Even before oxygen appeared in our athmosphere, redox reactions provided the energy for metabolic steps in the evolution of life. Redox modifications are now important in cellular functions including differentiation/development. This book compiles current knowledge regarding the roles of redox regulation in differentiation and de-differentiation.

Cell differentiation and the development of multicellular organisms are processes of self-assembly, controlled and driven by signaling molecules and cascades including redox regulation. These reactions may have provided the energy for the first metabolic steps in the evolution of life. Today, redox modifications are established as important regulatory events in cellular functions including differentiation and development. Redox modifications of single cysteines regulate differentiation of stem cells, formation of functioning organs, and de-differentiation such as formation of cancer cells. Current cancer therapy is based on redox events as well and regeneration often reactivates developmental pathways. Understanding differentiation and de-differentiation on a molecular level is therefore a prerequisite for the continuing development of new medical therapies. This book summarizes the roles of redox regulation in development by bringing together different concepts and comparing similarities and differences between various cell types and species. An international team of contributors presents several new aspects of redox-regulated differentiation and de-differentiation, including aspects of redox medicine.

Key Features

• Provides the first summary on this important topic
• Reviews redox-dependent development of model organisms and single organs
• Highlights the redox-regulated pathways important for differentiation processes
• Illustrates the potential of redox medicine
• Combines state-of-the-art knowledge in differentiation/development, aging/longevity, and repair/regeneration
• Written by leading experts in the field

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