Accessible and comprehensive, this book describes the universal cellular nature of living organisms and is an indispensable tool for anyone in the sciences who wishes to get a quick overview of molecular biology. Individual chapters cover nucleic acids and proteins, genetic code and protein synthesis, the fidelity of transferring genetic information to the next generations, and the regulation of various processes inside the cells. Special attention is paid to new areas rising from modern DNA sequencing technologies which transform biology. The book also touches on developing areas, such as cures for cancer and CRISPR, which are important for medicine and the future of humankind.
Author(s): Alexander Vologodskii
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 187
City: Cham
Preface
Recommended Literature
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Contents
Chapter 1: The Major Processes in the Biological World
1.1 Cells as Basic Units of Life
1.2 Important Facts from Chemistry and Physics
1.2.1 The Flexibility of Polymer Chains
1.2.2 Noncovalent Interactions Between Atoms
1.3 Structure of DNA and Inheritance of Genetic Information
1.3.1 The General Principles
1.3.2 Chemical Structure of DNA
1.3.3 The Double Helix
1.4 RNA Molecules
1.5 Proteins
1.5.1 The General Principles
1.5.2 Structure of Proteins
1.6 Genetic Code
1.7 From DNA to Proteins
1.8 Concluding Remarks
Chapter 2: Enzymes, Conformational Changes, Energy, and Molecular Motors
2.1 The Motion of Macromolecules in Water
2.2 Enzymes
2.3 Conformational Flexibility of Proteins and Allosteric Transitions
2.4 The Energy in Cell Life
2.5 Molecular Motors
2.6 Energy Transfer from Food to ATP
Chapter 3: The Cells
3.1 The Lipid Membrane
3.2 Membrane Proteins
3.2.1 General View
3.2.2 Channels
3.2.3 Osmotic Pressure
3.2.4 Transporters
3.3 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
3.4 The Cell Cycle
Chapter 4: Genome
4.1 Preliminary Remarks
4.2 Prokaryotic Genome
4.3 Eukaryotic Genome
4.3.1 RNA Splicing
4.3.2 Mobile Genetic Elements
4.4 Chromosomes
4.4.1 General Features of Eukaryotic Chromosomes
4.4.2 Nucleosomes and Epigenetic Inheritance
4.4.3 Higher Orders of Chromatin Structure
4.5 DNA Sequencing
4.6 Genome Editing
4.6.1 Plasmids and Genetic Engineering
4.6.2 CRISPR-Cas9 and Editing of Large Genomes
Chapter 5: Regulation of Gene Expression and Protein Activity
5.1 Regulation of Transcription
5.1.1 Transcription Regulation in Prokaryotes
5.1.2 Eukaryotic Transcription
5.1.3 Cell Memory
5.2 Posttranscriptional Changes of mRNAs
5.2.1 Degradation of mRNA
5.2.2 Alternative RNA Splicing
5.2.3 Editing of mRNA
5.3 Suppression of Gene Expression by Small Noncoding RNA Molecules
Chapter 6: DNA Replication, Its Fidelity, Mutations, and Repair
6.1 Replication of the Double Helix
6.1.1 Directionality and Proofreading of DNA Synthesis
6.1.2 Replication of Leading and Lagging Strands
6.1.3 Telomeres and the Organism Aging
6.1.4 Replication Complex and Epigenetic Inheritance
6.2 DNA Damage and Repair
6.3 Evolution of Species
6.3.1 The Theory of Evolution
6.3.2 The Evolution Tree
6.3.3 Conserved Regions of Eukaryotic Genomes
6.3.4 Genomes and the Human History
6.4 Accumulation of Mutations in Human Individuals and Populations
6.4.1 Mutations in Somatic Cells
6.4.2 Mutations in Germ Cells and the Age of Parents
6.4.3 Tracing the Past and Predicting the Future
Chapter 7: Transduction of Signals
7.1 The General Principle
7.2 How Receptors Receive Signal Molecules
7.3 Intracellular Signaling Molecules
7.4 G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
7.5 Signal Transduction in Neurons
7.5.1 Electrical Properties of the Membrane
7.5.2 The Action Potential
7.6 Sensing Smell
Chapter 8: Multicellular Organisms and Their Development
8.1 Body Tissues and Connections Between the Cells
8.2 Development of Multicellular Organisms
8.2.1 The Basic Mechanism of the Development
8.2.2 Differentiation of Cells in the Development of the Organism
8.2.3 Morphogenesis
8.2.4 Sizing and Timing
8.3 Stem Cells
8.3.1 General Properties of the Stem Cells
8.3.2 Blood Regeneration
8.3.3 Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
8.4 Death of the Cells
8.4.1 Basic Steps of Apoptosis
8.4.2 Apoptotic Signaling Chains
Chapter 9: Biological Defense I: Protection from Foreign Nucleic Acids
9.1 General Remarks
9.2 The Restriction-Modification System
9.3 CRISPR-Cas System
9.4 RNA-Induced Silencing Complexes
Chapter 10: Biological Defense II: The Immune Systems of Vertebrates
10.1 The Adaptive Immune System
10.1.1 B Cells
10.1.2 Antibodies
10.1.3 T Cells
10.2 The Innate Immune System
10.2.1 Epithelium and Defensins
10.2.2 Phagocytic Cells
10.2.3 Antiviral Defense
10.2.4 Natural Killer Cells
10.2.5 Dendritic Cells
Chapter 11: Pathogens
11.1 Viruses
11.1.1 General Properties
11.1.2 RNA Viruses
11.1.3 Evolution of Viruses
11.1.4 Prevention and Cure
11.2 Bacteria
11.2.1 Invading into a Human Body
11.2.2 Pathogenesis
11.2.3 Antibiotics
11.3 Eukaryotic Parasites
Chapter 12: Cancer
12.1 General Remarks
12.2 Basic Features of Cancer
12.3 Cancer-Critical Genes
12.3.1 Two Types of Genes Are Critical for the Disease Development
12.3.2 Changes in Regulatory Pathways
12.4 External Causes of Cancers
12.4.1 Carcinogens
12.4.2 Lifestyle
12.4.3 Viruses and Other Pathogens
12.5 Cures of Cancers
12.5.1 Inhibiting of Proteins Crucial for Cancer Development
12.5.2 Immunotherapy of Cancer
12.5.3 Multidrug Therapy
Glossary
Index
