Signal Transduction, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Bastien D. Gomperts (Author), Ijsbrand M. Kramer (Author), Peter E.R. Tatham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0123694418 | ISBN-13: 978-0123694416 | Edition: 2

Signal Transduction, 2e

Bastien D. Gomperts
University College, London, United Kingdom
Ijsbrand M. Kramer
University of Bordeaux, Talence, France
Peter E.R. Tatham
University College, London, United Kingdom
Miranda Gomperts

KEY FEATURES:
* Up-to-date, inclusive coverage of targeting transduction pathways for research and medical intervention
* In-depth coverage of nuclear receptors, including steps in isolation of steriod hormones and the discovery of intracellular hormone receptors; Tyrosine protein kinases and adaptive immunity; and intracellular calcium
* Extensive conceptual colour artwork to assist with comprehension of key topics
* Instrumental margin notes highlight milestones in signalling mechanisms

DESCRIPTION:
Signal Transduction is a thorough, well-illustrated study in cellular signaling processes. Beginning with the basics, this book shows how cells respond to external cues, hormones, growth factors, cytokines, cell surfaces, etc., and further instructs how these inputs are integrated. Instruction continues with up-to-date, inclusive coverage of intracellular calcium, nuclear receptors, tyrosine protein kinases and adaptive immunity, and targeting transduction pathways for research and medical intervention. Signal Transduction serves as an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduates, graduate researchers, and established scientists working in cell biology, pharmacology, immunology, and related fields.

RELATED TITLES:
Latchman: EUKARYOTIC TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS, 3E (1998; ISBN: 0-12-437176-0; $62.95)

· In-depth insight into a subject central to cell biology and fundamental to biomedicine, including drug development

· Extensive conceptual colour artwork to assist with comprehension of key topics

· Special emphasis on the integration of how molecular (domain) structure determines protein function

· Comprehensive referencing of both core and historical literature

· Guided access and inclusion of Protein Data Bank and Swiss-Prot accession codes and URLs

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Signal Transduction is indispensable for modern life sciences."
-BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY (April 2003)

"...most useful to senior undergrad and grad students entering the field, but will also provide a valuable reference for established researchers."
-CELL

"The text is strikingly comprehensive...Written with a single voice, the chapters integrate elegantly with one another, and provide the reader with both broad and comprehensive viewpoints...Remarkably current and up-to-date, the book promises to be a core text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in cell signaling and molecular cell biology, and a valuable reference book for all scientists whose work involves mechanisms of cell communication."
-Michael B. Yaffe, M.I.T. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Book Description

Paperback version of the popular and essential text on cell signaling processes. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 2 edition (August 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0123694418
• ISBN-13: 978-0123694416
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Cell Biology
  • #57 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Immunology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Comprehensive Signal Transduction Textbook at Last!, April 11, 2002

By 

Michael B. Yaffe (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Signal Transduction (Hardcover)

Anyone who has surveyed the collection of existing textbooks on signal transduction realizes that they come in two basic flavors - those that cover alot of ground in an extremely superficial fashion, and those that delve in depth into a few narrow area while leaving vast tracts of the subject untouched. In addition, most texts are written on a chapter-by-chapter basis by different authors, leaving these texts more a collection of essays than a comprehensive review.
Gomperts, Kramer and Tatham's book has suceeded dramatically where most of the others have failed. The text is strikingly comprehensive, covering nearly all major areas of signal transduction including receptors, G proteins, calcium signaling, protein and lipid kinases and phosphatases, growth factors and cell adhesion. It is the first book I have seen that integrates historical, pharmacological, and physiological findings in these areas with the biochemistry and fine molecular detail of the molecules involved. Written with a single voice, the chapters integrate elegantly with one another, and provide the reader with both broad and comprehensive viewpoints - one sees the forest AND the trees! Remarkably current and up-to-date, the book promises to be a core text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in cell signaling and molecular cell biology, and a valuable reference book for all scientists whose work involves mechanisms of cell communication.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good work for the advanced undergraduate., October 19, 2004

By 

Jeffrey James Melton (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signal Transduction (Paperback)

My research group used a previous edition of this text in a seminar series during our weekly group meetings as a review text. It is very good at introducing the subject matter or serving as a refresher for students. The background info adds a nice touch. The ample illustrations help convey the information for the visual learners among us.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Look at an Important Part of How Our Bodies Work, and Sometimes Don't, February 14, 2007

By 

Edward F. Strasser "Éad" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signal Transduction (Paperback)

The authors intended this book for students and professionals. I don't fall into either group but I enjoyed it and learned from it, so I'm reviewing it for other similarly inclined non-scientists.

Cell-to-cell communication is of supreme importance to multicellular organisms and so it is of interest from many points of view. For example, I am very interested in its role in evolutionary developmental biology. Other people will be more interested in hormones, nerve signaling, et al. Signal Transduction is that part of communication that happens inside the cell, between the signal and the DNA. Thus it doesn't include neurotransmitters which activate ion channels in the membrane, nor does it include steroids, which pass through the membrane and into the nucleus. Nevertheless, it covers most cell communication. In particular, there is a lot of material on G-protein-coupled receptors, which make up a majority of the receptors, and tyrosine kinase receptors, which are also plentiful.

As the authors describe it, chapters 1-9 are on the "nuts and bolts" of transduction. This includes a very brief introduction to intercellular signaling molecules (such as hormones and neurotransmitters) and receptors, followed by some details about the internals, including calcium ions and phosphate exchange. In the second part, "attention is concentrated on transduction processes set in action by growth factors and adhesion molecules". There is also a short section on insulin. This part fills in the chains from the receptors to the DNA and describes the processes which regulate the chains and switch them off after they've done their jobs.

The choice of emphasis in the second part allows the authors to spend some time on cancer. Failure in the growth factor pathways can cause cells to proliferate out of control; failure in cell adhesion can result in metastasis. Accordingly, there are sections on the cell cycle, the transformations of cancer cells, and apoptosis.

(For more details, click above on "See all Editorial Reviews".)

I said that I am not a scientist, but that doesn't mean that Signal Transduction is a book for beginners. The reader must have some experience with molecular biology diagrams in which symbols stand for molecules that are interacting with each other. Some biochemistry is required, though not a lot. The reader will need to know what amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides are. If you're unsure if this is the level for you, it might help you to click on my name above and read the "In My Own Words" part of my profile and to click on "Read all my reviews" to get some idea of what I've been reading. Signal Transduction isn't the most advanced book that I've read, but it's more advanced than most.

The book jacket calls this book a "text reference" and a "valuable resource". That is the right way to see it; I have already used it to help me understand some articles on the Internet. But I also recommend that you read the book at least once all the way through, both to get the lay of the land and to enjoy this fine book.

I mentioned that cell signaling is very important in evolutionary developmental biology ("Evo-Devo"). For any reader interested in that subject, I highly recommend Sean Carroll's From DNA to Diversity. If you are interested in evolution, note in Signal Transduction how enormous complexity comes about through duplication and modification of genes; indeed, whole transduction chains can be regarded as modules that are duplicated with modification.

If you want to know more about what happens at the other end of the chain, at the DNA, I recommend Molecular Biology of the Gene by Watson, et al. If you want to know more about cancer, there is an excellent elementary book, Molecular Biology of Cancer, by Lauren Pecorino; this book helped prepare me for Signal Transduction.