Book Description:
Thematic volume devoted to a key topic in Current Topics in Developmental Biology series
From the Back Cover:
Cell Surface Proteases provides a comprehensive overview of recent discoveries and past knowledge on these important enzymes that arm the cell with the capability to process a vast spectrum of molecules presented at the plasma membrane. In the 1990's, an explosion of new data cast more light on the role of cell surface proteases and extended their function beyond degradation of numerous extracellular matrix proteins to include influences on growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, integrins, hormones, and angiogenic factors. These enzymes are also involved in a variety of basic cell activities, including cell motility, invasion, and signal transduction, leading to rapid and dynamic changes in cell function. Of particular importance are the membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMP) and the plasminogen activators (uPA) focalized at the cell surface. The role of ADAM family proteases i.e. TACE in inflammation and the potential for therapeutic intervention is only beginning to be explored. The involvement of cell surface proteases in neurologic diseases represents an area of exciting new development best represented by Alzheimer's disease where different types of surface proteases cleave the b-amyloid protein at different sites leading to release of pathogenic soluble peptides. It is intriguing that cell surface serine proteinase expression of hepsin and matriptase have been found to be highly up regulated in cancer. Cell Surface Proteases unites the scientific literature from across disciplines and teases out unified themes of interactions between cell surface proteases and interconnecting cell surface-related systems. This book will be of considerable interest to all those working in the fields of dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, oncology, hematology, gastroenterology, nephrology, endocrinology, surgery, rheumatology, pulmonary, neonatology, and the biotechnology industry.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.