Cell membranes are not, as once believed, inert structures designed to contain the cell contents, but are in fact dynamic structures that are as me- bolically active as the cytosol and other cellular compartments they surround. Thus membranes not only contain mixtures of lipid and phospholipids, but also many proteins both embedded deeply within the membrane structure itself and also more loosely attached on the membrane surfaces. Though many such proteins have long been known to act as transport proteins, ion channels, hormone receptors, G proteins, cytoskeletal anchorage points, and so on, the major advance of recent years is the increasing understanding that the lipids and phospholipids in the membrane bilayer itself are also metabolized to b- logically active products that can diffuse either in the cytosol or in the m- brane bilayer to control the function of other proteins. Thus the concept of lipid-derived second messengers is now firmly established.
Reviews
". . . the detailed information provided in Phospholipid Signaling Protocols makes it a welcome addition to an academic library that serves scientists actively working in the area of second messenger and membrane lipid chemistry. It is well representative of the previous volumes in the Methods in Molecular Biology series, and therefore is a worthwhile acquisition."-E-Streams

". . .this book is an extremely valuable resource for methodology in studying the molecular species of key phospholipid signaling molecules, as well as the enzymes that produce or degrade them. I personally have used several protocols in this book, and have not had any trouble adapting the methods to my own applications."-The Quarterly Review of Biology

"...gives an excellent overview of the most common techniques in use as well in biochemistry and molecular biology...The editor is to be congratulated for putting these diverse, very important protocols together..."-Cell Biology International 2000

"...does a very good job of covering what is a fairly diverse field and the protocols described would allow any well equipped laboratory to tackle lipid analysis. There are currently very few books on the market addressing this important area of biochemistry and this volume would be a valuable addition to the collection of any laboratory studying lipid signaling molecules."-Molecular Biotechnology

"...does a very good job covering what is a fairly diverse field and the protocols described would allow any well equipped laboratory to tackle lipid analysis. There are currently very few books on the market addressing this important area of biochemistry and this volume would be a valuable addition to the collection of any laboratory studying lipid signalling molecules." - Molecular Biotechnology



Book Information
ISBN 9780896034914
Author Ian Bird
Format Hardback
Page Count 380
Imprint Humana Press Inc.
Publisher Humana Press Inc.