StemBook is an open access collection of invited, original, peer-reviewed chapters covering a range of topics related to stem cell biology written by top researchers in the field at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and worldwide. StemBook is aimed at stem cell and non-specialist researchers. In addition to the contributions of the editorial board and the stem cell research community, the project is being done in collaboration with several other enterprises including Harvards Initiative in Innovative Computing. The Initiative in Innovative Computing created the Scientific Collaboration Framework (SCF), the extensible software infrastructure used for the project. SCF and the StemBook project were funded, in part, by a generous grant from an anonymous foundation and also appreciates the input of WormBase's Textpresso team.
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2007]
TRP ion channels were first described in Drosophila melanogaster in 1989 and in mammals several years later. In 1997, TRPV1, a member of the TRP channel superfamily (now with more than 60 members in vertebrates and invertebrates but not in bacteria and plants), was described to respond to the pungent ingredients of hot pepper, then named capsaicin receptor. Ever since we have witnessed an explosion of activity in this field of scientific inquiry for obvious reasons. TRP ion channels are critical elements in signal transduction of cellular signaling cascades and of neurosensory processes, which are involved in all five senses. This book, TRP Ion Channel Function in Sensory Transduction and Cellular Signaling Cascades presents 31 chapters written by researchers who have made these key discoveries, such as Dr. Lutz Birnbaumer who discovered mammalian TRP channels, and who continues to conduct TRP ion channel research at the cutting edge of this hyperdynamic area. Because of the burgeoning nature of the field, this book does not represent an all-comprehensive view on TRP channel biology. However, it does shed light on selected topics of outstanding interest in the TRP arena, such as signal transduction in axonal pathfinding, and vascular, renal, auditory, and nociceptive functioning, to name a few, and the spotlight is cast by an international cast of outstanding chapter authors.