Hideharu Numata – Författare

There is more to biological rhythms than circadian clocks. It highlights new developments, summarizes existing knowledge, and integrates different perspectives with the tools and ideas of diverse fields of current biology. For predominantly pragmatic reasons, research in recent decades was mostly concerned with circadian clocks.

There is more to biological rhythms than circadian clocks. This book aims at promoting the exciting potential of a deeper understanding of circannual, circatidal, and circalunar clocks. It highlights new developments, summarizes existing knowledge, and integrates different perspectives with the tools and ideas of diverse fields of current biology.For predominantly pragmatic reasons, research in recent decades was mostly concerned with circadian clocks. Clocks on other timescales, however, have been largely neglected and therefore still appear "enigmatic". Thanks to the rapid development of methods in molecular biology as well as in ecology, we are now able to re-approach these clocks. Laboratories around the world are showing fresh interest and substantial progress is being made in many independent projects. The book's two sections address the moon-derived circatidal, circasemilunar, and lunar cycles on the one hand (10 chapters), and the sun-derived circannual cycleson the other (6 chapters). This work brings together authors with an expansive array of expertise and study systems, ranging from tidal cycles of marine invertebrates to annual cycles of birds and mammals, and from behavioral to genetic and epigenetic backgrounds. While great challenges remain to be mastered, the book aims at conveying the excitement of unraveling, broadly, the rhythms of life.

This book reviews the chemical structure, biosynthesis and function of insect juvenile hormone (JH). JH possesses a unique sesquiterpenoid structure that is uncommon among animal hormones. Since Sir Vincent Wigglesworth first reported the function of JH using an insect of Heteroptera in 1934, its structure and properties have long attracted the attention of many insect physiologists. Moreover, its unique chemical structure and biosynthetic process have led to the expectation that it could be developed for applications such as pest control.Starting from the history of JH research, this book covers its chemical structure, biosynthesis, functions, and applications. The book focuses on the findings that have been clarified in recent years, such as the chemical structure, the biosynthetic processes, receptors and molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating various physiological functions in JH, while also referring to the classical properties of the hormone. The book also emphasizes applied research, exploring the potential of new insecticides and examining the impact of JH on environmental responses.With contributions from international experts, the book culminates the 90 years of JH research, highlighting the contributions of the Japanese research community to its advancement and its global significance. The editors are the leading researchers who first found the key enzyme in the JH biosynthesis and determined the chemical structure of the JH specific to Heteroptera.Target audiences are researchers and graduate students in biological sciences, especially insect endocrinology and molecular biology. Industry professionals and those interested in environmental science and applied ecology may also find this book of interest.

This book reviews the physiological mechanisms of diverse insect clocks, including circadian clock, lunar clock, tidal clock, photoperiodism, circannual rhythms and others.