Avia Rosenhouse-Dantsker - Böcker

In this book, renowned scientists describe the role of steroid chirality and modification of lipid membrane physical properties in the modulation of G protein-coupled receptors and ion channels. The application of commonly-used technical approaches such as mass spectrometry and nucleic magnetic resonance transfer spectroscopy for studies on cholesterol distribution and alteration of lipid bilayer characteristics is also discussed. This book offers comprehensive insights into the current understanding of cholesterol-driven modulation of protein function via mechanisms that extend beyond lipid-protein direct interactions.  In the first part, the chapters introduce the reader to the use of the chemical derivatives of cholesterol as a valuable laboratory tool in the studies of cholesterol-driven modulation of protein function. In the second part, examples of cholesterol-induced changes in membrane physical characteristics are presented and discussed in light of their multifaceted contribution to the effect of cholesterol on protein function. The book will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students as well as basic science and medical researchers with a keen interest in the biophysical properties of cholesterol and physiological consequences of cholesterol presence in biological systems.

In this book, renowned scientists describe how cholesterol interacts with various proteins. In the second part of the book, examples of cholesterol binding sites and consequences of specific cholesterol recognition for protein function are presented for G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels and cholesterol-transporting proteins.

In this book, renowned scientists describe how cholesterol interacts with various proteins. In the second part of the book, examples of cholesterol binding sites and consequences of specific cholesterol recognition for protein function are presented for G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels and cholesterol-transporting proteins.

Cholesterol is an essential component of the plasma membrane. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), although a minor phospholipid, is the most abundant membrane phosphoinositide. Both lipids play key roles in a variety of cellular functions including as signalling molecules and major regulators of protein function. Studies on these important lipids have traditionally focused on the effect of each lipid individually. Accumulating evidence indicates, however, that these lipids may cross-regulate each other’s levels. Furthermore, it is becoming evident that cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 can act together to modulate protein function and biological processes. This book provides an overview of cellular functions and molecular mechanisms in which cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 functions extend from parallel existence to crosstalk. It includes four sections. The first section introduces the reader to cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2. The second section demonstrates the mutual influence of these two critical lipids on their levels. The third section, divided into two parts, describes the co-modulation of protein function by cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2. The first part focuses on ion channels and the second - on lipid transfer proteins. The fourth section highlights other cellular processes at the intersection of cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 involvement. Collectively, the book portrays the emerging relationship between cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 in a broad array of biological systems and processes. The book will be of interest to a wide audience of research scientists with an interest in the biophysical properties of lipids and the physiological consequences of their presence in biological systems, as well as graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, basic and clinical researchers, and pharmaceutical scientists. Specifically, the content will be relevant to researchers in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biophysics, pharmacology, neurobiology, cardiovascular biology, among others.Provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of the interplay between cholesterol and PI(4,5) P2Provides an overview of the emerging relationship between cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 in biological systems and processesDiscusses cellular processes and molecular mechanisms where lipid functions extend from parallel existence to crosstalk

Unraveling the complex mechanisms governing the relationship between protein structure and function requires a multifaceted approach. In particular, the integration of experimental and computational approaches is exceptionally powerful in this context. However, while experimental techniques, such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), have been used for protein structure determination for over half a century, only in the last decade have computational tools gained sufficient power to assume a prominent role in the study of protein structure and function alongside experimental techniques. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of contemporary computational and experimental methods employed in protein structure-function studies, organized into two sections. The computational methods section delves into protein structure prediction, advanced simulation techniques, artificial intelligence and machine learning, ligand binding site identification, and protein-protein interaction prediction. The experimental methods section focuses on state-of-the-art structural methods, fluorescence microscopy, imaging techniques, and model membrane systems. This book is an invaluable resource for a wide audience of research scientists with an interest in the molecular and cellular facets of biological processes, especially those who seek to investigate the intricate world of proteins and their functions through cutting-edge methodologies.