The View From Inside

View Inside the Barrel

Chaperonins are a unique class of molecular chaperone that assist in the folding of newly synthesized, partially folded, and misfolded proteins. The importance of these folding machines is evident by their conservation across all three branches of life. The general structure of the chaperonins consists of 14-18 subunits, which form two back-to-back cavities. Unfolded polypeptide substrate is captured in one of the two cavities, and assisted to its native conformation in an ATP dependent fashion. The chaperonins can be separated into two, related, but unique groups. The group I chaperonins, typified by GroEL from bacteria, are fairly well understood, however, there are substantial gaps in our knowledge of the group II chaperonins, such as TRiC from the eukaryotic cytosol. Gaining a mechanistic understanding of the group II chaperonins is of great importance, as it has been shown that TRiC malfunction is associated with a variety of diseases. Toward this end the group II chaperonin conformation cycle, ATPase, and substrate folding mechanism have been investigated. This work elucidates key components of the folding cycle and greatly increases our understanding of these folding machines.

Entanglements, Narratives, and the Environment

Entanglements, Narratives, and the Environment: Inter-American Perspectives provides an interdisciplinary ecocritical reading of narratives and environmental entanglements from an Inter-American perspective, predominantly providing literary, film, and cultural analysis of texts from the Americas. In light of Amitav Ghosh’s (2016) exploration of “a crisis of the imagination” in the face of climate change and environmental degradation, this book addresses the potential of literature, history, and politics in comprehending the profound dimensions and violence of these challenges. The chapters show, among others, that the Anthropocene demands fresh narratives and theoretical perspectives, particularly within the framework of Inter-American Studies, which can offer a new venue to discuss pressing issues and to provide intersectional and inter-regional considerations. Thus, drawing on Inter-American perspective with its hemispheric perspectives opens the possibilities for an ecocritical reading of the complexities and relationalities of the climate crisis in the humanities as well as the social sciences. As a result, the book includes historical and political analysis, as well as literary, cultural and film analysis of texts from the Americas. The chapters engage in deconstructing popular myths, de-centering Western approaches, and eventually show through these critical engagements how the climate crisis demands multi-dimensional readings.

iOS Apps for Masterminds 3rd Edition