Description
SPRINGER Apoptotic Chromatin Changes by GASPAR BANFALVI
The writing of this book is based on: 1. earlier experience writing textbooks for biology students with a university-level background in biology and biochemistry with many (>200) ?gures in these books (in Hungarian), 2. and on the necessity to present university lectures as power point presentations to catch the interest of s- dents. The author realizes that young readers who were grown up in an information society are relactant to read too much unless they have to take exams. Even then they prefer books which contain illustrations for a better understanding. In collaboration with colleagues, referees and members of the publishing staff an extensive set of photographs and illustrations were collected to provide a graphic follow-up to the text. Further aids for the student, instructor and the curious reader are provided by summaries, extensive sets of readings and references for each chapter, a glossary of the terms, list of abbreviations and a DVD with a red-blue eyeglass to visualize three dimensional chromatin structures. The reader could ask: Why another book on apoptosis? The answer to the question is related to the de?nition of the process. The term apoptosis has been introduced to describe typical morphological changes leading to controlled se- destruction of cells. The ?rst demonstrated biochemical feature of this type of cell death was internucleosomal fragmentation, which was occasionally preceded by the generation of large DNA fragments. I. DNA EMPIRESummaryHistorical events leading to the recognition of core processes of genetic informationRNA WorldPre-RNA WorldAdditional arguments supporting the RNA World hypothesisBasic principles of the transfer of genetic informationCore information processes belonging to the DNA EmpireWhen did DNA evolve?Molecular oxygen serving the transition from RNA World to DNA EmpireSaturation of seawater with oxygen and development of oxygen atmosphere Advantage of oxygen productionOxygen the Janus faced moleculeProtection of anaerobes from oxygen toxicityFree radical formation during the synthesis of deoxyribonucleotidesCellular responses to DNA damageConceptual changes in gene stabilityPrimary information on cytotoxicity obtained at DNA levelDetection of genotoxic changes at the structural level of DNAEnzymatic detection of cellular lesions: too lateEarly detection of cytotoxicity: at DNA levelConclusionsReferencesII. STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF DNASummaryBuilding blocks of nucleic acidsStructure of nucleotidesNucleic acid basesTypesAromatic character, planar structure of nucleic acid basesFree nucleic acid basesLight absorptionApolar interactionsHypochrome, hyperchrome effectMajor, minor and rare basesBase analoguesAntimetabolitesSugar component of nucleotidesWhy ribose was selected as the sugar component of nucleic acidsCriteria for sugar selection Phosphate as nucleotide componentBond types in nucleotidesNomenclature of bases, nucleosides and nucleotidesMetabolism of nucleotidesDe novo biosynthesisBasic conception of biosynthesisRibonucleotide biosynthesisDeoxyribonucleotide biosynthesisdNDP--dNTP conversiondUMP formationThymidilate formation (dUMP--dTMP)Regulation of nucleotide biosynthesisDegradation of nucleotidesBiosynthesis of coenzymesTissue specific purine synthesis Function of nucleotides DNA structureStructural levels of DNA Primary structure of DNASecondary DNA structures H-bondsB-DNAA-DNAZ-DNACruciform DNABent DNA structuresTransition from right-handed to left-handed DNATetraplex (quadruplex) DNADifferences in the structure of DNA and RNATertiary structure of DNA (topology)Thermodinamic aspects of supercoilingTopoisomerasesModels of gyrase actionSign inversion and torsional model of supercoilingRotating model of negative supercoilingTopology of eukaryotic DNANucleosome, the supercoil analogue in eukaryotesSupranucleosomal (chromosomal) organization of DNAEarly chromatin modelsSolenoid versus zig-zag modelPossible fibril arrangementsHairpin modelPlectonemic model of chromatin condensationChromosomes of animal cellsEukaryotic genome size and DNA compactionChromosome numberMetaphase chromosomesCentromere and teleomere regions of chromosomesVariation in DNA content, C-value paradoxVariation in chromosome number Karyotype, chromosome sizeGenetic linkagePhysical mappingSex chromosomesChromosomal aberrationsGenetic diversityEukaryotic cell cycleCytogeneticsGenesTemporal and spatial order of gene replicationDNA is replicated and repaired in several subphases ReferencesIII. CHROMATIN CONDENSATIONSummaryImportance of chromatin condensationActive and inactive chromatin Euchromatin and heterochromatinHistone code hypothesisChromosome arrangement in the nucleusModels of chromosome condensationChromatin folding in the interphase nucleus is poorly understoodChromatin modelsReview of methodologiesMethods to visualize chromosome condensation during the cell cycleCentrifugal elutriationPermeable cellsTe