Because thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are important regulators of a large number of biological processes-ranging from brain development to control of vision in vertebrates-abnormal functioning of these receptors can have serious medical consequences. In Thyroid Hormone Receptors: Methods and Protocols, a panel of outstanding investigators surveys and explains the major cutting-edge methods used in TR research and their practical experimental details. Described in step-by-step detail to ensure robust experimental results, the techniques presented cover a wide variety of key areas, including TRs in development and generation of knockout (mouse and Xenopus), transcriptional regulation by TRs in both cell-free systems and living cells, and TR mutant analysis of patients. Additional methods provide powerful tools for the isolation of TR-regulated protein complexes, for the study of blood cell differentiation through the oncogene v-erbA, and for target gene analysis in the brain. Microarray chip methods are also presented for analyzing the organs of transgenic mice to identify target genes in the liver. Each protocol has been developed by a hands-on expert and contains full explanatory notes, troubleshooting tips, and helpful comments on avoiding pitfalls.
Broad ranging and highly practical, Thyroid Hormone Receptors: Methods and Protocols offers endocrinologists, geneticists, biochemists, and research physicians a comprehensive collection of powerful methods useful not only for all major areas of TR biology and analysis, but also for nuclear hormone receptors in general.