Cover 1
Contents 6
Contributors 10
Preface 12
Chapter 1: Similarities Between Angiogenesis and Neural Development: What Small Animal Models Can Tell Us 15
I. Introduction 16
II. Small Animal Models to Study Blood and Vessel Guidance 18
A. Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematode Worm) 19
B. D. melanogaster (Fruit Fly) 23
C. Zebrafish 27
D. Xenopus 30
III. Vascular and Neural Cell-Fate Specification 34
IV. Molecular Links Between Angiogenesis and Neurogenesis 36
V. Similarities in the Organization of Vascular and Neural Boundaries 38
VI. Molecular Cues Involved in Nerve and Vessel Guidance 40
A. Axon Growth Cones and Endothelial Tip Cells 40
B. Common Signals for Axon and Blood Vessel Wiring 42
VII. Perspectives 55
Acknowledgments 56
References 56
Chapter 2: Junction Restructuring and Spermatogenesis: The Biology, Regulation, and Implication in Male Contraceptive Development 71
I. Introduction 72
II. Anchoring Junctions in the Testes: An Update 74
A. Actin-Based Adherencs Junctions 74
B. Testis-Specific AJs: ES and TBC 74
C. Intermediate Filament-Based Anchoring Junctions 76
III. Roles of ECM Proteins in Junction Dynamics in the Testes 77
A. Collagens 77
B. Laminins 78
C. Laminin Receptors 83
IV. Role of Androgens in Junction Dynamics in Testes 86
A. Introduction 86
B. Models to Study the Role of Androgen in Spermatogenesis 87
V. Regulation of Junction Turnover by Protein Endocytosis and Recycling 90
A. An Overview 90
B. Recent Advances on Studies Investigating the Role of Endocytosis in Junction Dynamics in the Testis 91
VI. Regulation of Junction Dynamics by Myoid Cells 93
VII. Environmental Toxicants: Are They Targeting the Tight and/or Anchoring Junction? 95
VIII. Concluding Remarks 96
Acknowledgments 97
References 97
Chapter 3: Substrates of the Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase System and Their Physiological Relevance 107
I. Introduction 108
A. Msr System 109
II. Regulated Substrates 110
A. Alpha1-Antitrypsin 111
B. Calmodulin 111
C. High-Density Lipoprotein 112
D. Inhibitor of Kappa B-Alpha 114
E. Potassium Channels 114
F. Thrombomodulin 116
G. Tissue Plasminogen Activator 116
III. Scavenging Substrates 117
A. Blood Clotting Cascade/Fibrinolysis 117
B. Cytokines 118
C. Enzymes 120
D. Heat Shock Proteins 120
E. Hormones 122
F. Mucus Protease Inhibitor 122
IV. Modified Substrates with "Damaged" Effects 123
A. Enzymes 123
B. Heme Proteins 126
C. Hormones 127
D. Neurodegenerative Disease Associated 130
E. Serine Protease Inhibitors (Serpins) 133
F. Snake Venom Toxins 134
G. Miscellaneous Substrates 135
V. Discussion 137
References 139
Chapter 4: Organic Anion-Transporting Polypeptides at the Blood-Brain and Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barriers 149
I. Introduction 150
II. BBB Structure and Function 150
III. BCSFB Structure and Function 152
IV. The OATP/Oatp Superfamily 154
V. Molecular Architecture of the Oatp Superfamily 156
VI. Oatp Substrate Structural Features 159
VII. OATP/Oatp Expression and Action at the BBB and BCSFB 162
VIII. Specific Oatps/Oatps Expressed at BBB and BCSFB 165
A. Oatp1a1 165
B. OATP1A2 165
C. Oatp1a4 167
D. Oatp1a5 167
E. Oatp1c1 168
F. Oatp2a1 168
IX. PG Metabolism and Oatps 169
X. Oatp-Mediated Transport of Conjugated Endobiotics 172
XI. Oxidation, Conjugation, and Transport Metabolism of DHEA and Estradiol (E2) in the Brain 173
A. Oxidative Metabolism 173
B. Conjugation Metabolism 174
C. Transport Metabolism 175
XII. Summary 177
Acknowledgments 178
References 178
Chapter 5: Mechanisms and Evolution of Environmental Responses in Caenorhabditis elegans 185
I. Introduction 186
II. Interactions Between Organism and Environment 187
A. Environmental Effects on the Phenotype 187
B. Environmental Sensitivity of the Phenotype 187
C. Role and Evolutionary Significance of Environmental Sensitivity of Development 189
III. The Nematode C. elegans 190
A. General Biology 190
B. Natural Environment 191
C. Laboratory Environment 193
IV. Overview of C. elegans Responses to the Environment 194
A. Perception and Transduction of Environmental Signals 194
B. Global Responses in Physiology and Gene Expression 196
C. Stress Responses 196
D. Immune Responses 197
E. Behavioral Responses 197
F. Developmental, Morphological, and Life History Responses 198
G. Evolution of Environmental Responses 198
V. Phenotypic Plasticity of C. elegans Dauer Formation 200
A. Characteristics of the Dauer Larva 200
B. Environmental Cues Regulating Dauer Development 201
C. Perception and Transduction of Environmental Cues 202
D. Evolution of Dauer Formation 203
VI. Environmental Robustness of C. elegans Vulva Formation 204
A. Vulva Development 205
B. Environmental Robustness of the Final Vulva Phenotype 207
C. Environmental Sensitivity of Vulva Developmental Processes 208
D. Developmental and Molecular Features Causing Robustness to Variation in the Environment 209
E. Evolution of Vulval Development 211
VII. Conclusion 212
Acknowledgments 212
References 213
Chapter 6: Molluscan Shell Proteins: Primary Structure, Origin, and Evolution 223
I. Introduction: The Shell, a Biologically Controlled Mineralization 224
II. Molluscan Shell Formation: Developmental Aspects 226
A. The Larval Shell 226
B. The Juvenile and Adult Shell 231
C. Transient Amorphous Calcium Carbonate 234
III. The Topographic Models of Shell Mineralization 235
A. Early Nacre Descriptions and Models 236
B. Recent Nacre Models and Evolving Views 238
C. Prism Models 240
IV. Molluscan Shell Proteins: Characterization of Their Primary Structure 243
A. Extremely Acidic Shell Proteins 245
B. Moderately Acidic Shell Proteins 248
C. Basic Shell Proteins 252
D. Partially Characterized Shell Proteins 255
E. Other Molluscan Proteins: The Extrapallial Fluid and the Mantle 262
F. Remarks on Molluscan Shell Proteins 265
V. Origin and Evolution of Molluscan Shell Proteins 268
A. The Cambrian Origin of Mollusk Shell Mineralization 268
B. The "Ancient Heritage" Scenario 270
C. The "Recent Heritage and Fast Evolution" Scenario 272
D. Long-Term Evolution of Shell Matrices and Microstructures: The Bivalve Example 274
VI. Concluding Remarks 276
Acknowledgments 277
References 277
Chapter 7: Pathophysiology of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Animal Models and Methods 291
I. The Blood-Brain Barrier 292
A. Introduction 292
B. Regulation of Paracellular Permeability 293
C. Catalyzed Transport and Biotransformation 296
D. Endocytotic Transport 298
E. The Neurovascular Unit and the Limitations of In Vitro Models 299
II. Animal-Based Methods in BBB Pathophysiology 299
A. General Considerations 299
B. Brain Uptake Measurements 301
C. In Vivo Imaging 304
D. Genomic/Proteomic Approaches 305
III. BBB Dysfunction as a Complication of Peripheral Disease 306
A. The BBB in CNS Disease 306
B. The BBB in Diabetes 307
C. Inflammatory Pain and the BBB 308
IV. The BBB in Disease Etiology 309
V. Concluding Remarks 311
Acknowledgments 311
References 311
Chapter 8: Genetic Manipulation of Megakaryocytes to Study Platelet Function 325
I. Introduction 326
II. Culture and Differentiation of Megakaryocytes 327
A. Bone Marrow-Derived Megakaryocytes 329
B. Feta Liver-Derived Megakaryocytes 330
C. Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Megakaryocytes 330
D. Other Sources of Megakaryocytes 332
E. Characterization of Megakaryocytes 332
III. Genetic Manipulation of Megakaryocytes 334
A. Sindbis Virus-Mediated Transduction 334
B. Retrovirus-Mediated Transduction 334
C. Lentivirus-Mediated Transduction 337
D. RNA Interference in Megakaryocytes 339
IV. Current Use and Future Application of Megakaryocytes 339
A. Use of Megakaryocytes to Study Integrin aIIbbeta3 Signaling 339
B. The Study of Proplatelet Formation in Cultured Megakaryocytes 343
C. Potential Uses of Human Megakaryocytes to Treat Inherited Platelet Disorders 344
Acknowledgments 345
References 346
Chapter 9: Genetics and Epigenetics of the Multifunctional Protein CTCF 351
I. History of CTCF Discovery 352
II. Multifunctional Nature of CTCF Versus Its Multiple Sequence Specificity 352
III. CTCF Functions in Epigenetic Regulation in Development 358
A. Regulation of Genomic Imprinting 358
B. CTCF Role in X-Chromosome Inactivation 359
IV. CTCF Function in Chromatin Organization of Repetitive Elements 360
V. Is CTCF a Tumor Suppressor Gene? 362
A. Genetic Basis for Deregulation of CTCF in Cancer 362
B. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Selective Loss of CTCF Function in Cancer 364
C. Genetics and Epigenetics of CTCF in Cancer 365
VI. Concluding Remarks 367
Acknowledgments 367
References 368
Index 375
Contents of Previous Volumes 387