, in the case of chronic inflam- tion, cell proliferation, often with an underlying autoimmune basis. Gen- ally, inflammation may be divided into acute, chronic, and autoimmune, - though the editors believe that most, if not all, chronic states are often the result of an autoimmune response to an endogenous antigen. Thus, a proper understanding of the inflammatory basis may provide clues to new therap- tic targets not only in classical inflammatory diseases, but atherosclerosis, cancer, and ischemic heart disease as well. The lack of advances in classical inflammatory diseases, such as rh- matoid arthritis, may in part arise from a failure to classify the disease into different forms. That different forms exist is exemplified in patients with d- fering responses to existing antiinflammatory drugs, ranging from nonresponders to very positive responders for a particular nonsteroidal an- inflammatory drug (NSAID). Though researchers have progressively unr- eled the mechanisms, the story is far from complete. It should also be noted that the inflammatory response is part of the innate immune response, or to use John Hunter’s words in 1795, “inflammation is a salutary response.” That may be applied in particular to the defensive response to invading micro- ganisms.

The ELISA Guidebook
The ELISA Guidebook

Author: John R. Crowther

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-04

Total Pages: 426

ISBN-13: 1592590497

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John R. Crowther provides today's premier practical guide to the understanding and application of ELISA. Updating and greatly expanding his widely appreciated earlier publication, ELISA Theory and Practice (1995), this important work introduces chapters on such major new topics as checkerboard titrations, quality control of testing, kit production and control, novel monoclonal antibodies, validation of assays, statistical requirements for data examination, and epidemiological considerations. With its numerous worked examples, detailed instructions, and extensive illustrations, The ELISA Guidebook offers a powerful synthesis of all the basic concepts and practical experimental details investigators need to understand, develop, and apply the new ELISA methodology successfully in day-to-day basic and clinical research.

MHC Protocols
MHC Protocols

Author: Stephen H. Powis

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-05

Total Pages: 343

ISBN-13: 1592592910

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The aim of MHC Protocols is to document protocols that can be used for the analysis of genetic variation within the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC; HLA region). The human MHC encompasses approximately 4 million base pairs on the short arm of chromosome 6 at cytogenetic location 6p21. 3. The region is divided into three subregions. The telomeric class I region contains the genes that encode the HLA class I molecules HLA-A, -B, and -C. The centromeric class II region contains the genes encoding the HLA class II molecules HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP. In between is the class III region, originally identified because it contains genes encoding components of the complement pathway. The entire human MHC has recently been sequenced (1) and each subregion is now known to contain many other genes, a number of which have immunological functions. The study of polymorphism within the MHC is well established, because the region contains the highly polymorphic HLA genes. HLA polymorphism has been used extensively in solid organ and bone marrow transplantation to match donors and recipients. As a result, large numbers of HLA alleles have been identified, a process that has been further driven by recent interest in HLA gene diversity in ethnic populations. The extreme genetic variation in HLA genes is believed to have been driven by the evolutionary response to infectious agents, but relatively few studies have analyzed associations between HLA genetic variation and infectious disease, which has been difficult to demonstrate.

Cytokines and Colony Stimulating Factors
Cytokines and Colony Stimulating Factors

Author: Dieter Körholz

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-04

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 1592593453

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The immune system is a complex network in which different cell types and soluble factors interact to efficiently eliminate various kinds of microorganisms as well as aberrant cell clones. The roots of immunologic investigations reach far into the past. In 430 BC, Thucydides reported that survivors of the plague did not present a second time with similar symptoms. The first report of a successful immu- therapy was made by Edward Jenner in 1798 who found a protective effect of cowpox vaccination against human pox. Since then, much knowledge has been accumulated; today, investigations of the molecular mechanisms of immune regulation are of central research interest. The novel insights into gene polymorphisms and gene regulation gathered from this work has improved our knowledge of individual immune reactions and risk factors in overcoming infections. Strategies to use the immune system for cancer treatment have been propelled by the discovery of divergent immunoregulatory cytokines and the introduction of new gene therapy strategies to modify immune responses. Recently, the discovery of various dendritic cells has focused attention on these cell types as central elements of the immune response and to the possibility of dendritic cell expansion, maturation, and consecutive stimulation with immuno- active tumor-specific peptides. Similarly, methods for ex vivo expansion of various stem cell-derived cell types have led to an improved therapeutic management of various benign and malignant diseases.

In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols
In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols

Author: Jeff Braman

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-05

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 1592591949

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Hands-on researchers with proven track records describe in stepwise fashion their advanced mutagenesis techniques. The contributors focus on improvements to conventional site-directed mutagenesis, including a chapter on chemical site-directed mutagenesis, PCR-based mutagenesis and the modifications that allow high throughput mutagenesis experiments, and mutagenesis based on gene disruption (both in vitro- and in situ-based). Additional methods are provided for in vitro gene evolution; for gene disruption based on recombination, transposon, and casette mutagenesis; and for facilitating the introduction of multiple mutations. Time-tested and highly practical, the protocols in In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols, 2nd Edition offer today's molecular biologists reliable and powerful techniques with which to illuminate the proteome.

Two-Hybrid Systems
Two-Hybrid Systems

Author: Paul N. MacDonald

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-03

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1592592104

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The yeast two-hybrid system is one of the most widely used and productive techniques available for investigating the macromolecular interactions that affect virtually all biological processes. In Two-Hybrid Systems: Methods and Protocols, Paul N. MacDonald has assembled a collection of these powerful molecular tools for examining and characterizing protein-protein, protein-DNA, and protein-RNA interactions. The techniques range from the most basic (introducing plasmids into yeasts, interaction assays, and recovering the plasmids from yeast) to the most advanced alternative strategies (involving one-hybrid, split two-hybrid, three-hybrid, membrane recruitment systems, and mammalian systems). Methods are also provided for dealing with the well-known problems of artifacts and false positives and for identifying the interacting partners in important biological systems, including the Smad and nuclear receptor pathways. To ensure ready reproducibility and robust results, each technique is described in step-by-step detail by researchers who employ it regularly. Comprehensive and highly practical, Two-Hybrid Systems: Methods and Protocols not only reveals how the great variety of plasmid vectors and approaches may be optimally deployed, but also quickly empowers novices to establish two-hybrid systems in their laboratories, and experienced researchers to expand their repertoire of techniques.

Calcium Signaling Protocols
Calcium Signaling Protocols

Author: David G. Lambert

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-03

Total Pages: 351

ISBN-13: 1592592503

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2+ The regulation of intracellular Ca is a common theme presented in many 2+ papers over the last 20 or so years, and the description of the Ca -sensitive indicator dye fura 2 in 1985 resulted in a massive increase in these types of 2+ studies. Aspects of the regulation of intracellular Ca have been dealt with in many of the subsequent chapters and will therefore not be covered again. Calcium Signaling Protocols results from a chance discussion with Dr. R. I. Norman of the Department of Medicine at Leicester University and r- resents a major effort from a group of extremely helpful and very patient - thors. Putting a book like this together takes time and I am indebted to these authors without whom this project would have remained a chance discussion. I am also very grateful to Professor J. M. Walker, the series editor, for all his help and advice over the course of this project and particularly his help editing the first batch of chapters. I would also like to thank Dr E. L. Pallett for help and advice regarding interconversion of Mac and Word files and for archiving chapters.

Functional Genomics
Functional Genomics

Author: Michael J. Brownstein

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-02-03

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 159259364X

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This collection of robust, readily reproducible methods for microarray-based studies includes expert guidance in the optimal data analysis and informatics. On the methods side are proven techniques for monitoring subcellular RNA localization en masse, for mapping chromosomes at the resolution of a single gene, and for surveying the steady-state genome-wide distribution of DNA binding proteins in vivo. For those workers dealing with massive data sets, the book discusses the methodological aspects of data analysis and informatics in the design of microarray experiments, the choice of test statistic, and the assessment of observational significance, data reduction, and clustering.