This keenly awaited first overview of the field represents a complete guide to the structure and function of the most important mammalian cell membrane organelles. Filling a huge gap in the primary literature, this book is the first to cover the subject in detail. Following an introduction by Kai Simons, the discoverer of lipid rafts and the most prominent scientist in the field, chapters include: Historical background Distinct structures and functions Structural basis Signaling Viral entry and virion budding Cholesterol transport Caveolins Lipid shells Cell polarity and intracellular trafficking Cancer cells Of prime importance to molecular and cell biologists, biochemists, membrane scientists, cancer researchers, and virologists.Content: Chapter 1 Lipid Rafts, Caveolae, and Membrane Traffic (pages 1-23): Doris Meder and Kai SimonsChapter 2 The Forces that Shape Caveolae (pages 25-44): Pierre Sens and Matthew S. TurnerChapter 3 The Biophysical Characterization of Lipid Rafts (pages 45-68): Pranav Sharma, Rajat Varma and Satyajit MayorChapter 4 The Role of Caveolae and Noncaveolar Rafts in Endocytosis (pages 69-89): Bo van Deurs, Frederik Vilhardt, Maria Torgersen, Kirstine Roepstorff, Anette M. Hommelgaard and Kirsten SandvigChapter 5 Role of Cholesterol in Signal Transduction from Caveolae (pages 91-113): Christopher J. Fielding and Phoebe E. FieldingChapter 6 Phosphorylation of Caveolin and Signaling from Caveolae (pages 115-140): Cynthia Corley Mastick, Amy Sanguinetti, Haiming Cao and Suhani ThakkerChapter 7 Role of Lipid Microdomains in the Formation of Supramolecular Protein Complexes and Transmembrane Signaling (pages 141-174): Gyorgy Vamosi, Andrea Bodnar, Gyorgy Vereb, Janos Szollosi and Sandor DamjanovichChapter 8 Caveolin and its Role in Intracellular Chaperone Complexes (pages 175-194): William V. Everson and Eric J. SmartChapter 9 The Roles of Caveolae and Caveolin in Cell Shape, Locomotion, and Stress Fiber Formation (pages 195-204): Sang Chul Park and Kyung A. ChoChapter 10 Lipid Rafts in Trafficking and Processing of Prion Protein and Amyloid Precursor Protein (pages 205-231): Daniela Sarnataro, Vincenza Campana and Chiara ZurzoloChapter 11 Caveolae and the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (pages 233-248): Olivier FeronChapter 12 The Role of Caveolin?1 in Tumor Cell Survival and Cancer Progression (pages 249-263): Dana Ravid and Mordechai Liscovitch