Gaspar Banfalvi – författare

To prepare synchronized cells representing different stages of the cell cycle has been a great challenge for researchers across the globe.  In Cell Cycle Synchronization: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field supply detailed protocols providing first the theoretical background of the procedure then step-by-step instructions on how to implement synchronization as well as the latest techniques for the enhanced study of regulatory mechanisms to understand cell cycle events.  Describing synchronized cells from asynchronous bacterial, plant, protozoan, yeast, fish, and mammalian cell cultures, the synchronization methods presented in the book are based principally on two major strategies: the “arrest-and-release” approach, which involves different chemical treatments to block cells at certain stages of the cell cycle, and the physical strategy, which contains physical methods to collect cells belonging to subpopulations of the cell cycle.  Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

This book dealswith biological membranes, focuses on permeabilization and pays particularattention to reversible permeabilization to maintain the viability andphysiological conditions of the cells.

Selectivepermeability of biological membranes also known as semipermeability, partialpermeability or differential permeability allows molecules to diffuse, pass bypassive and active or by other types of transport processes mediated byproteins.

The firstchapter of the book deals with the composition of biological membranes,characterizes cellular membranes of prokaryotic, eukaryotic cells, membranes ofcellular organelles and the function of biological membranes. The second chapter provides an overview of bilayerpermeability, selectivity of permeabilization and cellular transportprocesses. Chapter3 overviews different cell manipulations that aim to make cells permeable whilemaintaining not only the structural but also the functional integrity of cells.The last chapter deals with applications, particularly withreversible permeabilization to study macromolecular (DNA, RNA, poly-ADP ribose)biosynthetic processes, replication, gene expression, visualization ofreplicons, intermediates of chromosome condensation, genotoxic chromatinchanges, upon treatment with heavy metals and different types of  irradiation. 

The interdisciplinaryaspects of the book contribute to the understanding of the structure of nucleicacids, replicative intermediates, Okazaki fragments, RNA primer mechanism,subphases of replication and repair synthesis, replicons, gene expression,chromosome condensation generated a wealth of information that will attract awide readership. The natural audience engaged in DNA research, includinggenetics, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine,pharmacy will find essential material in the book.   

The term “heavy metals” is used as a group name of toxic metals and metalloids (semimetals) causing contaminations and ecotoxicity. In strict chemical sense the density of heavy metals is higher than 5 g/cm3. From biological point of view as microelements they can be divided into two major groups. a. For their physiological function organisms and cells require essential microelements such as iron, chromium (III), cobalt, copper, manganese, molidenium, zinc. b. The other group of heavy metals is toxic to the health or environment. Of highest concern are the emissions of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl. The toxicity of heavy metals is well known at organizational level, while less attention has been paid to their cellular effects. This book describes the toxicity of heavy metals on microorganisms, yeast, plant and animal cells. Other chapters of the book deal with their genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. The toxicity of several metals touch upon the aspects of environmental hazard, ecosystems and human health. Among the cellular responses of heavy metals irregularities in cellular mechanisms such as gene expression, protein folding, stress signaling pathways are among the most important ones. The final chapters deal with biosensors and removal of heavy metals. As everybody is eating, drinking and exposed to heavy metals on a daily basis, the spirit of the book will attract a wide audience.

Homeostasis. The health of an organism is influenced by external and internal changes that may lead to the loss of homeostasis. Under healthy conditions organisms compensate these changes.  If compensation fails disease ensues. Attention will be paid to lifestyle, environmental changes, genetic makeup and health system. It will be answered  how lifestyle, environment, genetic makeup and social conditions help to maintain or upset the biological balance  and lead to cancer.Tumor formation. To understand this process the transfer of intracellular and the pathways of extracellular information (signal transduction) will be reviewed briefly. Loss of cellular balance may lead to cell death (.e.g. apoptosis) or to rapid cell growth of cells leading to tumor formation.Metastasis. Animal tumor models serve to understand the spread of the primary tumor cells to distant locations of the organism. Different types of tumors and metastases will be reviewed.​