Molecular and Cellular Biology

This major new work contains reviews of recent and current research on the genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry of prions and prion diseases. The focus is on the cellular, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the unusual group of neurodegenerative disorders known as prion diseases, which were the subject of a recent Nobel Prize. The book is essential to all researchers working in the field and is recommended reading for scientists in other areas of biology and medicine. Contributions by internationally recognized experts cover a variety of experimental systems currently being used to understand the mechanisms underlying these fascinating and deadly diseases. The latest results and key theoretical issues are discussed, including the physical structure of prions, models of prion formation and pathogenesis, BSE and "new variant" Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, yeast prions, and the strain pheneomenon.