Wow! eBook
Ten Years of Progress in GW/P Body Research: 768 2013th Edition
Author(s): Edward K. L. Chan (Editor), Marvin J. Fritzler
- Publisher: Springer
- Publication Date: 7 Dec. 2012
- Edition: 2013th
- Language: English
- Print length: 288 pages
- ISBN-10: 9781461451068
- ISBN-13: 9781461451068
Book Description
GW bodies are novel cytoplasmic foci that were discovered and named by Dr. Chan’s group in 2002. These bodies are now known to be active cytoplasmic foci involved with the new gene regulation process mediated by microRNA that leads to translational repression and mRNA degradation. The detailed biological functions of these cytoplasmic structures are still being uncovered and the idea for this book is to provide the history of the discovery and the major work from different laboratories that has led to the characterization and elucidation of the structure and function of these new multiple subcellular structures.
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
GW bodies (GWB) are cytoplasmic foci initially identified using human autoantibody probes and their marker protein GW182 was first cloned around 2000 and eventually published in 2002. The discovery of GW/P bodies coincided with the description and elucidation of the miRNA pathway led by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello that led their recognition with a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2006. Ten years of extensive research on GW/P bodies has shown that these cytoplasmic structures serve as semaphores for microRNA, mall interfering RNA, and RNA degradation pathways.The increase in size and number of these foci is a biological indicator for elevated cellular activity in selective translational shutdown via RNA interference and microRNA function. The extraction and sequestration of mRNA from the cytoplasm by the formation of these foci is a rapid and highly efficient method in translation control. Many components of GW/P bodies are highly conserved, while some appear to be quite unique to mammalian cells and tissues. GWB/P bodies have a pivotal role in embryogenesis and organogenesis, malignant transformation, gametogenesis, post-transcriptional control of gene expression and stress responses. While much is known about GW/P bodies there is still much to be learned: How much microheterogeneity is there among GWB/P bodies with respect to mRNA, protein components: the role of phosphorylation and other posttranslational protein modifications; their presence and role in microvesicles that could indicate a role in intercellular signaling. The increase in size and number of these foci is a biological indicator for elevated cellular activity in selective translational shutdown via RNA interference and microRNA function. The extraction and sequestration of mRNA from the cytoplasm by the formation of these foci is a rapid and highly efficient method in translation control. Many components of GW/P bodies are highly conserved, while some appear to be quite unique to mammalian cells and tissues. GWB/P bodies have a pivotal role in embryogenesis and organogenesis, malignant transformation, gametogenesis, post-transcriptional control of gene expression and stress responses. While much is known about GW/P bodies there is still much to be learned: How much microheterogeneity is there among GWB/P bodies with respect to mRNA, protein components: the role of phosphorylation and other posttranslational protein modifications; their presence and role in microvesicles that could indicate a role in intercellular signaling.
