Table Of ContentEncyclopedia of Signaling Molecules
Sangdun Choi
Editor
Encyclopedia of
Signaling Molecules
With686Figuresand86Tables
Editor
SangdunChoi
DepartmentofMolecularScienceandTechnology
AjouUniversity
Suwon,Korea
ISBN 978-1-4419-0460-7 ISBN978-1-4419-0461-4(eBook)
DOI10.1007/978-1-4419-0461-4
ISBN978-1-4419-0462-1(printandelectronicbundle)
SpringerNewYorkHeidelbergDordrechtLondon
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2012942647
#SpringerScienceþBusinessMedia,LLC2012
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Preface
Biological processes are driven by a complex system of functionally interacting
signaling components within the cell. These signaling processes are initiated when
a class of cell surface proteins, called receptors, receives information from the
surroundingenvironment.Thisinformationisthenroutedthroughcomplexsignaling
pathways and decoded in the nucleus and other areas of the cell. In order to fully
understandcellsignaling,wemustfirstappreciatethespatialandtemporaldynamics
of cell surface receptors as well as the downstream components of signaling
pathways.Thefunctionalstatesanddownstreaminteractionsofcellsignalingcom-
ponents are critical to the understanding of both normal and pathologic biological
processes.Inrecentyears,asteadyincreaseinbothclinicalandexperimentaldataon
cellsignalinghasemerged.Asweprogressthroughthetwenty-firstcentury,itisclear
that a systems biology approach, concomitant with the understanding of individual
cell signaling components, is needed to delineate biologically relevant signaling
networks.Furthermore,itiswellunderstoodthatalmostalldiseasesexhibitsignaling
pathway dysfunction. As a result, there has been a profound interest in identifying
noveldrugtargetsthatregulatekeysignalingcomponentsindiseasestates.
Currently, there are more than 20,000 genes reported in the human genome;
however, not all of the encoded proteins work equally to maintain homeostasis.
Achieving a thorough understanding of the most potent signaling components and
theirassociatedsignalingpathwayswillsignificantlyimproveourknowledgeofthe
molecular mechanisms that regulate disease. Moreover, this insight will lead to
thedevelopmentofnoveltherapeutics.Inrecentyears,thereweremultipleattempts
to build molecule databases, which were still very partial and brief. Amid the
excitement over the recent discoveries of new functional molecules, one of this
century’sgreatestscientifictasksistocompileallinformationpertainingtosignaling
componentsintoasingleresource.Suchanattemptmaybearduousbut,attheend,
willfilltheintellectualvoidsofthefieldanddrasticallystreamlinetheunderstanding
ofcriticalsignalingnetworks.
TheEncyclopediaofSignalingMoleculesisatestamenttohowfarwehavecome
in terms of identifying the function of and the interconnection between signaling
molecules. This book represents biologically important signaling components from
thelevelofasinglegene,tothatofgenefamilies.Thecontentsofthisencyclopedia
arebuiltonthecoreconceptsofthefunctionofsignalingcomponentsalongwiththe
early historical findings to show readers the progress the field has achieved. The
encyclopedianotonlyfocusesonindividualandgroupsofsignalingcomponents,but
alsoexplorestheinteractionsbetweenthesegroupsofsignalingcomponentswithin
signal transduction networks. Additionally, it also provides an abundance of
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vi Preface
information on the conversion of external signals generated by growth factors,
hormones, neurotransmitters, chemokines, cytokines, etc., to the resultant cellular
response.Applicationsofthesedatatodiseaseanddrugdiscoveryeffortshavealso
been discussed. Overall, the encyclopedia is designed to aid those who wish to
investigate the function of specific signaling molecules and its role in signaling
networks.
The encyclopedia is a Springer Major Reference Work, published in print and
online.Itconsistsofentriesorganizedalphabetically.Eachentryisconcise,clearly
written,andcontainsreferencestotheliteratureforreaderswhowishtostudyeach
topic in depth. The broad coverage is expected to make the encyclopedia an indis-
pensable reference tool in the field of biomedical research. The online version
features colored illustrations and is fully searchable. In addition, cross-references
arelistedashyperlinkstoeasilyaccessrelatedtopicsinthebook.
There are many people to thank and whose help was critical for completing the
EncyclopediaofSignalingMolecules.Thisencyclopediaisbasedontheexpertiseof
hundredsofbiomedicalprofessionalswhomustreceivemysinceregratitudefortheir
dedication, efforts, and polite responsiveness to the continuous inquiries. Most
importantly, the chapter authors have written outstanding pieces that provide the
latestinformationintheirrespectivefieldofresearch.Iamgratefultotheeditorsand
staffs of Springer: Ann H. Avouris, Anil Chandy, Meetu Lall, Mansi Seth, and
Rajneesh Roy for their outstanding help and assistance. Special thanks go to
Mrs.MelanieTuckerwhomadecertainthatallthemoleculeswereincludedforthe
finaldraftoftheencyclopedia.
IhopethattheinformationpresentedintheEncyclopediaofSignalingMolecules
willnotonlyaidinunderstandingthesubjectmatterbutalsoinusingthebiological
informationforthebenefitofhumankind.
SangdunChoi
About the Editor
Prof.Dr. SangdunChoi
DepartmentofMolecularScienceand
Technology
AjouUniversity
Suwon,443-749
Korea
[email protected]
SangdunChoiiscurrentlytheChairoftheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesanda
ProfessorattheDepartmentofMolecularScienceandTechnologyinAjouUniver-
sity, Korea. He joined the faculty of the Department of Molecular Science and
Technology, Ajou University, as an Associate Professor in 2006. His research
interests include Toll-like receptor signaling, innate immunity, cellular signaling
and systems biology. He earned his PhD at the Texas A&M University, USA.
HewasoneofthepioneersinthedevelopmentofBacterialArtificialChromosomes
(BACs).HewasinstrumentalintheconstructionofacompletehumanBAClibrary
for the Human Genome Project (HGP). He was also involved in the consortium,
AllianceforCellularSignaling(AfCS).Furthermore,heservedastheDirectorofthe
Transcription Analysis Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech), USA. He has published more than 200 scientific articles in international
journalsincludingNature,Science,Cell,NatureBiotechnology,NatureImmunology,
Immunity,BloodandProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences.Hehasedited
seven books including Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, Systems Biology for
SignalingNetworksandIntroductiontoSystemsBiology.Heisanacademiceditorof
PLoS ONE, an associate editor of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, and an
activeeditorforseveralotherinternationaljournals.Hehasalsoservedasareviewer
forseveralinternationaljournals.
vii
Contributors
Brian T. Abe Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
Bronx,NY,USA
Jun-ichi Abe Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester
SchoolofMedicineandDentistry,Rochester,NY,USA
Stephanie Affet Department of Bioscience Technologies, Program in Biotechnol-
ogy,JSHP,ThomasJeffersonUniversity,Philadelphia,PA,USA
Jacob O. Agola Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, MSC08-4640,
UniversityofNewMexicoHealthSciencesCenter,Albuquerque,NM,USA
Krassimira Alexieva-Botcheva Biology Department, Brookhaven National
Laboratory,Upton,NY,USA
IreneAligianis MRCHumanGeneticsUnit,WesternGeneralHospital,Edinburgh,
Scotland,UK
CarlW.Anderson BiologyDepartment,BrookhavenNationalLaboratory,Upton,
NY,USA
Douglas A. Andres Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Univer-
sityofKentuckyCollegeofMedicine,Lexington,KY,USA
AlbertoAnel DepartamentodeBioqu´ımica,Biolog´ıaMolecularyCelular,Facultad
deCiencias,UniversidaddeZaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
Adrienn Angyal Department of Cardiovascular Science, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield,SouthYorkshire,UK
Alexander Annenkov Bone and Joint Research Unit, William Harvey Research
Institute,QueenMaryUniversityofLondon,London,UK
Bryan A. Anthony Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical
Center,Columbus,OH,USA
Ferenc Andra´s Antoni Division of Preclinical Research, EGIS Pharmaceuticals
PLC,Budapest,Hungary
Kathryn M. Appleton Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences,
TheMedicalUniversityofSouthCarolina,Charleston,SC,USA
MarieArsenianHenriksson DepartmentofMicrobiology,TumorandCellBiology
(MTC),KarolinskaInstitutet,Stockholm,Sweden
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