Carotenoids: Properties, Effects & Diseases (Biochemistry Research Trends Series)

Carotenoids are natural pigments synthesized in plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria by the polymerization of five-carbon isoprene units to provide a long and nearly symmetric conjugated chain of double bonds responsible for atypical chemical properties. Carotenoids can play an important role in the prevention and control of human health and disease conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, cardiovascular problems, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, cataracts and certain neurological disorders. This book presents and discusses current research in the study of carotenoids. About the Author Masayoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D., IOM, FAOE, DDG, DG, is Adjunct Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (2013 - ). Dr. Yamaguchi is engaged in the fields of endocrinology and cell signaling since 1971, and these researches are developed in the aspect of biochemistry, molecular biology, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, pharmacology, and toxicology. Dr Yamaguchi has an interesting for cell signaling mechanism, bone biology, nutritional factor and osteoporosis prevention, diabetes and diabetic osteoporosis, cancer biology, and cancer cell bone metastasis. Dr. Yamaguchi discovered two novel proteins and genes; cell signaling suppressor protein (named regucalcin; 1978) and transcriptional factor RGPR-p117 (regucalcin gene promoter region-related protein; 2001). Dr Yamaguchi generated regucalcin transgenic rats, which were registered as international patents including USA, EU and Japan, and this animal was found to induce osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia. Moreover, Dr. Yamaguchi proposed the potential role of regucalcin as a key suppressor protein in carcinogenesis. Thus far, Dr Yamaguchi published over 550 English articles to professional journals with peer-review, and registered over 20 national and international patents.