Signal Transduction by Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species: Pathways and Chemical Principles

Since publication of the first edition of this book, (then entitled Oxidative Stress and Signal Transduction), reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) have taken centre stage in the field of signal transduction. Our understanding of the many signalling pathways that co-ordinate the cell's response to its environment has made significant strides and evidence is now mounting that the ROS and RNS enzymatically produced by the cells are required for different aspects of the cycle of life from growth to apoptosis. The enzymes responsible for the production of ROS and RNS have been unravelled and the participation of these species in numerous signalling pathways has been documented. The next step is now to identify the targets of ROS and RNS and the mechanisms by which they alter their activity in the affected signalling pathway and significant progress has already been made. This exciting area of research will benefit from the pulling together of the work from hard-core chemists and free radical aficionados along with that of signalling enthusiasts and cell biologist devotees. This was the idea behind the conception of this new book. This text provides relevant chemistry that can be applied across signalling systems and summarizes the state of knowledge in the area of redox signalling, including controversies when they exist and future directions. ROS and RNS have been implicated in inflammation, ageing and cancer and their novel role in signal transduction may offer new clues to their participation in these processes. This volume should be of great interest to researchers involved in a large range of scientific fields from biochemistry and physiology to pharmacology.

Table of Contents:
Redox State and Redox Environment in Biology.- Sulfur and Selenium Catalysis as Paradigms for Redox Regulations.- Thiols of Thioredoxin and Glutaredoxin in Redox Signaling.- Reactivity and Diffusivity of Nitrogen Oxides in Mammalian Biology.- Bacterial Peroxiredoxins.- The Nox Enzymes and the Regulated Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species.- NO Synthesis and NOS Regulation.- S-nitrosothiols in Cell Signaling.- Hydrogen Peroxide as Intracellular Messenger: Identification of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases and Pten as H2O2 Target.- 4-Hydroxynonenal Signaling.- Ceramide Signaling under Oxidative Stress.- Map Kinases in Redox Signaling.- Activation of Prostaglandin Biosynthesis: Peroxynitrite vs Hydroperoxides.- Phylogenetic Conservation of the Nrf2-Keap1 Signaling System.- The NO-cytochrome C Oxidase Signaling Pathway; Mechanisms and Biological Implications.- The Concept of Compartmentalization in Signaling by Reactive Oxygen Species.- Role of Mitochondrial Oxygen and Nitrogen Reactive Species in Signaling.- Redox Regulation of Gene Expression: Transcriptional Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1.- Apoptosis Mechanisms Initiated by Oxidative Stress.- Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in the Production of Congenital Malformations by Known Teratogenic Agents and Maternal Conditions.