Integrin Protocols

by Anthony R. Howlett (Editor)

Overview

In Integrin Prools, Anthony Howlett and a distinguished panel of experimentalists describe in detail a series of cutting-edge methods for dissecting the role of integrins in biological processes. This wide-ranging collection includes prools for the analysis of integrin expression-at both the RNA and protein levels-and for elucidating the functional properties of integrins, including those at the cellular level. Each method provides step-by-step instructions for easy reproducibility, along with extensive notes about potential pitfalls, and tips on how to avoid failure. The emphasis is always on the practical steps necessary for experimental success and robust results.

Offering powerful tools for understanding how integrins regulate cell growth, differentiation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, as well as how abnormalities of integrin expression and function may be implicated in various pathologic conditions, Integrin Prools constitutes a gold-standard collection of techniques for both new and experienced investigators of the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780896035690
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	07/15/1999
Series:	Methods in Molecular Biology , #129
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

Working with Integrins.- Integrin-Binding Peptides Derived from Phage Display Libraries.- Production of Rat Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Mouse Integrins.- Biochemical Analysis of Integrin-Mediated Shc Signaling.- Assays for Kinase Activity.- Immunoblotting of Integrins.- Application of Flow Cytometry in the Analysis and Sterile Sorting of Cell Populations Based on Integrin Expression.- Expression of Integrin Transcripts in Human Cancer Cells.- Functional Analysis of Integrins.- Functional Analysis of the—2 Integrins.- Expression of Heterologous Integrin Genes.- Preparing a Polyclonal Antibody to Mouse—1 Integrin with Function-Blocking Activity.- Integrin Gene Targeting.- Determination of Positive and Negative Regulatory Elements.- Integrin Function at the Cellular Level.- A Cell-Based Adhesion Assay for the Characterization of Integrin—v?3 Antagonists.- Integrins in Cell Migration.- Models for Studying Cellular Invasion of Basement Membranes.- Methods for Studying Anoikis.- Use of the 10-Day-Old Chick Embryo Model for Studying Angiogenesis.- Cell Shape and Integrin Signaling Regulate the Differentiation State of Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Editorial Reviews

"Integrin Prools aims to provide a hand-book of methods for the study of integrins. Many of the essential techniques are covered, with sections ranging from the relatively straight-forward (immunoblotting) to the highly complex (phage display and knock-outs)...Over half of the sections are by major figures in the integrin field, thus giving the book considerable authority..."-Cell Biology International 2000

From the Publisher

In this book, top researchers in the integrin field have been recruited to provide a series of methods that are commonly used to study these important matrix receptors and signal transducers. The purpose is to provide a collection of integrin protocols. While this is a worthy objective, there is not a large audience for this subject matter. The target audience is the beginning graduate student, clinician researcher, or someone more senior who is new to the integrin field. Members of labs already established in the integrin field will presumably have their own sets of protocols and so the book may be redundant for these particular workers. The techniques are mostly too complex for the teaching lab setting. However, some of the protocols, such as the blotting assays, could be attempted even by a senior undergraduate group. The protocols are concisely written and easy to follow. The illustrations are mostly of good quality and appropriate. The protocols are an expanded version of methods from the primary literature. The background to the book is well thought-out and logical and each of the chapters deals with a distinct aspect of integrin research. The techniques that are described are quite wide ranging -- from phage display to standard Western immunoblotting and SDS-PAGE protocols. This book has a nice feel and is an easy reference text. Some of the chapters (for example, the chapter in which migration assays are detailed) should be very useful because they are well documented and the protocols are hard to find in one place elsewhere. Others (such as those describing immunoblotting, gene targeting, and regulatory element determination) detail techniques common to many fieldsand overlap with descriptions in other manuals.

Jonathon Jones

Eighteen contributions describe cutting-edge methods for dissecting the role of integrins in regulating normal and diseased cellular function. Step-by-step laboratory protocols are provided for the analysis of integrin expression both at the RNA and protein levels, the analysis of functional properties of integrins, and the analysis of integrin function at the cellular level. The techniques are most commonly used in the investigation of the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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