Redox Regulation of Cell Signaling and Its Clinical Application

Redox Regulation of Cell Signaling and Its Clinical Application Editors: PACKER, Lester, PhD (UC Berkeley); YODOI, Junji, MD, PhD (Kyoto Univ) Bibliographic Data: (ISBN: 0-8247-1961-1, Marcel Dekker Inc., 1999, $150.00) 328 pages, Contributors, hard cover Audiences: Biochemists, Biomedical Scientists Subjects: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Other Info: The book contains black-and-white illustrations. DESCRIPTION: This volume is in a planned series on the general topic of oxidative stress and disease. PURPOSE: The purpose is to present the most recent developments in the rapidly expanding field of redox regulation research, embracing new insights into intracellular communication and new techniques for diagnosing and treating diseases associated with oxidation and reduction. AUDIENCE: The audience for this volume is broad and includes biochemists and biomedical scientists. FEATURES: Effects of oxidative damage on a variety of cellular events is covered, including action of hormones, signal transduction, and gene expression. Several contributions link derived peroxidation products to specific diseases. The thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems are discussed in some detail. Each chapter is accompanied by a detailed bibliography. ASSESSMENT: Although oxygen stress may be defined and is measurable, it is not yet possible to trace a molecular series of events that link a specific oxidative reaction to a disease process. Oxygen is known to be toxic and cells go to great lengths to maintain a reducing environment and scavenge free radicals derived from oxygen. Accordingly, although this volume has much that can be characterized as circumstantial data, the reviews are timely and will be of interest to a broad audience. It is premature to expect explicit clinical value. The majority of the contributors are from Japan and this is reflected in the occasional grammar lapse in the text. SCORE: Weighted Numerical Score: 52 - **