Understanding live cells at the single molecule level is the most important and single major challenge facing biology and medicine today. Over the past 15 years, there has been a renewed understanding of living cells at the molecular level. Atomic Force Microscopy, Laser Force Microscopy, single secretory vesicle patch clamp studies, highresolution electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction, are some of the tools now being used to unravel the intricacies of a living cell at the molecular level. Opening with an explanation of Materials and Methods, NanoCellBiology then moves through discussions of porosome discovery, calcium and SNARE-induced fusion, and vesicle swelling before winding up in a final chapter of conclusions and future studies. Succinctly packaged as SpringerBrief, this book is a must for those studying or conducting research in cell biology, biochemistry or nanobiology/nanotechnology. This book will be invaluable to faculty & graduate students involved in Nano Courses; Cell Biology Courses; Biophysics Courses; and Biochemistry Courses as well as practicing Cell Biologists, Biochemists and BioPhysicists.
Table of contetns:
Introduction.- Materials & Methods.- Porosome Discovery.- Calcium & SNARE-Induced Membrane Fusion.- SNAREs need to reside in opposing membrane.- Membrane curvature dictates SNARE size.- Disassembly of membrane-associated SNARE complex.- CD spectroscopy confirm membrane requirement for t-/v-SNARE assembly.- SNAREs br
ing opposing bilayers closer for calcium bridging.- Membrane lipids influence SNARE complex assembly-disassembly.- Vesicle swelling and content expulsion during cell secretion.- Secretory vesicle swelling is required for intravesicular content expulsion.- Molecular mechanism of secretory vesicle swelling.- Presence of beta receptors at the secretory vesicle membrane.- Conclusion and future studies.