The incentive for putting together Volume 4 of this series was to review the wealth of new information that has become available in prokaryotic organisms in protein export and membrane biogenesis. Just in the last several years, protein translocation has now been efficiently reconstituted using defined components and the mechanism by which proteins are moved across membrane bilayers is now being examined at a higher resolution. In addition, because of a new technical breakthrough using osmolytes, it is now possible to reconstitute a number of channel proteins, ATPase, receptors, and transporters. In many cases, it is possible to successfully predict the membrane topology of these types of proteins using both "hydrophobicity analysis" and the "positive inside" rule. In this volume, two chapters focus on protein translocation across membranes (Biochemical Analyses of Components Comprising the Protein Translocation Machinery of E. Coli; Protein Translocation Genetics), while several others on how proteins assemble into the ineer membrane of E. Coli (Membrane Protein Assembly; Membrane Insertion of Small Proteins: Evolutionary and Functional Aspects; Pigment-Protein Complex Assembly in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Rhodobacter Capsulatus). Other sections review recent progress on transporters (Identification and Reconstitution of Anion Exchange Mechanisms in Bacteria; Helic Packing in the C-Terminal Half of Lactose Permease) and signal transduction (Mechanism of Transmembrane Signaling in Osmoregulation) as well as the assembly of prints into the outer membrane (Export and Assembly of Outer Membrane Proteins in E. coli). Although the emphasis of the book is on proteins, the role of phospholipids in controlling various cell surface processes is reviewed (Role of Phospholipids in coli Cell Function). I should point out the reason for the rapid progress in bacteria research is because of the possibility to apply biochemistry and genetics in this organism.

Protein Targeting, Transport, and Translocation presents an in-depth overview on the topic of protein synthesis, covering all areas of protein science, including protein targeting, secretion, folding, assembly, structure, localization, quality control, degradation, and antigen presentation. Chapters also include sections on the history of the field as well as summary panels for quick reference. Numerous color illustrations complement the presentation of material. This book is an essential reference for anyone in biochemistry and protein science, as well as an excellent textbook for advanced students in these and related fields. - Basic principles and techniques - Targeting adn sorting sequences - Protein export in bacteria - Membrane protein integration into ER and bacterial membranes - Protein translocation across the ER - Disulfide bond formation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes - Quality control in the export pathway - Import of proteins into organelles - The secretory pathway - Vesicular transport - Spectacular color throughout

Many individual aspects of the dynamics and assembly of biological membranes have been studied in great detail. Cell biological approaches, advanced genetics, biophysics and biochemistry have greatly contributed to an increase in our knowledge in this field.lt is obvious however, that the three major membrane constituents - lipids, proteins and carbohydrates- are studied, in most cases separately and that a coherent overview of the various aspects of membrane biogenesis is not readily available. The NATO Advanced Study Institute on "New Perspectives in the Dynamics of Assembly of Biomembranes" intended to provide such an overview: it was set up to teach students and specialists the achievements obtained in the various research areas and to try and integrate the numerous aspects of membrane assembly into a coherent framework. The articles in here reflect this. Statting with detailed contributions on phospholipid structure, dynamics, organization and biogenesis, an up to date overview of the basic, lipidic backbone of biomembranes is given. Extensive progress is made in the research on membrane protein biosynthesis. In particular the post- and co-translational modification processes of proteins, the mechanisms of protein translocation and the sorting mechanisms which are necessary to direct proteins to their final, intra - or extracellular destination have been characterized in detail. Modern genetic approaches were indispensable in this research area: gene cloning, hybrid protein construction, site directed mutagenesis and sequencing techniques elucidated many functional aspects of specific nucleic acid and amino acid sequences.

Extensive and up-to-date review of key metabolic processes in bacteria and archaea and how metabolism is regulated under various conditions.

Since the discovery of the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP), derived from jellyfish, this protein that emits a green glow has initiated a revolution in molecular biosciences. With this tool, it is now possible to visualize nearly any protein of interest in any cell or tissue of any species. Since the publication of the first edition, there have been tremendously significant technological advances, including development of new mutant variants. Proteins are now available in yellow and blue, and Novel Fluorescent Proteins (NFPs) have expanded their utility in developing biosensors, biological markers, and other biological applications. This updated, expanded new edition places emphasis on the rise of NFPs, including new chapters on NFP properties with detailed protocols, applications of GFPs and NFPs in industry research, and biosensors. This book provides a solid theoretical framework, along with detailed, practical guidance on use of GFPs and NFPs with discussion of potential pitfalls. The expert contributors provide real examples in showing how to tailor GFP/NFP to specific systems, maximize expression, and enhance detection.

This textbook provides a strong foundation and a clear overview for students of membrane biology and an invaluable synthesis of cutting-edge research for working scientists. The text retains its clear and engaging style, providing a solid background in membrane biochemistry, while also incorporating the approaches of biophysics, genetics and cell biology to investigations of membrane structure, function and biogenesis to provide a unique overview of this fast-moving field. A wealth of new high resolution structures of membrane proteins are presented, including the Na/K pump and a receptor-G protein complex, offering exciting insights into how they function. All key tools of current membrane research are described, including detergents and model systems, bioinformatics, protein-folding methodology, crystallography and diffraction, and molecular modeling. This comprehensive and up-to-date text, emphasising the correlations between membrane research and human health, provides a solid foundation for all those working in this field.

This book covers the past, present and future of the intra-cellular trafficking field, which has made a quantum leap in the last few decades. It details how the field has developed and evolved as well as examines future directions.

Cell surface membranes have long been characterized as two-dimensional fluids whose mobile components are randomized by diffusion in the plane of the membrane bilayer. Recent research has indicated that cell surface membranes are highly organized and ordered and that important functional units of membranes appear as arrays of interacting molecules rather than as single, freely diffusing molecules. Mobility and Proximity in Biological Membranes provides an overview of the results obtained from biophysical methods for probing the organization of cell surface membranes. These results are presented in the context of detailed treatments of the theory and the technical demands of each of the methods. The book describes a versatile and easily applied mode for investigating molecular proximities in plasma membranes in a flow cytometer. Its analysis of lipid fluidity and viscosity of membranes and the rotational mobility of proteins offers intimate insight into the physical chemistry of biological membranes. The electrophysiology of lymphocytes is presented with focus on its importance in different diseases. New techniques are described, and new data, new possibilities, and future trends are presented by world experts. This book's chapters can serve both as guides to the existing literature and as starting points for new experiments and approaches associated with problems in membrane function.