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Plant Receptor-like Kinases: Role in Development and Stress presents the latest research in receptor-like kinases (RLKs), a class of development and defense-response proteins in plants. As one of the largest protein families, with roles ranging from growth and development to stress response, RLKs are involved in every aspect of the plant life cycle, including growth and development, reproduction, and immunity. Development of high throughput sequencing technology has improved the identification and characterization of numerous gene families in plants in the recent years, allowing researchers to identify and characterize numerous RLK sub-families in model plant species and agro-economically important crop plants like rice, wheat, sorghum, tomatoes, and more. This book provides foundational knowledge on the classification of RLKs, their mechanism of action and their roles in the plant life cycle, as well as the most up-to-date advances in the applications of RLKs. It is an essential read for researchers interested in plant signaling and plant genomics. - Presents detailed information on receptor like kinases (RLKs), including their mechanism of action and classification - Analyzes numerous sub-families of RLKs and their roles in plant development and stress management - Highlights the function of RLKs in plant innate immunity

Protein phosphorylation via protein kinases is an inevitable process that alters physiological and pathological functions of the cells. Thus, protein kinases play key roles in the regulation of cell life or death decisions. Protein kinases are frequently a driving factor in a variety of human diseases including aging and cellular senescence, immune system and endothelial dysfunctions, cancers, insulin resistance, cholestasis and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as bacterial resistance in persistent infections. Recent developments in quantitative proteomics provide important opinions on kinase inhibitor selectivity and their modes of action in the biological context. Protein Kinase-mediated Decisions Between Life and Death aims to have the reader catch insights about up-to-date opinions on “Protein Kinases” related pathways that threaten human health and life. As “Protein Kinases” are related to many health problems, clinicians, basic science researchers and students need this information.Chapter “Signal Transduction in Immune Cells and Protein Kinases” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

A comprehensive review of stress signaling in plants using genomics and functional genomic approaches Improving agricultural production and meeting the needs of a rapidly growing global population requires crop systems capable of overcoming environmental stresses. Understanding the role of different signaling components in plant stress regulation is vital to developing crops which can withstand abiotic and biotic stresses without loss of crop yield and productivity. Emphasizing genomics and functional genomic approaches, Protein Kinases and Stress Signaling in Plants is a comprehensive review of cutting-edge research on stress perception, signal transduction, and stress response generation. Detailed chapters cover a broad range of topics central to improving agricultural production developing crop systems capable of overcoming environmental stresses to meet the needs of a rapidly growing global population. This book describes the field of protein kinases and stress signaling with a special emphasis on functional genomics. It presents a highly valuable contribution in the field of stress perception, signal transduction and generation of responses against one or multiple stress signals. This timely resource: Summarizes the role of various kinases involved in stress management Enumerates the role of TOR, GSK3-like kinase, SnRK kinases in different physiological conditions Examines mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in different stresses Describes the different aspects of calcium signaling under different stress conditions Examines photo-activated kinases (PAPKs) in varying light conditions Briefs the presence of tyrosine kinases in plants Highlights the cellular functions of receptor]like protein kinases (RLKs) Possible implication of these kinases in developing stress tolerant crops Protein Kinases and Stress Signaling in Plants: Functional Genomic Perspective is an essential resource for researchers and students in the fields of plant molecular biology and signal transduction, plant responses to stress, plant cell signaling, plant protein kinases, plant biotechnology, transgenic plants and stress biology.

The book focuses on protein allostery in drug discovery. Allosteric regulation, ʹthe second secret of lifeʹ, fine-tunes virtually most biological processes and controls physiological activities. Allostery can both cause human diseases and contribute to development of new therapeutics. Allosteric drugs exhibit unparalleled advantages compared to conventional orthosteric drugs, rendering the development of allosteric modulators as an appealing strategy to improve selectivity and pharmacodynamic properties in drug leads. The Series delineates the immense significance of protein allostery—as demonstrated by recent advances in the repertoires of the concept, its mechanistic mechanisms, and networks, characteristics of allosteric proteins, modulators, and sites, development of computational and experimental methods to predict allosteric sites, small-molecule allosteric modulators of protein kinases and G-protein coupled receptors, engineering allostery, and the underlying role of allostery in precise medicine. Comprehensive understanding of protein allostery is expected to guide the rational design of allosteric drugs for the treatment of human diseases. The book would be useful for scientists and students in the field of protein science and Pharmacology etc.

Protein Kinases in Development and Disease discusses and reviews important, but often neglected, kinases. A good representation of current model organisms from plants and C. elegans to mice are used as the basis to illustrate how we can use our understanding of normal development to learn about disease. - Reviews kinases, the fundamental regulators of most biological processes that have key roles in the development of all organisms - Includes a broad scope of topics that are addressed - Allows researchers and newcomers to this research area to gain a thorough picture of the current knowledge

AMPK has emerged as an important integrator of signals that control energy balance through the regulation of multiple biochemical pathways in eukaryotes. This book focuses on the implications of AMPK as a master metabolic regulator in diseases, including new methods and animal models. The contributions are written by leading experts in the field and give an extensive overview of the current knowledge of AMPK biology and the role of AMPK in health and disease.

Authored by the world's leading kinase experts, this is a comprehensive introduction to current knowledge and practice within this emerging field. Following an overview of the major players and pathways that define the kinome, the major part of this work is devoted to current strategies of kinome investigation and manipulation. As such, kinase engineering, peptide substrate engineering, co-substrate design and kinase inhibitor design are discussed in detail, and their potential applications in kinome analysis and kinome-based pharmacotherapy are shown. The result is a toolbox for every kinase researcher: By addressing and comparing current approaches to the study of kinase action, both novice and established researchers will benefit from the practical knowledge contained in this invaluable reference.

This book covers structure, function, and important roles of the SH domains, structure-function relationships, the versatile nature of their action, mechanisms of aggregation, specificity of interactions, impact of mutations on protein functional dysregulation, and cell signaling. Their involvement in various cellular processes such as migration, invasiveness, actin reorganization, shaping spines, determination of the morphology assembly of fibrils, and mechanotransduction makes these molecules attractive drug targets. Substrates, inhibitors and activators of PTKs present a wide variety of therapeutic agents in the context of delivering treatments for numerous pathologies. The new emerging field of stem cell therapies and design of biomaterials for treatments relies on the directed regulation of stem cell growth, differentiation and morphology, as well as the production of biomimetic scaffolds that respond to programmed signals. Advances in deciphering the mechanisms of action of these important molecules will lead to the implementation and success of their vital applications.

The functional characterization of a key enzyme in the phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling pathway in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is the focus of the research summarised in this thesis. Moreover, a particular focus is the exploration of the biological functions of Arabidopsis phophatidylinositol monophosphate 5-kinase 2 (PIP5K2) which catalyzes the synthesis of phophatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, the precursor of two important second messengers (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol). Through molecular and genetic approaches, the author isolated and characterized the expression pattern, physiological functions and the underlying mechanism of Arabidopsis PIP5K2. It is found that PIP5K2 is involved in regulating lateral root formation and root gravity response through modulating auxin accumulation and polar auxin transport and also plays a critical role in salt tolerance. These findings shed new light on the crosstalk between PI signaling and auxin response, both of which have crucial regulatory roles in plant development.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is an essential metabolic enzyme for all living organisms. It catalyses the high-energy phospho-transfer reaction from 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to the beta-phosphate of ADP and thereby produces ATP. In mammals, PGK has more widespread roles, particularly in oncogenesis and in activating anti-retroviral drugs. Namely, PGK exhibits specific thiol-reductase activity important in the inhibition of plasmin-mediated angiogenesis required for solid tumour development. The phosphorylating activity of PGK, however, has been additionally proved to be involved in specific act.

For many decades, researchers have tried to develop materials that could be used just like autogenous bone. The editors of this book have assembled experts to showcase recent developments in tissue engineering and to demonstrate the basic biologic phenomena of bone repair using dentin grafts, growth factors, stimulating factors, inductive factors, and other factors in clinical applications. The research gathered in this book underscores the excellent outcomes based on sound science and pioneering clinical applications. New techniques using the tooth materials provide realistic and practical regenerative treatments for all patients. This book is now out of print.

A focused, accessible introduction to this key aspect of cancer biology. It covers the individual cell signalling pathways that are known to be involved in cancer development, and, most important, includes the cross- interactions between the pathways together with the current therapeutic approaches. This is a ‘must-have'for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying and researching within the field of cancer biology.

This book covers a variety of cutting-edge basic and clinical PAK research ranging from laboratory benches to hospital beds. The goal of this book is to inspire not only biomedical research scientists and university students, but also a variety of patients who suffer from PAK-dependent diseases and clinical doctors who try to cure or delay these PAK-dependent diseases.This book consists of 9 chapters which deal with different aspects of this kinase. These chapters are written by more than two dozen world-leading PAK experts. Each of these will provide updated biomedical information as well as future insight to a wide range of readers who are interested in this unique kinase and both its pathological and physiological roles as well as its functional evolution from its ancestral origins. - This publication will be the very first book ever published solely focused on PAK family kinases - Each chapter deals with the latest progress in PAK research written by a leading PAK expert with his or her own ideas and insight - Each chapter of this book has been written in such a way that clinical doctors who seek the effective cure of these formidable diseases, in addition to research scientists and biomedical students will value this book - This book describes in detail a number of PAK blockers which would be potentially useful for the therapy of these PAK-dependent diseases, and some of them are indeed available on the market inexpensively, without any side effect

JAK tyrosine kinases and STAT transcription factors constitute a signaling pathway, which is activated by cytokines. By activating gene transcription it regulates essential biological responses to environmental cues. The Jak-Stat pathway is involved in the regulation of cell development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Improper function may contribute to hematopoietic malignancies and cancer. This book provides comprehensive insights into the latest basic and clinical developments in the field. The first part reviews recent findings and new technologies pertaining to basics of Jak-Stat function. The second part describes the evolution of Jak-Stat signaling and the role of the pathway in invertebrate organisms. The third part focuses on Jak-Stat signaling in hematopoietic cells under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Finally, chapters in the fourth section describe the relationship of Jak-Stat signaling to various states of disease, particularly infection, leukemias and solid cancers. The book is intended for all scientists in molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology dealing with biomedical issues.

This volume explores some of the most exciting recent advances in basic research on protein phosphorylation in health and disease and how this knowledge is leading to advances in the various fields. - Contributions from leading authorities - Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

First published in 1943, Vitamins and Hormones is the longest-running serial published by Academic Press. Under the capable and qualified editorial leadership of Dr. Gerald Litwack, Vitamins and Hormones continues to publish cutting-edge reviews of interest to endocrinologists, biochemists, nutritionists, pharmacologists, cell biologists and molecular biologists. Others interested in the structure and function of biologically active molecules like hormones and vitamins will, as always, turn to this series for comprehensive reviews by leading contributors to this and related disciplines. This volume focuses on hedgehog signaling. - Contributions from leading authorities - Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

PI3K has become a very intense area of research, with over 2000 publications on PI3K in PubMed for 2009 alone. The expectations for a therapeutic impact of intervention with PI3K activity are high, and progress in the clinical arena is being monitored by many. However, targeted therapies almost invariably encounter roadblocks, often exposing unresolved questions in the basic understanding of the target

Multicellular organisms must be able to adapt to cellular events to accommodate prevailing conditions. Sensory-response circuits operate by making use of a phosphorylation control mechanism known as the'two-component system.'This volume, the third in a three-volume treatment edited by the same group of editors, includes a wide range of methods, including those dealing with the Sln-1 kinase pathway, triazole sensitivity in C. albicans, and histidine kinases in cyanobacteria circadian clock. - Includes time-tested core methods and new innovations applicable to any researcher studing two-component signaling systems or histidine kinases - Methods included are useful to both established researchers and newcomers to the field - Relevant background and reference information given for procedures can be used as a guide to developing protocols in a number of disciplines

From humble beginnings over 25 years ago as a lipid kinase activity associated with certain oncoproteins, PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) has been catapulted to the forefront of drug development in cancer, immunity and thrombosis, with the first clinical trials of PI3K pathway inhibitors now in progress. Here we give a brief overview of some key discoveries in the PI3K area and their impact, and include thoughts on the current state of the field, and where it could go from here

An expert guide to targeting protein kinases in cancer therapy Research has shown that protein kinases can instigate the formation and spread of cancer when they transmit faulty signals inside cells. Because of this fact, pharmaceutical scientists have targeted kinases for intensive study, and have been working to develop medicinal roadblocks to sever their malignant means of communication. Complete with full-color presentations, Targeting Protein Kinases for Cancer Therapy defines the structural features of protein kinases and examines their cellular functions. Combining kinase biology with chemistry and pharmacology applications, this book enlists emerging data to drive the discovery of new cancer-fighting drugs. Valuable information includes: Comprehensive overviews of the major kinase families involved in oncology, integrating protein structure and function, and providing important tools to assist pharmaceutical researchers to understand and work in this dynamic area of cancer drug research Focus on small molecule inhibitors as well as other therapeutic modalities Discussion of kinase inhibitors that have entered clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, with an emphasis on molecules that have progressed to late stage clinical trials and, in a few cases, to market Providing a platform for further study, this important work reviews both the successes and challenges of kinase inhibitor therapy, and provides insight into future directions in the war against cancer.

Hepatic insulin resistance and altered insulin metabolism, as characterized by the desensitization of hepatic parenchymal cells to insulin, play a role in the pathogenesis of liver disease, particularly resulting in steatosis and steatohepatitis. By the same token, type II diabetic patients are at higher risk for developing liver diseases, including steatosis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, established liver disease from any cause leads to glucose intolerance and peripheral insulin resistance systemically. The link between insulin resistance and liver pathology reviewed in this book suggests that insulin resistance is closely related with a variety of liver diseases. Recent evidence indicates that the AMP activating protein kinase (AMPK) in conjunction with p70 ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) serves as a key signaling pathway regulating insulin-dependent physiological functions; thus, this pathway serves as a target for the therapy of diseases associated with insulin resistance. In this chapter, the regulatory role of the AMPK-S6K1 pathway is discussed in terms of enhancing insulin receptor signaling with insulin receptor substrate-1/2 and phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase activity, which may contribute to preventing and/or treating insulin resistance in the liver.

In this second of two new volumes covering mitochondria, methods developed to assess the number and function of nuclear-encoded proteins in the mitochondrion are presented. Chapters focus on the regulation of mitochondrial function and mitochondrial diseases, with a section emphasizing the mitochondrial defects associated with type 2 diabetes. The critically acclaimed laboratory standard for 40 years, Methods in Enzymology is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. With more than 450 volumes published, each volume presents material that is relevant in today's labs, truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences. - New methods focusing on the examination of normal and abnormal mitochondrial function are presented in an easy-to-follow format by the researchers who developed them - Along with a companion volume covering topics including mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes and reactive oxygen species, provides a comprehensive overview of modern techniques in the study of mitochondrial malfunction - Provides a'one-stop shop'for tried and tested essential techniques, eliminating the need to wade through untested or unreliable methods