Comprehensive Biochemistry Series

Comprehensive Biochemisty, Volume 16: Hydrolytic Reactions; Cobamide and Biotin Coenzymes treats both the chemistry and function of the coenzymes. This book discusses the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of enzyme catalysis, hydrolytic enzymes displaying “active center characteristics, chelation and stereochemical considerations in enzyme catalysis, and biological oxidation mechanisms. The recommendations of the Enzyme Commission of the International Union of Biochemistry and classified list of enzymes are also covered. This publication likewise elaborates the spectral characteristics of the cobamide coenzymes and mode of binding of biotin. Other topics include the classification of carboxyl esterases, structure and reactivity of phosphorylated metabolites, and mechanism of action of chymotrypsin. This volume is a good reference for biochemists and specialists concerned with enzymes.

Comprehensive Biochemisty, Volume 9: Pyrrole Pigments, Isoprenoid Compounds and Phenolic Plant Constituents focuses on the organic and physical chemistry of the major organic constituents of living material. This book discusses the correlations between structure and visible spectrum, theoretical interpretation of the visible absorption spectra, and spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll. The quantitative aspects of hemoglobin breakdown, monocyclic and bicyclic carbon systems, and substances related to retinol are also elaborated. This publication likewise covers the naturally occurring quinones, phenolic compounds derived by linear condensation of two-carbon units, and single-carbon incorporation into ring systems. This volume is useful to biochemists and specialists researching on pyrrole pigments, isoprenoid compounds, and phenolic plant constituents.

Comprehensive Biochemisty, Volume 11: Water-Soluble Vitamins, Hormones, Antibiotics deals with the organic and physical chemistry of the major organic constituents of living material. This book provides a sound treatment of the important biological high polymers, emphasizing their shape and physical properties. A number of substances peculiar to plants, certain isoprenoids, flavonoids, tannins, lignins, and plant hormones are also covered. This publication likewise discusses the fate of thiamine in living organisms, biologically active isoalloxazines, and auxins with a heterocyclic ring system. Other topics include the yolk-formation hormone of the corpora allata, biochemical aspect of the antibiotics, and miscellaneous antibiotics derivable from amino acids. This volume is a good source for biochemists and specialists conducting work on water-soluble vitamins, hormones, and antibiotics.

Comprehensive Biochemistry, Volume 17: Carbohydrate Metabolism focuses on the processes, reactions, and transformations involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, including glycosaminoglycans, enzymes, oxidation, and glycolysis. The selection first elaborates on functional organization contributing to carbohydrate economy and control of synthesis and breakdown of glycogen, starch, and cellulose. Discussions focus on breakdown of glycogen in mammalian systems, role of glycogen in the regulation of glycogen metabolism, glycogen and starch metabolism in bacteria and plants, carbohydrate digestion, and integration of digestion and absorption. The book also ponders on regulation and mechanisms of enzymes and hexose-monophosphate oxidation, including functions and regulation of pentose-phosphate cycle glucose transport and role of subsequent steps in regulating the rate of glycolysis. The book takes a look at the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans, aldonic and uronic acids, and carbohydrate and oxidative metabolism in neural systems. Concerns include control of carbohydrate metabolism, adaptive changes in relation to carbohydrate metabolism, uronic and aldonic acid metabolism in plants and microorganisms, and mechanism of alternation of monosaccharide units. The selection is a vital source of data for researchers interested in carbohydrate metabolism.

Comprehensive Biochemistry, Volume 18S: Pyruvate and Fatty Acid Metabolism focuses on the processes, methodologies, principles, and reactions involved in pyruvate and fatty acid metabolism, including broad outlines of the metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and their derived products. The selection first ponders on pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and citric acid cycle. Numerical analyses of the various reaction sequences are presented. The text also takes a look at fatty acid metabolism. Discussions focus on fatty acid oxidation and biosynthesis, elongation and desaturation of fatty acids, and control of fatty acid oxidation and biosynthesis. The book is a valuable reference for researchers interested in pyruvate and fatty acid metabolism.

Comprehensive Biochemistry, Volume 21: Metabolism of Vitamins and Trace Elements focuses on the processes, reactions, methodologies, and principles involved in the metabolism of vitamins and trace elements, including catabolism, enzymatic synthesis, absorption, and metabolic functions. The selection first elaborates on the biosynthesis of thiamine and riboflavin and metabolism of vitamin B6. Topics include absorption and transport of vitamin B6, catabolism of vitamin B6, mechanism of riboflavin synthetase from yeast, enzymatic synthesis of thiamine, biogenesis of thiazole, and interconversion of various forms of vitamin B6. The book also ponders on the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A and metabolism of biotin, analogues, folic acid, pteridine derivatives, and cobalamins. Discussions focus on the uses of radioactive cobalamins in metabolic studies, absorption of cobalamins, pteroylpolyglutamates, and biosynthesis of folate compounds, interconversions, and degradations. The manuscript examines the metabolism and metabolic function of trace elements, including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, fluorine, and iodine. The selection is a vital source of data for researchers interested in the metabolism of vitamins and trace elements.

One of the most exciting developments in biological sciences has been their merging with chemistry and physics resulting in the new disciplines of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology. As the developments of these new disciplines has been so rapid many of the key discoveries have occurred within the life-time of a number of prominent scientists in the field. The chapters in this and in future volumes are meant to complement with personal recollections by these scientists, the History of Biochemistry in this series (vols. 30-33 by M. Florkin and Vol. 34 by P. Laszlo). These bibliographic and autobiographic chapters convey to the reader lively, albeit at times subjective, views on both the scientific and social environments of the authors. The editor cosidered it presumptuous to give the authors narrow guidelines or to suggest changes in the chapters he received. The contributions assembled in this volume will convey the flavour of each author's particular personality.

Selected Topics in the History of Biochemistry: Personal Recollections, I presents selected topics in the history of biochemistry based on the authors' personal recollections. These topics range from the isolation of Cori ester and the discovery of sugar nucleotides to the work of Frederick Gowland Hopkins (1861-1947). Ion-coupled membrane processes are also discussed, along with fructose and fructose-2,6-bisphosphateas well as lysosomes and glycogen. Comprised of 12 chapters, this volume begins with the discovery of Cori ester and the concept of phosphorolysis before turning to the discovery of sugar nucleotides and research on ion-coupled membrane processes. The reader is then introduced to studies of fructose, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, lysosomes, and glycogen; the contributions of Frederick Gowland Hopkins in biochemistry; and a short autobiography of Juda Hirsch Quastel, with emphasis on his research work on the concept of active centers as a possible explanation of enzyme action and his investigation of the effects of malonic acid and substituted malonic acids on bacterial dehydrogenases. The remaining chapters focus on a biochemist's approach to autopharmacology; the early development of modern protein chemistry in Uppsala, Sweden; and the biographies of two Russian scientists, A. N. Bach and Sergei E. Severin. This monograph will be of interest to students, practitioners, and researchers in the field of biochemistry.

Comprehensive Biochemisty, Volume 27: Photobiology, Ionizing Radiations deals with the aspects of bioenergetics, immunochemistry, photobiology, and molecular phenomena that underlie the evolution of organisms. This book discusses the types of phototropic response, action spectra in the further ultraviolet, and structure and light-absorbing properties of the photoreceptor cells. The preliminary remarks on visual pigment structure, synopsis of extracted systems, oxidation of proteins, and effects of ultraviolet radiation and photoreactivation are also elaborated. This text likewise covers the chemical nature of photoreactivable damage, reversibility of potentiated flowering response, and primary reactions in algae and higher plants. This volume is beneficial to biochemists and specialists researching on ionizing radiations.

As in Volumes 35 and 36, the chapters in this new volume complement, with personal recollections, the History of Biochemistry that was covered in the Comprehensive Biochemistry Series, Volumes 30-33 by M. Florkin and Volume 34A by P. Laszlo. The biographical and autobiographical chapters will convey to the reader a lively, albeit at times subjective, view of the scientific and social environment in which the authors have worked, resulting in new concepts and theories on the biological sciences.

The suggestion for this collection of essays originated in part from a course given to graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In sections of this course, the conceptual developments in the fields of membrane transport and cellular respiration were traced to illustrate general aspects of the development of ideas in a scientific field. Discussions with peers on the topic also greatly enhanced the development of the project as it is reflected in this book. The volume reflects the breadth and scope of this rapidly developing field, and is an excellent treatise of a historical evaluation of how this field has developed.