Synuclein and the Coelacanth

Synuclein and the Coelacanth PDF

Author: James M. Gruschus

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2021-01-31

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 0323899684

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Most neurodegenerative diseases have animal parallels such as Alzheimer’s in chimpanzees, multiple sclerosis in macaques, Lou Gehrig’s disease in dogs, but nothing like Parkinson’s has ever been seen in any species but humans. Synuclein and the Coelacanth: The Molecular and Evolutionary Origins of Parkinson's Disease delves into the causes of Parkinson’s disease and how the evolution of the human brain has left us uniquely vulnerable. Genetic risk factors, environmental toxins, and neuroanatomy are woven together in a multidisciplinary discussion that ranges from subatomic physics to socioeconomics. Connections between neurodegenerative disease, neural pathways, and innate immunity are explored. Finally, the author discusses new therapeutic agents are being developed that hope to go beyond just treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s and actually halt the disease. Proposes a new hypothesis on the origins of Parkinson’s disease Examines genetic risk factors, environmental toxins, and neuroanatomy of PD Highlights new therapeutic treatment options in development for patients

Evolution of the Protein Synthesis Machinery and Its Regulation

Evolution of the Protein Synthesis Machinery and Its Regulation PDF

Author: Greco Hernández

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-08-10

Total Pages: 564

ISBN-13: 3319394681

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The “omics” era has given a new perspective to the findings on the origin and evolution of the process of translation. This book provides insight into the evolution of the translation process and machinery from a modern perspective. Written by leading experts in molecular biology, this text looks into the origins and evolution of the protein synthetic machinery.

From Fossils to Mind

From Fossils to Mind PDF

Author:

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2023-02-23

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 0323991084

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From Fossils to Mind, Volume 275 in the Progress in Brain Research series, presents chapters on a variety of interesting topics, including What could our premammalian ancestors hear, see, smell, and touch? A review of ten years of research about cynodont paleoneurology, Endocasts of ornithopod dinosaurs: anatomy and comparison, Adaptationism and Structuralism in Brain Evolution Research, Genomic approaches for tracing the evolution of brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases, Investigating the Coevolution of Language and Tools in the Brain: An ALE Meta-analysis of Neural Activation During Syntactic Processing and Tool Use, and more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in Progress in Brain Research serials Updated release includes the latest information on From Fossils and Mind

Synucleins

Synucleins PDF

Author: Andrei Surguchov

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2020-04-08

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 1789845653

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Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating conditions that result in degeneration and death of nerve cells. A significant group of these diseases is the synucleinopathies, which are characterized by the accumulation of aggregates of alpha-synuclein in neurons, nerve fibers, or glial cells. There are three main types of synucleinopathies: Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Synucleins are small, naturally unfolded proteins prone to aggregate and form intracellular inclusions, which impair normal cellular functions. This book presents new data on synuclein aggregation and its effect on cholesterol transport. It also discusses the role of genetic contribution to these diseases and approaches to inhibition of synuclein aggregation.

Dictyostelids

Dictyostelids PDF

Author: Maria Romeralo

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2013-07-30

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783642384868

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Since their discovery in 1869, the dictyostelids have attracted the attention of scientists in a wide variety of fields. This interest has stemmed from their peculiar lifestyle and developmental properties, which were shaped by the evolutionary forces that generated multicellularity during eukaryotic evolution. More recently, the dictyostelids have gained attention due to the striking similarities found at the genomic, cellular and biochemical levels with human cells, which has propelled the species Dictyostelium discoideum to become a model system for biology and medicine in many laboratories. This book covers the latest advances in our knowledge of these extraordinary organisms with topics spanning from their evolutionary history, ecology and diversity to the recent discoveries regarding their cellular and molecular biology.

Cellular Osmolytes

Cellular Osmolytes PDF

Author: Laishram Rajendrakumar Singh

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-05-09

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789811099472

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This book provides essential information on improving protein folding/stability, which is a result of the balance between the intra-molecular interactions of protein functional groups and their interactions with the solvent environment. The protein folding solvent environment mainly consists of salts, small molecule compounds, metabolites, molecular chaperones and other chemical species. Therefore, subtle change in the composition of the environment will alter the protein folding process. The importance of the solvent environment in protein folding is precisely due to the fact that various disease-causing proteopathies can be reversed by manipulating the solvent environment of the malfolded proteins. Hostile environmental stresses represent one of the basic causes of such challenges in protein folding or misfolding. Since cells commonly encounter extreme environmental fluctuations, it is crucial that they equip themselves with strategies to circumvent the hostile environmental conditions. Nature has developed many strategies to ensure that the complex and challenging protein folding reaction occurs with adequate efficiency and fidelity for the success of the organism. Among the strategies employed in a wide range of species and cell types is the elaboration of small organic molecules called osmolytes. Additionally, recent advances have also revealed that certain specific osmolytes might be key biomarkers of cancer, infectious diseases and vaccine flocculation. In fact, a large pool of data has been generated regarding their potential for the therapeutic intervention of neurodegenerative diseases and other metabolic disorders caused by protein aggregation or proteostasis failure. Reflecting the multiple applications of these small molecules in the health and other industries, this book combines contributions by respected leaders in the field and will help to inspire college students, basic researchers, and clinicians to translate these biological roles of osmolytes into clinical practice. It will also shed light on some important future prospects of osmolytes like their role as drug excipients and provide a deeper understanding of their mechanism of action in the prevention of neuro-degenerative diseases.

Brain Fables

Brain Fables PDF

Author: Alberto Espay

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-07-09

Total Pages: 179

ISBN-13: 1108893597

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An estimated 80 million people live with a neurodegenerative disease. That number is expected to increase rapidly as populations age, lifespans increase, and exposure to toxins rises. Despite decades of research and billions in funding, there are no medications that can slow, much less stop, the progress of these diseases. This is because diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's do not exist in biology. Yet, hundreds of clinical trials around the world are examining the potential of single therapies in thousands of people sharing one of these labels. Compounding the problem, these therapies were developed on evidence from models that do not come close to capturing the complexity of these diseases in the affected humans. These practices must end. Brain Fables is a call to refocus on understanding living and aging to create the personalized treatments each affected individual desperately needs.

Dendritic Spines

Dendritic Spines PDF

Author: Rafael Yuste

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2010-09-24

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 0262013509

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A leading neurobiologist explores the fundamental function of dendritic spines in neural circuits by analyzing different aspects of their biology, including structure, development, motility, and plasticity. Most neurons in the brain are covered by dendritic spines, small protrusions that arise from dendrites, covering them like leaves on a tree. But a hundred and twenty years after spines were first described by Ramón y Cajal, their function is still unclear. Dozens of different functions have been proposed, from Cajal's idea that they enhance neuronal interconnectivity to hypotheses that spines serve as plasticity machines, neuroprotective devices, or even digital logic elements. In Dendritic Spines, leading neurobiologist Rafael Yuste attempts to solve the “spine problem,” searching for the fundamental function of spines. He does this by examining many aspects of spine biology that have fascinated him over the years, including their structure, development, motility, plasticity, biophysical properties, and calcium compartmentalization. Yuste argues that we may never understand how the brain works without understanding the specific function of spines. In this book, he offers a synthesis of the information that has been gathered on spines (much of which comes from his own studies of the mammalian cortex), linking their function with the computational logic of the neuronal circuits that use them. He argues that once viewed from the circuit perspective, all the pieces of the spine puzzle fit together nicely into a single, overarching function. Yuste connects these two topics, integrating current knowledge of spines with that of key features of the circuits in which they operate. He concludes with a speculative chapter on the computational function of spines, searching for the ultimate logic of their existence in the brain and offering a proposal that is sure to stimulate discussions and drive future research.

The Zebrafish in Biomedical Research

The Zebrafish in Biomedical Research PDF

Author: Samuel Cartner

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2019-11-22

Total Pages: 720

ISBN-13: 0128124326

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The Zebrafish in Biomedical Research: Biology, Husbandry, Diseases, and Research Applications is a comprehensive work that fulfills a critical need for a thorough compilation of information on this species. The text provides significant updates for working vivarium professionals maintaining zebrafish colonies, veterinarians responsible for their care and well-being, zoologists and ethologists studying the species, and investigators using the species to gain critical insights into human physiology and disease. As the zebrafish has become an important model organism for the study of vertebrate development and disease, organ function, behavior, toxicology, cancer, and drug discovery, this book presents an important resource for future research. Presents a complete view of the zebrafish, covering their biology, husbandry, diseases and research applications Includes the work of world-renowned authors Provides the first authoritative and comprehensive treatment of zebrafish in biomedical research as part of the ACLAM series

Neurotransmitter Release

Neurotransmitter Release PDF

Author: Hugo J. Bellen

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13:

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Understanding the mechanisms that underlie brain activity and function remains one of the major frontiers of biology. All the processes of how we co-ordinate our movements, sense our surroundings, react to stimuli and learn and retain information rely on complicated networks of neurons thatcommunicate with each other and their targets. This fast and accurate intercellular signalling most occurs at synapses, specialized processes of neurons that release chemical signals, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters: Frontiers in Molecular Biology will provide the reader withextensive background information on neurotransmitter release. It takes a multidisciplinary approach, but does not assume previous knowledge having basic introductions to most topics. Topics however are covered in enough detail to be of interest to experts in the field. Throughout, emphasis is placedon the rationale by which proteins are assigned specific functions rather than just providing facts about function. The first chapter provides an introduction to the basic features and properties of the synapse and is followed by a chapter detailing several important techniques used to elucidatevarious aspects of release. Chapters 3 describes many of the biochemical approaches used to identify proteins involved in neurotransmitter release and then chapters 4 and 5 focus on more specific aspects of synaptic transmission: the proteins that transport neurotransmitters and the role ofphosphlipids in the process. The next five chapters concentrate on approaches to unravel the function of many proteins in vivo by using toxins, giant squid axons, C. elegans, Drosophila, and mice. The final chapter summarizes current knowledge on endocytosis and recycling. Knowledge of themolecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release has expanded tremendously over the last 10 years. Many of the proteins involved have been isolated, but their roles have yet to be determined. These discoveries will be a major challenge and it is therefore the major aim of this book not onlyto provide information but also to generate excitement.