John Perkins' timely new volume on The Beta-Adrenergic Receptors brings to light the latest information on this key receptor class-the prototype of a family of receptors that regulate the activity of G-proteins. The first of its type to be cloned and sequenced, this receptor class has been the subject of much fruitful study.The clinical significance of the beta-adrenergic receptors hinges on their usefulness as targets for drugs to control asthma, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The Beta-Adrenergic Receptors covers a variety of topics, including: structure-function relationships • ligand-induced desensitization of b-adrenergic receptors • reconstitution of b-adrenergic receptors • biochemical functions • antibodies to b-adrenergic receptors • autoradiographic studies • b-adrenergic receptors in pathophysiological states • clinical applications • drug and hormonal regulation of the b-adrenergic receptor.The Beta-Adrenergic Receptors is an indispensable resource for biochemists, molecular biologists, pharmacologists, physiologists, neuroscientists, and others involved with the study of receptors at either the research or clinical level.