Main description:

Biological functions are almost exclusively attributed to macromolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides. To gain their complete functional activities these biomolecules have to associate with the cellular components, such as the nuclear matrix, cytoskeleton or cell/plasma membranes. Topics discussed in this volume 12 include the synthesis of small nuclear RNAs, DNA-activated protein kinase, interactions of water and proteins in cellular functions, heat-shock protein synthesis and the cytoskeleton during early development.

Contents:

Synthesis of Small Nuclear RNAs.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Two Classes of U snRNA Genes.- 3 RNA Polymerases Transcribing U snRNA Genes.- 3.1 TMG-Capped snRNAs.- 3.2 MepppG-Capped snRNAs.- 4 Organization of U snRNA Genes.- 4.1 Human.- 4.2 Rodent.- 4.3 Chicken.- 4.4 Xenopus.- 4.5 Drosophila.- 4.6 Sea Urchin.- 4.7 Trypanosome.- 4.8 C. elegans.- 4.9 Yeast.- 4.10 Plants.- 4.11 Viral U RNAs.- 5 Cis-Acting Elements in U snRNA Genes.- 5.1 Initiation Nucleotide.- 5.2 Proximal Sequence Element (PSE).- 5.3 TATA Box.- 5.4 Distal Sequence Element (DSE).- 5.5 3?-End Formation.- 6 Interconversion of U snRNA Promoters.- 6.1 SnRNA and mRNA Gene Promoters Are Distinct.- 6.2 Transcription of snRNA Genes in Vitro and in Heterologous Systems.- 7 Regulation of snRNA Synthesis.- 8 Formation of Cap Structure in U snRNAs.- 8.1 Signal for U6 snRNA Capping.- 8.2 Post-Transcriptional Capping of U6 snRNA.- 8.3 Other snRNAs with mepppG Cap Structure.- 8.4 Functions of Cap Structures.- 9 Summary.- References.- The DNA-Activated Protein Kinase, DNA-PK.- 1 Nuclear Protein Kinases.- 2 Nucleic Acid Effects on Protein Kinase Activity.- 3 Detection of DNA-Stimulated Protein Phosphorylation in Cell Extracts.- 4 Purification of DNA-PK from HeLa Cells.- 5 Physical Characteristics of DNA-PK.- 6 Subcellular Localization.- 7 Phosphate Donor and Cofactor Requirements.- 8 Effects of Inhibitors.- 9 Substrate Specificity.- 9.1 Autophosphorylation.- 9.2 Substrate Preference and Phosphorylation Sites.- 10 Effects of Polynucleotides.- 11 Occurrence of DNA-PK in Other Cells.- 12 Comparison with Other Nuclear Protein Kinases.- 13 Conclusions and Future Directions.- References.- The Cytoskeleton During Early Development: Structural Transformation and Reorganization of RNA and Protein.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Cytoskeleton in the Early Development of Chordates.- 2.1 Ascidians.- 2.2 Amphibians.- 2.3 Mammals.- 3 The Cytoskeleton in the Early Development of Nonchordates.- 3.1 Annelids.- 3.2 Oligochaetes.- 3.3 Nematodes.- 3.4 Insects.- 3.5 Echinoderms.- 4 Conclusion.- References.- Developmental Regulations of Heat-Shock Protein Synthesis in Unstressed and Stressed Cells.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Expression of Heat-Shock Genes During Gametogenesis and Early Development in the Absence of Stress.- 2.1 An Ancient Developmental Response: Heat-Shock Protein Hyperexpression During Sporulation and Gametogenesis.- 2.2 Heat-Shock Proteins, First Major Products of the Zygotic Genome Transcription in Mammals.- 2.3 Constitutive Heat-Shock Protein Expression During Early Mouse Embryogenesis.- 2.4 Constitutive Heat-Shock Protein Expression in Mouse Embryonal Carcinoma (EC) Cells.- 2.5 High Levels of B2 Transcripts in Heat-Shocked Fibroblasts and in Undifferentiated Mouse Embryonic Cells.- 3 Heat-Shock Protein Synthesis in Differentiation Processes.- 3.1 Specificities of the Heat-Shock Protein Synthesis Associated with Blood Cell Differentiation.- 3.2 Hormone-Induced Heat-Shock Protein Expression.- 3.3 Entering or Leaving a Quiescent State.- 4 Deficient Heat-Shock Responses.- 4.1 Sporulation and Gametogenesis.- 4.2 Early Embryogenesis.- 4.3 Cultured Cells.- 5 Concluding Remarks.- References.- The Interactions of Water and Proteins in Cellular Function.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Cluster Model of Liquid Structure.- 2.1 Cluster Size.- 2.2 Cluster Energetics.- 3 The Domain Model of Protein Structure.- 3.1 Domain Size.- 3.2 Domain Energetics.- References.