Your body and stress : How it affects you and how you can manage it
Any intrinsic or extrinsic stimulus that evokes a biological response is known as stress. The compensatory responses to these stressors are known as stress responses. Based on the type, timing and severity of the applied stimulus, stress can exert various actions on the body ranging from alterations in homeostasis to life-threatening effects and death. In many cases, the pathophysiological complications of disease arise from stress and the subjects exposed to stress, e.g., those that work or live in stressful environments, have a higher likelihood of many disorders. Stress can be either a triggering or aggravating factor for many diseases and pathological conditions.
Ethylene Action in Plants
The plant hormone ethylene plays a prominent role among several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that control growth and physiology of plants. Its biological activity was discovered over a century ago. However, extensive studies on its mode of action came later. To date, it is well documented that ethylene is a versatile signaling molecule that plays an important role in many physiological processes - like growth, senescence, fruit ripening, stress responses, symbioses, and photosynthesis. Molecular-genetic analyses have revealed mechanisms responsible for ethylene production, perception, and signal transduction. The present work brings into focus the recent developments on the biochemical, physiological, and molecular basis for ethylene action in plants.
Biology of Inositols and Phosphoinositides
This volume describes the current status of the biology of inositols and phosphoinositides with an emphasis on the development in the area since the publication of volume 26 in 1996 in this series. The progress made in dissecting the genetics, structure and evolution of the seminal enzyme for synthesis of inositol in the biological system has driven the understanding of the enzyme forward. With the current genomic and proteomic tools in place the new role of inositols, inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides in cell signaling or stress response has been explored. These advances are described.


