Description du livre
Toxins are produced by many prokaryotes, plants, and animals in an effort to gain an evolutionary advantage. They range in complexity from the ant's formic acid to bacterial proteins composed of thousands of amino acids. Their use in cell research has been of major significance in may areas; this book considers the more complex toxins, calling on the expertise of a wide range of contributors. Particularly useful are the cellular schemes and the grouping of toxins in relation to their modes of action and cellular effects.
Topics covered include:
*membrane-permeabilizing toxins
*toxins affecting signal transduction and protein synthesis
cytoskeleton-affecting toxins^l*toxins affecting the immune and inflammatory response
*toxins affecting membrane traffic
*toxins that target sodium, potassium, and calcium channels, and the acetylcholine receptor
*ryanodine receptor toxins
*presynaptic toxins
*toxins targeting the glutamate receptor
Toxins are being used extensively in a variety of research disciplines including cell biology, neuroscience, and toxicology, and this volume will be an essential guide to many entering the field or those readers who need basic information about what specific toxins might contribute to their research.