In the last decades, molecular biology has made the most impressive progress among natural sciences. Originally connected to biochemistry, it became an indipendent branch that, inturn, permeated other specialized branches such as biotechnologies, genetics, cellular biology, development biology, genomics, proteomics, evolution, neuroscience, biomedicine, immunology, pharmacology.

This "Guide to Proteins and Peptides" accounts for these interdisciplinary relationships by discussing natural proteins, their structure, functional classification, genetic origin. It includes the most recent advances in genetic engineering, genes and cells manipulation, signaling and signal transduction, regulatory interactions between nucleic acids and proteins, embryogenesis, oncology, prions, genetic and neurological diseases.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
 

Fernando Fussi born in Sanremo 04/01/1932

• Graduated in Industrial Chemistry, University of Milano. Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
• 1960-1973: Scientific and Technical Manager of a Company Of the Bayer Group operating in biochemical and pharmaceutical field.
• 1964-today: adviser of Companies operating in biochemical field in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Brasil, US (80 Publications, 17 Patents).
• 1973-1990: associated Professor of Molecular Biology at Parma University, Faculty of Medicine. Lecturer on “glycosaminoglycans“ at Loyola University, Chicago and Professor of Chemistry for Medicine at Bologna University, Faculty of Medicine.

Aldo Del Maschio born in Milano 26/09/1953

• Graduated in Biological Sciences, University of Milano.
• 1986: Postgraduated in Pharmacological Research.
• 1980-1998: staff scientist at Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “M. Negri“.
• 1998-1999: Coordinator at the Service “Pianificazione e Sviluppo“, General Health Headqurters of Regione Lombardia, Italy.
• 2003: Postgraduated in Pharmacology, University of Milano.
• 1999-today: Biologist at Transfusional Center of Sacco Hospital.