I. Foundations of Biochemistry
The basics of life science are presented in clear, informative vignettes. These chapters will be review for most students and an essential foundation for all. Revised art, additional material on chemical basics, and other revisions based on input from users of the best-selling Second Edition make these chapters more effective for today's students.
1. The Molecular Logic of Life
Up-to-date information on available genomic sequences; improved descriptions and illlustrations of energetic relationships in coupled reactions.
2. Cells
Rewritten section on the evolution of prokaryotic cells takes into account new information on archaea.
3. Biomolecules
New section on chemical reactivity, with ten new figures.
4. Water
New sections on colligative properties of aqueous solutions, osmosis and osmotic pressure, and hypotonic lysis of cells
II. Structure and Catalysis
Important revisions and additions bring the central topics of biochemical structure and function completely up to date.
5. Amino Acids and Proteins
Now combines material from two chapters in the Second Edition (Ch. 5, Amino Acids and Peptides, and Ch. 6, An Introduction to Proteins) to give students a more coherent introduction to the fundamentals of protein primary structure. Adds new material on current methods, including mass spectrometry and sequence studies.
6. The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins
This extensively rewritten chapter takes a fresh look at how and why proteins assume their active conformations. It now includes a thorough definition of structural nomenclature, an introduction to information required to explore modern structural databases, an updated discussion of protein folding, and spectacular new molecular graphics. A straightforward and accessible introduction to x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy will add to student appreciation of the hundreds of leading-edge molecular graphics throughout the book.
7. Protein Function
This new chapter is an original treatment of structure and function in three instructive cases: the classic allosteric protein hemoglobin, the immunoglobulins, and molecular motors. The chapter includes a rigorous introduction to the physical principles underlying the reversible binding of a ligand to a protein, a topic central to many areas of biochemistry but often underserved in textbooks.
8. Enzymes
The treatments of enzyme inhibition and regulation have been updated, including a thorough introduction to the increasingly central topic of phosphorylation in enzyme control.
9. Carbohydrates and Glycoconjugates
New material includes coverage of recent topics in glycobiology: the role of carbohydrates in recognition; lectins; selectins; Helicobacter pylori.
10. Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
New material includes coverage of unusual nucleic acid structures and updates material on methods.
11. Lipids
Improved pedagogy helps students to learn lipid categories, added material updates the discussion of the metabolic roles of lipids in signaling, and expanded coverage of lipid analysis techniques accents the unique role of lipids in the cell.
12. Biological Membranes and Transport
This extensively reorganized chapter brings together the themes of structure and dynamics in biological membranes. Much new information on transport mechanisms has been added, and the foundation is laid for a deeper understanding of signaling (Ch. 13) and membrane-based energetics (Ch. 19).
13. Biosignaling
This new chapter reveals the general patterns of signal transduction, followed by detailed summaries of complete signaling pathways using vision, olfaction, and gustation as examples. This chapter also includes a thorough discussion of protein phosphorylation as a regulatory mechanism, exemplified by the control of cell division and apoptosis. The consequences of defective signaling are illustrated in the discussion of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and their defective protein products.
III. Bioenergetics and Metabolism
In the years since the previous edition, much has been added to our knowledge of metabolic regulation and the integration of pathways. Meticulous updating gives students the most recent news-as recent as Spring 1999.
14. Principles of Bioenergetics
Improved treatments of displacement reactions, transphosphorylations, the differences between biochemical and chemical equations, and the importance of Mg2+.
15. Glycolysis and the Catabolism of Hexoses
Notable improvements include the treatment of channeling, and a new box, "Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: Why Pythagoras wouldn't eat falafels."
16. The Citric Acid Cycle
New problems and a new discussion of exploring metabolism using NMR.
17. Oxidation of Fatty Acids
New problems and a new section on human diseases caused by defects in fatty acid oxidation
18. Amino Acid Oxidation and the Production of Urea
Much improved discussion of the integration of amino acid metabolism and other pathways.
19. Oxidative Phosphorylation and Photophosphorylation
This extensively revised capstone for the section on catabolism now incorporates the latest structural information about the electron-transport complexes, and the growing consensus about mechanism in biological energy conservation, including the 1998 and 1999 findings on the mechanism of ATP synthase. Major revisions include the role of iron-sulfur proteins, the structures of complexes I, III, IV, and F1 ATP synthase; clearer explanation of the Q cycle; and updated and improved discussions of stoichiometries.
20. Carbohydrate Biosynthesis
21. Lipid Biosynthesis
22. Biosynthesis of Amino Acids, Nucleotides, and Related Molecules
23. Integration and Hormonal Regulation of Mammalian Metabolism
Extensively revised to complement the revisions throughout the metabolism section.
IV. Information Pathways
While continuing to emphasize fundamentals, these chapters have been brought completely up to date. They record developments in new model organisms, new relations between genes, and the impact of DNA sequencing. New advances are covered thoroughly, including the remarkable advances in the current understanding of eukaryotic transcription and its regulation, and the latest information on cellular protein sorting, DNA metabolism, and genomics.
24. Genes and Chromosomes
25. DNA Metabolism
All aspects of DNA metabolism have been extensively revised, including coordination of leading and lagging strands during replication, eukaryotic replication, replication termination, DNA repair mechanisms, and recombination mechanisms. New medical examples have been added.
26. RNA Metabolism
Substantial revision includes new information on eukaryotic RNA polymerases and transcription, biochemical evolution, methods, and medical examples.
27. Protein Metabolism
Features new material on protein targeting and secretion, and protein degradation.
28. Regulation of Gene Expression
Emphasizes the important breakthroughs in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, including chromatin remodelling.
29. Recombinant DNA Technology
The closing chapter introduces the student to new methods in DNA technology, including genome projects and other major trends.
Appendix A. Common Abbreviations in the Biochemical Research Literature
Appendix B. Abbreviated Solutions to Problems
Glossary
Illustration Credits
Index
