This special volume of Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science focuses on oligomerization in health and disease. - Contributions from leading authorities - Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

Oligomerization in Health and Disease: From Enzymes to G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Volume 169 in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science series, provides in-depth reviews on topics of exceptional scienti?c importance. Topics of note in this new release include Computational prediction and re-design of aberrant oligomerization, Oligomerization of G protein-coupled receptors: an historical overview, Prediction and targeting of GPCR oligomer interfaces, GPCR Oligomerization dynamics: Functional consequences, GPCR heteromerization in neuropsychiatric disorders, Structural basis of regulation and oligomerization of human cystathionine ß-synthase, and Oligomerization of Porphobilinogen Synthase.

This volume has a strong focus on homo-oligomerization, which is surprisingly common. However, protein function is so often linked to both homo- and hetero-oligomerization and many heterologous interactions likely evolved from homologous interaction, so this volume also covers many aspects of hetero-oligomerization.

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of intracellular aggregates of tau protein are a key neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, collectively termed tauopathies. The abundance of NFTs has been reported to correlate positively with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. However, accumulating evidences derived from studies of experimental models have identified that NFTs themselves may not be neurotoxic. Now, many of tau researchers are seeking a “toxic” form of tau protein. Moreover, it was suggested that a “toxic” tau was capable to seed aggregation of native tau protein and to propagate in a prion-like manner. However, the exact neurotoxic tau species remain unclear. Because mature tangles seem to be non-toxic component, “tau oligomers” as the candidate of “toxic” tau have been investigated for more than one decade. In this topic, we will discuss our consensus of “tau oligomers” because the term of “tau oligomers” [e.g. dimer (disulfide bond-dependent or independent), multimer (more than dimer), granular (definition by EM or AFM) and maybe small filamentous aggregates] has been used by each researchers definition. From a biochemical point of view, tau protein has several unique characteristics such as natively unfolded conformation, thermo-stability, acid-stability, and capability of post-translational modifications. Although tau protein research has been continued for a long time, we are still missing the mechanisms of NFT formation. It is unclear how the conversion is occurred from natively unfolded protein to abnormally mis-folded protein. It remains unknown how tau protein can be formed filaments [e.g. paired helical filament (PHF), straight filament and twisted filament] in cells albeit in vitro studies confirmed tau self-assembly by several inducing factors. Researchers are still debating whether tau oligomerization is primary event rather than tau phosphorylation in the tau pathogenesis. Inhibition of either tau phosphorylation or aggregation has been investigated for the prevention of tauopathies, however, it will make an irrelevant result if we don’t know an exact target of neurotoxicity. It is a time to have a consensus of definition, terminology and methodology for the identification of “tau oligomers”.

Many thanks to the authors for high quality chapters and to the referees for helping improve the manuscripts. The book is interdisciplinary, it covers fields from organic chemistry to mathematics, and raises different aspects of oligomerization. It is a great source of information as every chapter introduces general knowledge and deep details. Mixing communities is to instigate novel ideas and hopefully help looking at oligomerization with new eyes.

Ubiquitination is a biological process mediated by ubiquitin itself, the E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme, E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E3 ubiquitin ligase, and deubiquitinating enzyme, respectively. Currently, these multiple biological steps are revealed to participate in various life phenomena, such as cell proliferation, regulation of cell surface proteins expression, and mitochondrial function, which are profoundly related to human health and diseases. Although clinical applications targeting ubiquitination are still limited compared to those directed toward kinase systems such as tyrosine kinases, multiple enzymatic consequences should be future therapeutic implications. This Special Issue of IJMS entitled “Ubiquitination in Health and Disease” successfully published15 distinguished manuscripts, with a total of 66 international authors and. This book provides the latest and most useful information for researchers and scientists in this field.

Cell Death Regulation in Health and Disease - Part C, Volume 353 in the International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology series, reviews and details current advances in cell and molecular biology. The IRCMB series maintains the highest standard by publishing timely topics authored by prominent cell and molecular biologists, with this release covering Developmental and seasonal regulation of neural cell death in birds, Post-translational modifications in cell death regulation, The role of cell death in tissue regeneration and fibrosis, Crosstalk between the apoptosis and autophagy signaling pathways, IP3 receptor signal integration in cell death and survival decisions, and more. - Provides a comprehensive collection of front-of-the line research in the field of cell death regulation - Authored by established and active cell and molecular biologists drawn from international sources - Includes only invited review articles, covering selected topics in many different organisms and disease settings

Cellular Endocrinology in Health and Disease, Second Edition, describes the underlying basis of endocrine function, providing an important tool to understand the fundamentals of endocrine diseases. Delivering a comprehensive review of the basic science of endocrinology, from cell biology to human disease, this work explores and dissects the function of a number of cellular systems. The new edition provides an understanding of how endocrine glands function by integrating information resulting in biological effects on both local and systemic levels, also providing new information on the molecular physiopathogenesis of endocrine neoplasic cells. The new edition expands the most used chapters from the first edition and proposes a series of substitutions and additions to the table of contents. New chapters cover signaling, brown adipose tissue, hypothalamic cell models, cellular basis of insulin resistance, genetics and epigenetics of neuroendocrine tumors, and a series of chapters on endocrine-related cancer. Providing content that crosses disciplines, Cellular Endocrinology in Health and Disease, Second Edition, details how cellular endocrine function contributes to system physiology and mediates endocrine disorders. A methods section proves novel and useful approaches across research focus that will be attractive to medical students, residents, and specialists in the field of endocrinology, as well as to those interested in cellular regulation. Editors Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre and Ya-Xiong Tao, experts in molecular and cellular aspects of endocrinology, deliver contributions carefully selected for relevance, impact, and clarity of expression from leading field experts - Explores endocrine cells biology in normal and pathologic conditions - Covers new aspects of endocrine cell function in distinct tissues - Provides a view into the biological effect in local and systemic levels - 15 new chapters covering the recent developments in the field

Autophagy in Health and Disease, Second Edition provides a comprehensive overview of the process of autophagy and its impact on human physiology and pathophysiology. It expands on the scope of the first edition by covering a wider range of cell types, developmental processes, and organ systems. The second edition is an international effort by investigators from 15 different countries whose many contributions are comprised in 28 chapters organized into six sections. The first section (Chapters 1-7) covers foundational concepts, including history, trajectory of the research field, mechanisms of autophagy, and autophagy regulation. The second section (Chapters 8-11) details developmental aspects, including stem cells, embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, and paligenosis. The subsequent sections are devoted to the role of autophagy in specific organ systems involved in metabolic control and diabetes (Chapters 12-15), the cardiovascular system (Chapters 16-18), and the nervous system (Chapters 19-20). The final section (Chapters 21-28) addresses autophagy in other organ systems vital to human health and longevity. Also included are chapters on microautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy, and the potential for autophagy as a therapeutic target.Autophagy in Health and Disease is invaluable to anyone new to the field as well as established investigators looking for a broader understanding of autophagy from outside their specific field of study. - Provides a comprehensive overview of the process of autophagy and its impact on human physiology and pathology - Offers extended coverage of the mechanisms that mediate autophagy - Covers the role of autophagy in stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as the regenerative process of paligenosis - Highlights important questions that remain to be addressed

This book, written by members of the European network PROTEOSTASIS, provides an up-to-date review of the research regarding protein homeostasis in health and disease. With new discoveries contributing to the increasing complexity of this topic, the book offers a detailed overview of the pathways regulating protein homeostasis, including autophagy and the ubiquitin protein family. Following a basic introduction, it explains how defects in protein homeostasis contribute to numerous pathologies, including cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation and a number of rare diseases. In addition, it discusses, the role of protein homeostasis in cellular development and physiology. Highlighting the latest research in the field of protein homeostasis and its implications for various clinically relevant diseases, the book appeals to researchers and clinicians, while also offering a reference guide for scholars who are new to the field.