Humana DNA Repair Protocols: 113 (Methods in Molecular Biology, 113)

The field of eukaryotic DNA repair is enjoying a period of remarkable growth and discovery, fueled by technological advances in molecular bi- ogy, protein biochemistry, and genetics. Notable achievements include the molecular cloning of multiple genes associated with classical human repair disorders, such as xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia; elucidation of the core reaction of nucleotide excision repair (NER); the discovery that certain NER proteins participate not only in repair, but also in transcription; recognition of the crucial role played by mismatch repair processes in maintenance of genome stability and avoidance of cancer; the findings that the tumor suppressor protein p53 is mutated in many types of cancer, and has a key role in directing potentially malignant, genotoxin-d- aged cells towards an apoptotic fate; and the discovery and elaboration of DNA damage (and replication) checkpoints, which placed repair phenomen- ogy firmly within a cell-cycle context. Of course, much remains to be learned about DNA repair. To that end, DNA Repair Protocols: Eukaryotic Systems is about the tools and techniques that have helped propel the DNA repair field into the mainstream of biological research. DNA Repair Protocols: Eukaryotic Systems provides detailed, step-- step instructions for studying manifold aspects of the eukaryotic response to genomic injury. The majority of chapters describe methods for analyzing DNA repair processes in mammalian cells. However, many of those techniques can be applied with only minor modification to other systems, and vice versa. Review "...a comprehensive series of technique-oriented chapters focusing on eukaryotic DNA repair methodology. ...this text succeeds admirably...The scope of the text is fairly broad and encompasses not only in vitro biochemistry and enzymology, but also cell biology and genetics and even signal transduction....In vitro biochemical assays are well covered,...A particularly nice feature of the book is that the chapters have undergone uniform editing and formatting. All provide a nice overview of the topic, including a brief review of the pertinent literature, followed by step-by-step methods sections. The methods are clearly presented in annotated outline form with cross referencing and high level of detail. Each chapter has a particularly valuable section at the end, called "Notes" in which the authors present some of the nitty-gritty details and tricks of the trade needed to make the techniques work....Overall, this book should provide a valuable laboratory companion for researchers in the area of DNA repair. It serves to provide useful and readable introductions to various topics, along with techniques protocols sufficient for reproducibility....this text will have substantial appeal to the readers of Radiation Research."-Radiation Research "The list of authors contains many of the leading scientists within the field...Protocols for most experimental eukaryotic organisms are described, from yeast through plants, worms, flies and frogs to mammals. Another laudable quality of this book is the standardization of the descriptions in Materials and methods. Since (almost) all articles are organized similarly, it is relatively easy to find what you want. Also, technical details have been standardized....At the end of each article , there is a 'Notes' section with detailed explanation of specific technical points. For a novice it is good to be reminded that ethidium bromide is a mutagen and that lids should be loosened before putting flasks in the microwave oven. I particularly liked the description, written by the editor, of how to squash Drosophila larvae on a microscope slide by"standing on it with the ball of your foot or your heel. If using the foot method, place the slide (sandwiched in 3 MED MER) on a hard clean floor, cover it carefully with a piece of wood, and stand on that". ...this book keep