Textbook of Receptor Pharmacology, Third Edition

Book excerpt: For the past four decades, University College London has offered a renowned course on receptor pharmacology. Originating from this course, the perennially bestselling Textbook of Receptor Pharmacology has presented in-depth coverage of this rapidly expanding area of research. This third edition continues to combine current understanding of classical quantitative pharmacology and drug-receptor interactions with the basics of receptor structure and signal transduction mechanisms, providing an integrated analysis of the mechanisms of drug action at membrane receptors. The hallmark of this popular text is the uniting of four major approaches to the study of receptors: Molecular investigation of receptor structure Quantitative functional studies of agonists and antagonists Ligand binding Signal transduction at the cell membrane Maintaining the second edition’s focus on cell membrane receptors and the immediate signal transduction events at the membrane, this edition includes updated chapters on receptor structure and signal transduction by G-proteins and tyrosine kinases as well as enhancements to the quantitative treatment of drug-receptor interactions. Several chapters contain problems and worked-out solutions, giving students the ability to test their comprehension of the material. Hundreds of diagrams and figures further enhance the text. A time-saving resource and comprehensive learning tool, Textbook of Receptor Pharmacology, Third Edition carries on the tradition of providing in-depth, up-to-date coverage of this critical area that is both fundamental to the science of pharmacology and on the cutting edge of new drug development.