Bøger i Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit serien

oltage-gated calcium channels are essential mediators of a range of physiological functions, including the communication between nerve Vcells, the regulation of heart beat, muscle contraction, and secretion of hormones such as insulin. Consequently, these channels are critical phar- macological targets in the treatment of a variety of disorders, such as epi- lepsy, hypertension, and pain. Voltage-gated calcium channels have there- fore been subject to intense study by numerous investigators over the past few decades, and an immense body of work has accumulated. In this book, we provide the first comprehensive overview of our current state of knowl- edge concerning this exciting field of research. Leading off with a general review of calcium signaling and techniques to measure calcium channel ac- tivity, the book delves into a provocative overview of the history of the cal- cium channel field, contributed by one of the key pioneers in the field. Dr. Richard Tsien. This is followed by an in depth review of the biochemical and molecular biological characterization of calcium channel genes by Drs. Catterall and Snutch whose research has resulted in major advances in the calcium channel field. A number of chapters are dedicated towards various aspects of calcium channel structure and function, including channel gat- ing, permeation, modulation and interactions with members of the exo- totic machinery-contributed by both established leaders and rising stars in the field.

The book focuses on the latest discoveries on calreticulin, calnexin and other endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Calreticulin has been implicated to affect diverse cellular function and play a role in many pathologies including protein folding disorders, cardiac pathologies, cancer and autoimmunity. This book contains contributions from the world leaders in the area of endoplasmic reticulum function, protein folding, Calcium homeostasis and autoimmunity. It raises many intriguing questions about calreticulin, calnexin and the endoplasmic reticulum and gives a unique opportunity to realize the significance of these calcium-binding chaperones. The book is unique in every respect and we are not aware of any other publication focusing on these aspects of endoplasmic reticulum biology. Because of a central role of endoplasmic reticulum, calreticulin and calnexin in virtually all cellular functions, the book should be of interest to everyone in the biological sciences.