Of the multitude of toxins known and the enormous variety of effects they cause, of particular interest are those that influence signal transduction. Intercellular communication by chemical signals is essential for the functioning of multicellular organisms. Many toxins exert their biological effects by interfering with the signal transduction initiated by these chemicals (hormones, transmitters, growth factors, and other mediators). Up-to-date information is provided by outstanding experts, who discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the action of many toxins, as well as the use of toxins as informative tools with which to study signal transduction and their potential therapeutic usage. This volume contains useful information for the experimentalist interested in toxins or in signal transduction, as well as for the reader interested in gaining a comprehensive overview of the field. The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxin Action series will include monographs on signal transduction, secretory systems, cytoskeleton, selective neurotoxicity of natural, recombinant and chimeric toxins giving a broader emphasis on the mechanism of action, structure-function relationship, and use of toxins as research tools and their therapeutic applications.

Many of the toxic effects elicited by xenobiotics can be explained at the molecular level by their interaction with receptors or by disruption or interference with receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways. This volume describes molecular approaches and reviews of current research. It provides reviews of numerous research areas which are direc

Many bacteria, animals, and plants produce toxins that can prove lethal to other organisms. Toxins are a form of "biological warfare" that helps their producer to survive and so confer an evolutionary advantage. They display an extraordinary range of complexity, from the formic acid provided by ants to bacterial proteins composed of thousands of amino acids. This Guidebook considers the more complex protein and peptide toxins and groups them according to their mode of action. Topics covered include: membrane-permeabilizing toxins; toxins affecting signal transduction and protein synthesis; cytoskeleton-affecting toxins; toxins affecting the immune and inflammatory response. This class of biomolecules will be of interest to a wide range of researchers in cell biology, neuroscience, and toxicology.

Covering a key topic due to growing research into the role of signaling mechanisms in toxicology, this book focuses on practical approaches for informatics, big data, and complex data sets. Combines fundamentals / basics with experimental applications that can help those involved in preclinical drug studies and translational research Includes detailed presentations of study methodology and data collection, analysis, and interpretation Discusses tools like experimental design, sample handling, analytical measurement techniques

Bacterial toxins that act inside cells interact very specifically with key components of the cell and some even manipulate the cell in subtle ways for their own purposes. These potent toxins, described in this 2005 book, will be of interest to both microbiologists and cell biologists. Some of these toxins are conventional multidomain toxins that are self-programmed to enter cells. Others are delivered by type III mechanisms, often as a package of potent molecules. The molecular targets for all these toxins mediate signal transduction and the cell cycle to regulate the crucial processes of cell growth, cell division and differentiation. Thus these potent toxins are not only responsible for disease, but also provide a powerful set of tools with which to interrogate the biology of the cell. In addition such toxins may act directly to promote carcinogenesis and hence their study is also of interest in a wider context.

A thorough understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the individual expression of toxic effects provides an important tool for assessment of human health risk. New aspects, major advances, and new areas in molecular and cellular biology and toxicology demand updated sources of information to elucidate the functional mechanics of human toxicology. Mechanistic Toxicology: The Molecular Basis of How Chemicals Disrupt Biological Targets, Second Edition retains the accessible format of the original to present the general principles that link xenobiotic-induced toxicity with the molecular pathways that underlie these toxic effects. Extensively illustrated, this book forms a conceptual bridge between multiple events at the molecular level and the determinants of toxicity at the physiological and cellular level. Specific examples of drugs, environmental pollutants, and other chemicals are carefully chosen to illustrate and highlight the fundamental mechanisms of toxicity at different toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic levels. The book includes references and review articles at the end of each chapter, as well as boxed text for relevant review information on biological, biochemical, molecular, and toxicological background. Linking molecular pathways to more general biomedical contexts, the author ensures that the reader is not lost in the details and instead receives a broad understanding of the processes underlying xenobiotic toxicity. New in the Second Edition Updated chapters Types of toxic responses Disruption of signal transduction by xenobiotics Disruption of mitochondrial function Novel mechanisms derived from systems toxicology