This book contains the scientific contributions presented at an International Symposium held in Sorrento, Italy, in June 1988 under the auspices of the University of Naples, the Italian Society of Biochemistry, and the National Research Council. The modern history of polyamines dates back to 1958 when the Tabors and Rosenthal first described the outlines of their biological synthesis. From then on, and particularly in the last ten years, a veri table explosion of Literature, characterized by thousands of papers, has witnessed the interest of the scientific community toward these molecules. Perhaps the old statement that "polyamines are molecules in search of a function" is no longer true today. A large number of effects exerted by these simple molecules are well known, and in many cases the mechanisms underlying these effects have been elucidated. The first section of the volume is entirely devoted to the enzymology and molecular biology of ornithine decarboxylase. Since its discovery by Gale more than forty years ago, this can be considered among the most widely studied enzymes in biology, and one of the most complex models in enzyme regulation. The mechanism of control of the enzyme activity at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels, as well as the fine regulation by antizyme, are discussed in detail. The second group of contributions deals wi th AdoMet decarboxylase, propylamine transferase, polyamine oxidase and the other enzymes related to polyamine interconversion and regeneration.

Polyamines are ubiquitous molecules that are involved in a number of important cellular processes. Aberrations in their function or metabolism play a role in diseases such as cancer and parasitic infection. A number of validated drug targets have been identified, including enzymes in the polyamine biosynthetic and catabolic pathways and the S-adenosylmethionine synthetic and salvage pathways. Polyamine Drug Discovery is the first comprehensive volume to cover all aspects of the design and development of potential therapeutics targeting polyamine metabolism. The book details research progress from 1975 to the present date and discusses the design and use of polyamine metabolism inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Various polyamine-containing drugs are described that can be used in chemotherapy, and as treatments for infections including trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and malaria. Finally, the roles of polyamine analogues in chemoprevention, polyamine-containing vectors for gene delivery, and the design of polyamine-based epigenetic modulators are detailed. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of polyamine drug discovery and all are written by medicinal and biological chemists with particular expertise in developing agents that modulate polyamine metabolism or function. The book will increase the visibility of polyamine drug discovery among pharmaceutical researchers and provide a valuable reference for everyone working in the field.

This volume is based on papers presented by invited speakers at a symposium entitled "Plant Nitrogen Metabolism" held in conjunction with the 28th Annual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America. The meeting took place on the campus of the University of Iowa at Iowa City during June 26-30, 1988, and attracted 110 participants from 11 countries. The goal of the symposium was to trace the pathway by which nitrogen passes from soil and atmosphere into both primary and secondary nitrogenous metabolites, focusing upon areas which were felt to be most rapidly expanding. From nodulines (nodule specific proteins) and GS/GOGAT mutants to sugar mimics (polyhydroxyalkaloids) and herbicide inhibitors of amino acid metabolism, research in nitrogen metabolism has expanded into areas barely envisioned only a few years ago. Both the nitrogen specialist and the general plant biochemist will be pleased by the range of topics covered here. Following an overview in Chapter 1 of plant nitrogen metabolism, the remaining chapters are loosely organized into three groups. Chapters 2-6 deal primarily with the biochemistry and molecular biology of nitrogen assimilation and transport, Chapters 7-9 with amino acid metabolism, and Chapters 10-12 with secondary metabolites.

The 9th International Symposium on Yersinia was held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA on October 10-14, 2006. Over 250 Yersinia researchers from 18 countries gathered to present and discuss their research. In addition to 37 oral presentations, there were 150 poster presentations. This Symposium volume is based on selected presentations from the meeting and contains both reviews and research articles. It is divided into six topic areas: 1) genomics; 2) structure and metabolism; 3) regulatory mechanisms; 4) pathogenesis and host interactions; 5) molecular epidemiology and detection; and 6) vaccine and antimicrobial therapy development. Consequently, this volume covers a wide range of current research areas in the Yersinia field.

The polyamines are ubiquitous and essential organic cations in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. This book is a comprehensive survey of the development of knowledge of their physiological and structural roles. Currently, the genetic and regulatory determinants of the amines and their cellular composition are being explored actively as parameters of normal physiology and aberrant pathologies. Cancer, virus infection, and protozoan parasitism are major examples of the later groups. Studies of the control of polyamine metabolism are providing important therapeutic leads. Further, the structural roles of the amines are being determined at molecular levels, contributing to the understanding of polynucleotide and protein organization and interaction, as well as to the solution of problems of genome transfer. These subjects describe a burgeoning biochemical area involving compounds whose roles in cytoplasmic and nuclear function include numerous aspects of organelle structure, polymer synthesis, and interactions.

Recently, important new findings in the polyamine field and a variety of new experimental systems have revolutionized the study of these ubiquitous cellular components, essential for normal growth and development. In Polyamines: Methods and Protocols, leading researchers contribute an extensive collection of up-to-date laboratory techniques for the further pursuit of polyamine study. The volume delves into vital subjects such as neoplasia studies with animal models and human patients, therapeutic roles for polyamine inhibitors and analogs, polyamine metabolism and oxidative damage, polyamines as regulators of critical ion channels, as well as polyamine transport systems and polyamine-responsive genes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and expert notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Polyamines: Methods and Protocols provides a key resource for all scientists pursuing the study of this dynamic and significant aspect of cellular biology.

While working in the laboratory of Professor Dr. Jacob Reinert at the Freie Universitat Berlin (1974-1976), I had the opportunity to become deeply involved in studying the intricacies of the fascinating phenomenon of somatic embryogenesis in plant cells and protoplasts. In numerous stimu lating discussions with Professor Reinert on this subject, I was fully convinced that somatic embryogenesis would become one of the most important areas of study, not only regarding basic and fundamental aspects, but also for its application in crop improvement. During the last decade, we have witnessed tremendous interest and achievements in the use of somatic embryos for the production of synthetic seeds, for micro propagation, genetic transformation, cryopreservation, and conservation of germplasm. The en masse production of somatic embryos in the bioreactors has facilitated some of these studies. Somatic embryos have now been induced in more than 300 plant species belonging to a wide range offamilies. It was therefore felt that a compilation ofliterature/state of the art on this subject was necessary. Thus, two volumes on Somatic Embryo genesis and Synthetic Seed have been compiled, which contain 65 chapters contributed by International experts. Somatic Embryogenesis and Synthetic Seed I comprises 31 chapters, arranged in 3 sections: Section I Commitment of the cell to somatic embryogenesis; early events; anatomy; molecular basis; gene expression; role of polyamines; machine vision analysis of somatic embryos. Section II Applications of somatic embryos; technology of synthetic seed; fluid drilling; micropropagation; genetic transfor mation through somatic embryos; cryopreservation.

Senescence Signalling and Control in Plants discusses the studies showing the importance of hormone action on developmental senescence. It shows the involvement of various signaling components (such as EIN2, LOX2) and transcription factors (such as oresara1 or ORE1) in controlling hormonal activity during senescence. Further, the involvement of various micro RNAs (miR164, miR319) in regulating leaf senescence are discussed. Through this book, the authors throw light on all the reverse and forward genetic approaches to reveal the role of various other phytohormones regulating plant senescence and the molecular mechanisms involved. Chapters on relevant topics are contributed by experts working in the area, making this a comprehensive treatise designed to provide an in-depth analysis on the subject matter. - Throws light on the involvement of hormones (other than the well- known hormones cytokine and ethylene) in plant senescence - Shows the underlying mechanisms on the hormonal actions during senescence - Exhibits the involvement of microRNAs during this important plant developmental process