Molecular Chaperones in the Cell

Interest in molecular chaperones has grown exponentially over the last decade. Molecular Chaperones recognise nascet and unfolded polypeptide chains and are often essential for their folding, proteolytic processing, intracellular targeting, and secretion. They are vital for cell growth, with key roles in processes as diverse as signal transduction and stress survival. Much work has already been done in understanding the structure and function of the major molecular chaperones, and more recently the emphasis in research has shifted towrd exploring their precise roles in many different processes with which they are involved inside the cell. This aspect of molecular chaperone biology is the focus of this book. Here, the field's leading experts synthesise our body of knowledge into succinct chapters, and the reader gains not only a fuller understanding of the roles of chaperones in the context of cellular processes, but also an insight into the nature of these proteins and their breath of definition. This book represents an invaluable summary of the state of research in this fast moving highly important branch of molecular biology, which has ramifications for understanding not only many diverse cellular processes, but also give important insights into diseases such as BSE, CJD, and Alzhemier's disease, which invole protein misfolding.

Readership: Research scientists, graduate students in cell biology with interests in protein function and the role of molecular chaperones; advanced undergraduate students.

Edited by Peter Lund, School of BioSciences, University of Birmingham

"Review from previous edition: The book is, and will remain for the next years, a valuable source of information for anybody interested in the cell biology of molecular chaperones." - Journal of Cell Science

1: Axel Mogk, Bernd Bukau, and Elke Deuerling: Cellular functions of Cytosolic E.coli chaperones
2: Nellie Harms, Joen Luirink, Bauke Oudega: Chaperones in secretion pathways of E.coli
3: Wolfgang Voos and Nikolaus Pfanner: The role of chaperone proteins in the import and assembly of proteins in mitochondria and chloroplasts
4: Keith R Willison and Julie Grantham: The roles of the cytosolic chaperone, CCt, in normal eukaryotic cell growth
5: Christine Pfund, Wei Yan, and Elizabeth Craig: The roles of the major cytoplasmic chaperones in normal eukaryotic cell growth: Hsc70 and its cofactors
6: Jaewhan Song and Richard I. Morimoto: Hsp70 chaperone networks: the role of regulatory co-chaperones in co-ordinating stress responses with cell growth and death
7: David F. Smith: Chaperones in signal transduction
8: Marc F. Pelletier, John J.M. Bergeron, and David Y. Thomas: Molecular chaperone systems in the endoplasmic reticulum
9: Michael Maurizi: The function of chaperones and proteases in protein quality control and intracellular protein degradation
10: Peter Lund: Regulation of expression of molecular chaperones
11: Neil M. Kad and Sheena E. Radford: partial unfolding as a precursor to amyloidosis: a discussion of the occurrence, role, and Implications