Nutrients and Cell Signaling

While cell signaling has been a major focus of molecular biology for more than 30 years, only recently have the direct roles of nutrients in cell signaling received the proper recognition. This book provides a comprehensive review of the roles of nutrients in cell signaling. Leading experts in nutrient-dependent cell signaling discuss a broad range of topics and include select examples from an array of areas. These examples describe nuclear receptors, transcription factors, and signaling cascades; nitric oxide; chromatin structure; amino acids, lipids, and glycation; calcium dependent signaling; feeding and nutrient homeostasis; and more.

Cell signaling is at the core of most biological processes from the simplest to the most complex. In addition to unicellular organisms possessing the essential ability to receive inputs with regard to nutrient availability and noxious stimuli, the cells in multicellular organisms require signaling from adjacent, as well as distant cells to maintain normal internal function, including growth, differentiation, and homeostasis. Conversely, the etiology of many disease processes, such as those involving immune system dysfunction and tumor development, have been traced to aberrant cell signaling.

Nutrients and Cell Signaling, in presenting contributions from a wide array of experts in the field, fully delineates the role of nutrients in cell signaling. The text emphasizes broad concepts and covers all major groups of nutrients. Contributors discuss the role of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in essential processes such as cell proliferation, immune function, and DNA repair.

The editors have organized the work to provide select examples organized under these contemporary research areas:

Nuclear receptors, transcription factors, and signaling cascades

Amino acids, lipids, and glycation

Insulin release, signaling, and insulin resistance

Calcium-dependent signaling

Feeding and nutrient homeostasis

Nutrients and Cell Signaling answers the need in the post-genomic era, for an authoritative resource that provides an in-depth understanding of how these complex and dynamic biomolecular networks control cell function. Those professionals and students in molecular biology, nutrition, biochemistry, as well as any branch involved with cell signaling and function will find this book to be an invaluable tool in promoting both understanding and further inquiry.