Hardbound. This volume covers the dramatic advances which have been made in the lasttwo decades in the understanding of isoprenoid biosynthesis at thechemical, biochemical, and molecular genetic level. Tens of thousands ofisoprenoid metabolites - from pinenes to cholesterol, from ubiquinone tocarotene, from phytols to prenylated proteins, from dolichols togibberellins - have been isolated from essentially all forms of life, including prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and archaebacteria: from Escherichiacoli to mammals, from extremophiles and fungi to marine and terrestrialplants. All of these isoprenoids can be derived from a single, five-carbonacyclic precursor, isopentenyl diphosphate. Early chapters in this Volumedetail the key findings that have led to an understanding of the metabolicpathways leading to isopentenyl diphosphate, including both the classicalroute involving mevalonic acid as well as the recently discoveredpyruvate-triose phosphat

Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry

Plants produce a huge array of natural products (secondary metabolites). These compounds have important ecological functions, providing protection against attack by herbivores and microbes and serving as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing agents. They may also contribute to competition and invasiveness by suppressing the growth of neighboring plant species (a phenomenon known as allelopathy). Humans exploit natural products as sources of drugs, flavoring agents, fragrances and for a wide range of other applications. Rapid progress has been made in recent years in understanding natural product synthesis, regulation and function and the evolution of metabolic diversity. It is timely to bring this information together with contemporary advances in chemistry, plant biology, ecology, agronomy and human health to provide a comprehensive guide to plant-derived natural products. Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application provides an informative and accessible overview of the different facets of the field, ranging from an introduction to the different classes of natural products through developments in natural product chemistry and biology to ecological interactions and the significance of plant-derived natural products for humans. In the final section of the book a series of chapters on new trends covers metabolic engineering, genome-wide approaches, the metabolic consequences of genetic modification, developments in traditional medicines and nutraceuticals, natural products as leads for drug discovery and novel non-food crops.

This work presents a definitive interpretation of the current status of and future trends in natural products—a dynamic field at the intersection of chemistry and biology concerned with isolation, identification, structure elucidation, and chemical characteristics of naturally occurring compounds such as pheromones, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and enzymes. With more than 1,800 color figures, Comprehensive Natural Products II features 100% new material and complements rather than replaces the original work (©1999). Reviews the accumulated efforts of chemical and biological research to understand living organisms and their distinctive effects on health and medicine Stimulates new ideas among the established natural products research community—which includes chemists, biochemists, biologists, botanists, and pharmacologists Informs and inspires students and newcomers to the field with accessible content in a range of delivery formats Includes 100% new content, with more than 6,000 figures (1/3 of these in color) and 40,000 references to the primary literature, for a thorough examination of the field Highlights new research and innovations concerning living organisms and their distinctive role in our understanding and improvement of human health, genomics, ecology/environment, and more Adds to the rich body of work that is the first edition, which will be available for the first time in a convenient online format giving researchers complete access to authoritative Natural Products content

This book is the second of two volumes that deal with discovery of chemical pathways of biosynthesis of natural products (secondary metabolites). The first volume covered the use of isotopes in biosynthetic research and the formation of enzyme cofactors and reduced polyketides. This second volume describes biosynthesis of aromatic (unreduced) polyketides, enzymes responsible for cyclization of terpenoids (isoprenoids), and biochemical generation of selected classes of alkaloids (prenylated tryptophan, tropane, pyrrolizidine). Knowledge of the pathways and the techniques to elucidate them opens the door to combinatorial biosynthesis as well as to the production of targeted pharmaceutical agents utilizing a combination of chemistry, molecular biology and protein biochemistry.

Carotenoid Chemistry and Biochemistry covers the proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Carotenoids, held in Liverpool, United Kingdome on July 26-31, 1981. This symposium highlights the interest in biochemical and biological aspects of carotenes. This book is organized into 25 chapters including chapters on carotenoid chemistry, their structures, synthesis and physical methods, with emphasis on their stereochemistry. Other chapters deal with the chemistry of complexes between carotenoids or retinoids and protein, the novel blue carotenoproteins, and the visual pigments and the nutritionally important retinol-binding proteins. The discussions then shift to animal carotenoids, carotenoid metabolism and transformations, including interesting stereochemical findings. This book also reviews studies of carotenoids in photosynthesis, the industrial importance of carotenoids, medical aspects, particularly the use of carotenoids in treatment against skin photosensitivity and their possible role in protection against cancer. The remaining chapters examine the effects of chemicals on carotenoid biosynthesis and its relevance to herbicide design. This book will be of value to carotenoid scientists and researchers.

The chapters presented in Secondary Metabolism in Model Systems are a microcosm of what the recent completion, or near completion, of various genome projects are enabling biochemists to understand not only about control and regulation of secondary metabolism, and how various pathways relate to each other, but also about its relation to primary metabolism. A major paradigm shift is occurring in the way researchers need to view "secondary" metabolism in the future.It is also clear that model systems, such as the ones discussed in the symposium, are providing new information and insight almost faster than researchers can process it! The volumes in this series contain articles on developing topics of interest to scientists, students and individuals interested in recent developments in the biochemistry, chemistry and molecular biology of plants. - An excellent series volume covering the advances in understanding of gene functions, a high profile area of research due to recent genome projects - This book provides essential information on new model systems available to biochemists - The chapters in this volume are based on the papers presented in the symposium entitled "Secondary Metabolism in Model Systems"