The Biology of Cell Reproduction

by Renato Baserga

Overview

This synthesis of thirty-five years of intensive investigation comes at a particularly propitious moment. Since the Second World War, cell biology and molecular biology have worked separately in probing the central question of cancer research—how do cells divide?—biology focusing on cell behavior in isolation and as part of tissues and organs, molecular biology concentrating on individual biochemical steps, especially as controlled by genes. But now a new alliance is being forged in the continuing effort to conquer cancer. New discoveries point to the value of an interdisciplinary approach, and for the first time scientists from both camps are struggling to catch up on one another's literature.

Baserga's work provides the unifying background for this cross-fertilization of ideas. It begins with the growth of cell populations and how cells interact with each other. The second section goes within the cell to consider the effect of drugs, the use of temperature-sensitive mutants of the cell cycle, and the use of cell fusion to understand how cells divide. The third section turns to the molecular genetics of cell proliferation, the growth factors, and the genes and gene products that regulate cell division.

Drawing on more than five hundred classic and recent references, the book is comprehensive yet refreshingly readable. It will provide a congenial and sophisticated introduction for students as well as working scientists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674074064
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	05/01/1985
Pages:	251
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Renato Baserga is Chairman and Professor, Department of Pathology, Temple University School of Medicine.

Table of Contents

PART I: BIOLOGY


1. The Cell Cycle


Phases of the cell cycle


Variability of the cell cycle


2. Nondividing Cells


G0 cells


Terminally differentiated cells


3. Populations of Cells


Stem cells


Transformed cells


4. Tissue Growth


Growth in size


Growth in number


Doubling time


Growth of tumors


5. Synchronization of Cells in the Cell Cycle


Methods for synchronizing cells in culture


Morphology of cells during the cell cycle


PART II: CELL BIOLOGY


6. Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of the Cell Cycle


Defining cell cycle mutants


Conditional cell cycle mutants


The execution point


7. Informational Content of Cells in Different Phases of the Cell Cycle


Cell fusion


Informational content of S phase cells


Informational content of G0-G cells


Premature chromosome condensation


8. Perturbation of the Cell Cycle by Drugs


Actinomycin D


Cycloheximide


Other drugs


Monoclonal antibodies


9. Growth in Size and Cell Proliferation


Growth in size and cell DNA replication


Growth in size and cell division


The role of RNA polymerase II


PART III: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY


10.
The Environmental Signals


Growth factors


Inhibitoryfactors


11.
Biochemical Events in the Cell Cycle


Does the cell cycle exist?


Controlling events and prerequisite events


G1 and G0


S phase


G2 and mitosis


12. Virally-Coded Proteins and Cell Proliferation


SV4O and polyoma


Adenovirus


Other viruses


Mechanisms of viral-induced cell DNA replication


13. Genetic Basis of Cell Proliferation


Cdc genes in yeasts


Retroviral oncogenes


Cellular oncogenes


Cdc genes in animal cells


Some speculations

References


Index