Cholesterol And Pi45p2 In Vital Biological Functions

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.

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) P2 Provides an overview of the emerging relationship between cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 in biological systems and processes Discusses cellular processes and molecular mechanisms where lipid functions extend from parallel existence to crosstalk

In Bioactive lipids, Anna Nicolaou and George Kokotos have brought together an international team of authors to discuss the nomenclature, structures, biochemistry, pharmacology and recent developments in the main classes of bioactive lipids. These lipids are essential components of the cell membrane and play many dynamic roles in mediating and controlling a wide array of cellular activities including membrane structure and organization, metabolic and gene regulation, protein structure and function, energy production, and signalling pathways. The lipid interests of scientists in the pharmaceutical and food industries are converging as the broader significance of bioactive lipids is increasingly recognized. Lipids and lipid-metabolizing enzymes are targeted for the development of new drugs. Meanwhile, functional foods, nutraceuticals and supplements already have lipids as major active ingredients. The food industry will progress from simply using lipids as ingredients, to the formulation of products that influence the synthesis, metabolism and effects of bioactive lipids in the body. These advances in applied lipid biochemistry will build on the fundamental research of lipid scientists in universities worldwide, such as those scientists contributing to Bioactive lipids.

This book provides the first comprehensive coverage of the quickly evolving research field of membrane contact sites (MCS). A total of 16 chapters explain their organization and role and unveil the significance of MCS for various diseases. MCS, the intracellular structures where organellar membranes come in close contact with one another, mediate the exchange of proteins, lipids, and ions. Via these functions, MCS are critical for the survival and the growth of the cell. Owing to that central role in the functioning of cells, MCS dysfunctions lead to important defects of human physiology, influence viral and bacterial infection, and cause disease such as inflammation, type II diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. To approach such a multifaceted topic, this volume assembles a series of chapters dealing with the full array of research about MCS and their respective roles for diseases. Most chapters also introduce the history and the state of the art of MCS research, which will initiate discussion points for the respective types of MCS for years to come. This work will appeal to all cell biologists as well as researchers on diseases that are impacted by MCS dysfunction. Additionally, it will stimulate graduate students and postdocs who will energize, drive, and develop the research field in the near future.

This volume provides an overview of lipid mediators from synthesis to inhibition. It addresses the immune system and its diseases from a pharmacological viewpoint and combines clinical aspects with basic science.

This volume focuses on the modulation of biological membranes by specific biophysical properties. The readers are introduced to emerging biophysical approaches that mimick specific states (like membrane lipid asymmetry, membrane curvature, lipid flip-flop, lipid phase separation) that are relevant to the functioning of biological membranes. The first chapter describes innovative methods to mimic the prevailing asymmetry in biological membranes by forming asymmetrical membranes made of monolayers with different compositions. One of the chapters illustrates how physical parameters, like curvature and elasticity, can affect and modulate the interactions between lipids and proteins. This volume also describes the sensitivity of certain ion channels to mechanical forces and it presents an analysis of how cell shape is determined by both the cytoskeleton and the lipid domains in the membrane. The last chapter provides evidence that liposomes can be used as a minimal cellular model to reconstitute processes related to the origin of life. Each topic covered in this volume is presented by leading experts in the field who are able to present clear, authoritative and up-to-date reviews. The novelty of the methods proposed and their potential for a deeper molecular description of membrane functioning are particularly relevant experts in the areas of biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology, while also presenting clear and thorough introductions, making the material suitable for students in these fields as well.

""What is this cholesterol?"" In this book entitled ""Cholesterol- Good, Bad, and the Heart"" now you got the answers given by the experts in the field. Moreover, you can explore more by reading the references/citations given in the articles of each chapter. It is still an emerging field and lot more is being discovered. You will be amazed how much knowledge is already there in this book on cholesterol. You will realize that cholesterol is an essential and extremely important building block of cell membranes and thus serves vital functions in the body. I believe this book will be incredibly powerful and useful in teaching to give new perspectives on cholesterol.

This book deals with biological membranes, focuses on permeabilization and pays particular attention to reversible permeabilization to maintain the viability and physiological conditions of the cells. Selective permeability of biological membranes also known as semipermeability, partial permeability or differential permeability allows molecules to diffuse, pass by passive and active or by other types of transport processes mediated by proteins. The first chapter of the book deals with the composition of biological membranes, characterizes cellular membranes of prokaryotic, eukaryotic cells, membranes of cellular organelles and the function of biological membranes. The second chapter provides an overview of bilayer permeability, selectivity of permeabilization and cellular transport processes. Chapter 3 overviews different cell manipulations that aim to make cells permeable while maintaining not only the structural but also the functional integrity of cells. The last chapter deals with applications, particularly with reversible permeabilization to study macromolecular (DNA, RNA, poly-ADP ribose) biosynthetic processes, replication, gene expression, visualization of replicons, intermediates of chromosome condensation, genotoxic chromatin changes, upon treatment with heavy metals and different types of irradiation. The interdisciplinary aspects of the book contribute to the understanding of the structure of nucleic acids, 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 a wide readership. The natural audience engaged in DNA research, including genetics, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacy will find essential material in the book.

Free energy constitutes the most important thermodynamic quantity to understand how chemical species recognize each other, associate or react. Examples of problems in which knowledge of the underlying free energy behaviour is required, include conformational equilibria and molecular association, partitioning between immiscible liquids, receptor-drug interaction, protein-protein and protein-DNA association, and protein stability. This volume sets out to present a coherent and comprehensive account of the concepts that underlie different approaches devised for the determination of free energies. The reader will gain the necessary insight into the theoretical and computational foundations of the subject and will be presented with relevant applications from molecular-level modelling and simulations of chemical and biological systems. Both formally accurate and approximate methods are covered using both classical and quantum mechanical descriptions. A central theme of the book is that the wide variety of free energy calculation techniques available today can be understood as different implementations of a few basic principles. The book is aimed at a broad readership of graduate students and researchers having a background in chemistry, physics, engineering and physical biology.