Recently added articles from Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:
Role of Type 2C Protein Phosphatases in Growth Regulation and in Cellular Stress Signaling
Nov 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT A number of interesting features, phenotypes, and potential clinical applications have recently been ascribed to the type 2C family of protein phosphatases. Thus far, 16 different PP2C genes have been identified in the human genome, encoding (by means of alternative splicing) for at ...
Encoding Olfactory Signals via Multiple Chemosensory Systems
Nov 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Most animals have evolved multiple olfactory systems to detect general odors as well as social cues. The sophistication and interaction of these systems permit precise detection of food, danger, and mates, all crucial elements for survival. In most mammals, the nose contains two well ...
Glycan Antagonists and Inhibitors: A Fount for Drug Discovery
Nov 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Glycans, the carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycolipids, represent a relatively unexploited area for drug development compared with other macromolecules. This review describes the major classes of glycans synthesized by animal cells, their mode of assembly, and ...
Genetic Constraints on Protein Evolution
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Evolution requires the generation and optimization of new traits ("adaptation") and involves the selection of mutations that improve cellular function. These mutations were assumed to arise by selection of neutral mutations present at all times in the population. Here we review recent ...
Stationary Phase Mutagenesis in B. subtilis: A Paradigm to Study Genetic Diversity Programs in Cells Under Stress
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT One of the experimental platforms to study programs increasing genetic diversity in cells under stressful or nondividing conditions is adaptive mutagenesis, also called stationary phase mutagenesis or stress-induced mutagenesis. In some model systems, there is evidence that mutagenesis ...
Controlling Mutation: Intervening in Evolution as a Therapeutic Strategy
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Mutation is the driving force behind many processes linked to human disease, including cancer, aging, and the evolution of drug resistance. Mutations have traditionally been considered the inevitable consequence of replicating large genomes with polymerases of finite fidelity ....
The Hsp90 Capacitor, Developmental Remodeling, and Evolution: The Robustness of Gene Networks and the Curious Evolvability of Metamorphosis
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Genetic capacitors moderate expression of heritable variation and provide a novel mechanism for rapid evolution. The prototypic genetic capacitor, Hsp90, interfaces stress responses, developmental networks, trait thresholds and expression of wide-ranging morphological changes in ...
Stress-Induced Mutagenesis in Bacteria
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Bacteria spend their lives buffeted by changing environmental conditions. To adapt to and survive these stresses, bacteria have global response systems that result in sweeping changes in gene expression and cellular metabolism. These responses are controlled by master regulators, which ...
Mutation as a Stress Response and the Regulation of Evolvability
Sep 01, 2007; ... ABSTRACT Our concept of a stable genome is evolving to one in which genomes are plastic and responsive to environmental changes. Growing evidence shows that a variety of environmental stresses induce genomic instability in bacteria, yeast, and human cancer cells, generating occasional fitter ...