The ability to regulate cell volume in the face of osmotic challenge is one of the most fundamental of cellular homeostatic mechanisms. Cellular and Molecular Physiology of Cell Volume Regulation is an integrated collection of articles describing key aspects of cell volume control. The book has been organized around concepts and cellular/molecular processes rather than around mechanisms of volume regulation in specific cell types in order to make it more accessible to a multidisciplinary audience of students, instructors, and researchers.

Presenting an analysis of the water relationships of the major groups of organisms: fungi, plants and animals, the text examines water stress at all levels of biological organization. Topics covered include: 1) organic osmotic agents: their distributions, modes of action, and mechanisms of regulation; 2) desiccation stress; mechanisms for preserving cellu lar integrity under conditions of low cellular water activity; 3) water stress and water compartmentation in plants; and 4) freezing stress: the prevention and regulation of ice formation in biological fluids, and mechanisms for overcoming the damaging effects of low temperatures on cellular integrity. Common adaptive strategies in diverse organisms are emphasized, as well as the fundamental physical-chemical properties of aqueous solutions that establish the nature of the interactions among water, low molecular weight solutes and macromolecules.

This volume presents a unique compilation of reviews on cell volume regulation in health and disease, with contributions from leading experts in the field. The topics covered include mechanisms and signaling of cell volume regulation and the effect of cell volume on cell function, with special emphasis on ion channels and transporters, kinases and gene expression. Several chapters elaborate on how cell volume regulatory mechanisms participate in the regulation of epithelial transport, urinary concentration, metabolism, migration, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Last but not least, this publication is an excellent guide to the role of cell volume in the pathophysiology of hypercatabolism, diabetes mellitus, brain edema, hemoglobinopathies, tumor growth and metastasis, to name just a few. Providing deeper insights into an exciting area of research which is also of clinical relevance, this publication is a valuable addition to the library of those interested in cell volume regulation.

Biotechnology represents a major area of research focus, and many universities are developing academic programs in the field. This guide to biomanufacturing contains carefully selected articles from Wiley's Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology, Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology as well as new articles (80 in all,) and features the same breadth and quality of coverage and clarity of presentation found in the original. For instructors, advanced students, and those involved in regulatory compliance, this two-volume desk reference offers an accessible and comprehensive resource.

For over fifty years the Methods in Enzymology series has been the critically acclaimed laboratory standard and one of the most respected publications in the field of biochemistry. The highly relevant material makes it an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life and related sciences. This volume features articles on the topic of osmosensing and osmosignaling written by experts in the field.

One of the prerequisites for survival is the ability of cells to maintain their volume. Thus, during the course of evolution cells have "learned" a variety of strategies to achieve volume homeostasis. This volume regulatory machinery involves regulation of both, cellular metabolism and cellular transport and is exploited by hormones and transmitters to regulate cellularfunction. This book to illustrates the complex interplay of cell volume regulatory mechanisms and cellular function in a variety of tissues. However, our knowledge is still far from being conclusive, and the present collection of reviews is thought to foster further experimental efforts to unravel the role of cell volume in the integrated function of cells.

Oceans and Human Health highlights an unprecedented collaboration of environmental scientists, ecologists and physicians working together on this important new discipline, to the benefit of human health and ocean environmental integrity alike. Oceanography, toxicology, natural products chemistry, environmental microbiology, comparative animal physiology, epidemiology and public health are all long established areas of research in their own right and all contribute data and expertise to an integrated understanding of the ways in which ocean biology and chemistry affect human health for better or worse. This book introduces this topic to researchers and advanced students interested in this emerging field, enabling them to see how their research fits into the broader interactions between the aquatic environment and human health. - Color illustrations of aquatic life and oceanic phenomena such as hurricanes and algal blooms - Numerous case studies - Socio-economic and Ethical Analyses place the science in a broader context - Study questions for each chapter to assist students and instructors - Risks and remedies sections to help define course modules for instruction

A classic nephrology reference for over 25years, Seldin and Giebisch's The Kidney, is the acknowledged authority on renal physiology and pathophysiology. In this 5th edition, such new and powerful disciplines as genetics and cell biology have been deployed to deepen and widen further the explanatory framework. Not only have previous chapters been extensively updated, but new chapters have been added to incorporate additional disciplines. Individual chapters, for example, now provide detailed treatment of the significance of cilia; the role of stem cells is now given special consideration. Finally, there has been a significant expansion of the section of pathophysiology, incorporating the newer findings of cell biology and genetics. If you research the development of normal renal function or the mechanisms underlying renal disease, Seldin and Giebisch's The Kidney is your number one source for information. - Offers the most comprehensive coverage on the market of fluid and electrolyte regulation and dysregulation in 85 completely revised chapters and 10 new chapters - Includes 4sections, 62 chapters, devoted to regulation and disorders of acid-base homeostasis, and epithelial and nonepithelial transport regulation - Includes foreword by Donald Seldin and Gerhard Giebisch, world renowned names in nephrology and editors of the previous three editions

Since the cloning of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance re- lator (CFTR) nearly a decade ago, cystic fibrosis (CF) research has witnessed a dramatic expansion into new scientific areas. Basic researchers, clinicians, and patients increasingly rely on fundamental techniques of genetics, molecular biology, electrophysiology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, and immunology to understand the molecular basis of this complex disease. Research into the pathophysiology of CF has established numerous paradigms of ion channel dysfunction that extend from inflammation and infection in the airways of patients to basic mechanisms of protein processing and regulation in intracellular components. With these rapid advances has come an increasing need for research scientists to understand and utilize a growing array of basic laboratory tools. This volume of Methods in Molecular Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis Methods and Protocols satisfies that need by providing detailed protocols for the laboratory techniques used throughout CF research. From electrophysiology and cell biology, to animal models and gene therapy, the comprehensive set of methods covered here provide step-by-step instructions needed for investigators to incorporate new approaches into their research programs. Contributions have been chosen to reflect the rich diversity of techniques and to provide a cohesive framework for understanding challenges that are currently at the forefront of CF research. It is hoped that this volume will serve as a valuable reference that will not only foster interdisciplinary investigations into current problems encountered in CF, but also facilitate the translation of new scientific discoveries into clinical solutions.