Molecular Endocrinology

Department of Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK. Department of Medicine, UCL Medical School, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.

Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Single-letter codes for amino acids Preface -- 1 Basis of gene structure and function. S.M. Farrow -- Introduction -- Gene transcription to polypeptide synthesis -- Gene transcription -- Regulation of gene transcription -- Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression -- Translational regulation -- Concluding remarks -- References -- 2 Molecular analysis of gene structure and function. P.M. Brickell -- Introduction -- Detecting mutations in genes -- Analysing the regulation of gene expression -- Molecular ‘fingerprinting’ of DNA and RNA populations -- Isolating differentially expressed genes by subtractive hybridization -- Analysing gene function in transgenic mice -- Identifying protein-protein interactions -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Mechanism of action of peptide hormones. S. Barker -- Introduction -- Receptor protein structure-function relationships -- Signal transduction pathways -- Regulation of the response -- Future perspectives -- References -- 4 The steroid hormone superfamily of receptors. VK.K. Chatterjee, R.J. Clifton-Bligh and C. Matthews -- Introduction -- Structure-function relationships in nuclear receptors -- Nuclear hormone receptor mutations and disease -- Nuclear receptor knockouts -- Conclusions -- References -- 5 Molecular insights into mechanisms regulating glucose homeostasis. PR. Shepherd -- Introduction -- The role of the endocrine pancreas -- The role of liver, muscle and adipose tissue in the regulation of glucose homeostasis -- Role of insulin-signalling pathways in maintaining glucose homeostasis -- Integration of the individual components regulating glucose homeostasis -- Conclusion -- References -- 6 PTHrP in calcium homeostasis. T.J. Martin and M. T. Gillespie -- Introduction -- Hypercalcaemia in cancer - the role of PTHrP -- Characterization of PTHrP -- The PTHrP gene -- Regulation of PTHrP expression -- PTH, PTHrP and calcium receptors -- Tissue distribution of PTHrP - its functions as a cytokine -- PTHrP and placental calcium transport -- PTHrP in lactation -- PTHrP in bone -- Receptor-related genetic disorders -- References -- 7 Molecular biology of growth. W.R. Baumbach, B. Bingham and -- JR. Zysk -- The growth hormone axis -- The hypothalamic hormones GRF and SRIF and their receptors -- GH -- GH receptors and binding proteins -- IGF-I, its receptor and binding proteins -- Concluding remarks -- References -- 8 Molecular biology of steroid biosynthesis. G. Rumsby -- Introduction -- The enzymes -- Regulation of steroidogenesis -- Developmental regulation of steroidogenesis -- Conclusion -- References -- 9 Genetics of hypertension and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. PC. White -- Introduction -- Angiotensinogen -- Steroid 11 (3-hydroxylase isozymes -- llp-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase -- The amiloride-inhibitable epithelial sodium channel -- References -- 10 Sex differentiation, gonadal development and reproductive function.G.S. Conway -- Introduction -- Sex differentiation and gonadal development -- The hormonal control of reproductive function -- Conclusions -- References -- Index.