Since the pioneering discovery of cyclic AMP four decades ago, a multitude of signaling pathways have been uncovered in which an extracellular signal (first messenger) impacts the cell surface, thereby triggering a cascade that ultimately acts on the cell nucleus. In each cascade the first messenger gives rise to the appearance of a second messenger such as cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, or diacylglycerol, which in turn triggers a third messenger, a fourth messenger, and so forth. Many advances in elucidating such pathways have been made, including efforts to link messenger molecules to brain processes operative in health or disease. However, the latter type of information, relating signaling pathways to brain function, is scattered across a variety of publication media, which makes it difficult to integrate the multiple roles of different signaling cascades into our understanding of brain function in health and disease. The primary aim of Cerebral Signal Transduction: From First to Fourth Messengers, therefore, is to offer a comprehensive picture of the recent advances made in the signaling field as it relates to neuronal and cere bral function. The current state of progress provides an exciting opportunity for such a comprehensive focus because molecular tools have become available to selectively remove, reduce, or enhance spe cific components in the signaling pathways, e. g. , by interfering with the genes encoding key proteins. In addition, the increased awareness of crosstalk between different signaling cascades has revealed many possibilities for changes in gene expression underlying long-term changes in brain function.

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Klappentext

A team of leading experts comprehensively review and synthesize the most recent advances in our understanding of the role of cerebral signaling in neuronal and cerebral function. The authors emphasize the functional role of the various signaling pathways in memory, apoptosis and degeneration, depression, and drug dependence in both health and diseased states. By taking full advantage of the newfound ability to selectively remove, reduce, or enhance specific components of the signaling pathways, the investigators writing here illuminate the varied signaling cascades, their crosstalk, and the many possibilities for changes in gene expression underlying long-term changes in brain function. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Cerebral Signal Transduction: From First to Fourth Messengers advances our understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of complex behavioral processes and clinically relevant brain diseases. A major contribution to the development of the novel pharmacotherapeutics targeting downstream events in the cascade of second, third, and fourth messengers, it will serve experimental and clinical neuroscientists as the best and most complete guide to neuronal signaling.

Inhalt
I. Introduction.- 1 • From First to Fourth Messengers in the Brain: An Overview.- II. Memory.- 2 • Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory.- 3 • Signal Transduction Pathways in Well-Defined Models of Learning and Memory: Drosophila and Honeybee.- 4 • Protein Kinase C Signaling in Learning and Memory.- III. Neurodegeneration and Apoptosis.- 5 • Neurotransmitter ReceptorG-Protein-Mediated Signal Transduction in Alzheimer's Disease.- 6 • The NO Signaling Pathway in the Brain: Neural Injury, Neurological Disorders, and Aggression.- 7 • Cellular Signaling Pathways in Neuronal Apoptosis: Role in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's Disease.- 8 • The Role of Second Messengers in Neurodegeneration.- IV. Depression.- 9 • Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Stress and Antidepressant Treatment.- 10 • Long-Term Bidirectional Hormonal and Neuroplastic Responses to Stress: Implications for the Treatment of Depression.- 11 • Signal Transduction Abnormalities in Bipolar Affective Disorder.- V. Drug Dependence.- 12 • Messengers in Opioid Dependence: Gene Disruption Studies.- 13 • The 5-HT1B Knockout Mouse: An Animal Model of Vulnerability to Drugs of Abuse.- 14 • Regulation of Dopamine Transporter by Phosphorylation and Impact on Cocaine Action.- 15 • Dopamine Transporter mRNA in Human Brain: Distribution and Regulatory Effects in Autopsy Studies of Cocaine Abusers.