Main description:

Cell signalling lies at the heart of many biological processes and currently is the focus of intense research interest. In multicellular organisms, it is central to how different types of cell communicate with each other and how they detect and respond to extracellular signals. Intercellular communication is vital to single-celled organisms as well, allowing them to respond to environmental cues and signals.

To date, much of the understanding of signalling mechanisms has come from research on specific cell types (eg mouse lymphocyte and cardiomyocyte) or on organisms in which communication systems such as nervous and endocrine systems are well established. This volume therefore aims to 'fill the gap' by concentrating on 'simple organisms' where the elements of those signalling systems first evolved. Many of the groups covered contain important pathogens or parasites, and the potential for manipulating signalling pathways for therapeutic intervention will be highlighted.

Contents:

Preface
1 G proteins and MAP kinase cascades in the pheromone response of fungi; Ann Kays, and Katherine A. Borkovich
2 Prokaryotic intercellular signalling - Mechanistic diversity and unified themes; Clay Fuqua and David White
3 Signal transduction mechanisms in protozoa; Fernando L. Renaud, Jose de Ondara, Pierangelo Luporini, Michael J. Marino, and Judy van Houten
4 Signalling systems in cnidaria; Werner Muller
5 Neuropeptides in cnidarians; Cornelis J.P. Grimrnelikhuijzen, Michael Williamson, and Georg N. Hansen
6 Signalling mechanisms in platyhelminths; Ian Fairweather
7 Control of Caenorhabditis elegans behaviour and development by G proteins big and small; Carol A. Bastiani, Melvin I. Simon, and Paul W. Sternberg
8 Electrophysiological and pharmacological studies on excitable tissues in nematides; Robert J. Walker, Candida M. Rogers, Christopher J. Franks, and Lindy Holden-Dye
9 Evidence for an annelid neuroendocrine system; Michel Saizet, Didier Vieau, and Christophe Breton
10 Ion channels of microbes; Christopher P. Palmer, Ann Batiza, Xin-Liang Zhou, Stephen H. Loukin, Yoshiro Saimi, and Ching Kung
11 Bacterial signal transduction: Two-component signal transduction as a model for therapeutic intervention; Lenore A. Pelosi, Kwasi A. Ohemeng, and John F. Barrett
Index