A comprehensive reference handbook on the important aspects of trace elements in the land environment. Each chapter addresses a particular element and gives a general introduction to their role in the environment, where they come from, and their biogeochemical cycles. In addition to a complete updating of each of the element chapters, this new edition has new chapters devoted to aluminum and iron, soil contamination, remediation and trace elements in aquatic ecosystems. In short, an essential resource for environmental scientists and chemists, regulators and policy makers.

This book reviews recent breakthroughs in anti-cancer drug discovery. Building on the previous volume in the series, it outlines some of the most significant developments that have occurred in the field in the subsequent period that have led to new drug approvals or promising clinical candidates. The volume is divided into chapters that each relate to a specific protein or protein class. Each chapter provides an overview of the underlying biology and then emphasises the medicinal chemistry strategies and tactics that led to the most significant drugs and drug candidates. A summary of clinical data and the future outlook for the field is also provided. Each chapter is authored by experts in the topic and who have themselves made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Peptides are used ubiquitously for studies in biology, biochemistry, chemical biology, peptide based medicinal chemistry, and many other areas of research. There is a number of marketed peptide drugs, and the prospects for the development of new peptide drugs are very encouraging. The second edition of Peptide Synthesis and Applications expands upon the previous editions with current, detailed methodologies for peptide synthesis. With new chapters on laboratory protocols for both the specialist and the non-specialist. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Peptide Synthesis and Application, Second Edition seeks to aid scientists in understanding different approaches to the synthesis of peptides by using a broad range of methods and strategies.

A Beginner's Guide to Microarrays addresses two audiences - the core facility manager who produces, hybridizes, and scans arrays, and the basic research scientist who will be performing the analysis and interpreting the results. User friendly coverage and detailed protocols are provided for the technical steps and procedures involved in many facets of microarray technology, including:

-Cleaning and coating glass slides,
-Designing oligonucleotide probes,
-Constructing arrays for the detection and quantification of different bacterial species,
-Preparing spotting solutions,
-Troubleshooting spotting problems,
-Setting up and running a core facility,
-Normalizing background signal and controlling for systematic variance,
-Designing experiments for maximum effect,
-Analyzing data with statistical procedures,
-Clustering data with machine-learning protocols.

How does the consumption of red wine reduce heart disease? How does a plant battle an invading fungus using physical and chemical defense mechanisms? How are tannins used in leather production synthesized?

These are just a few examples that illustrate the chemical diversity and use of phenolic compounds, the topic of a ~Phenolic Compound Biochemistrya (TM).

This book is written for researchers, instructors, advanced undergraduate students and beginning graduate students in the life sciences who wish to become more familiar with these and many other intriguing aspects of phenolic compounds. Topics covered include nomenclature, chemical properties, biosynthesis, including an up-to-date overview of the genetics controlling phenolic metabolism, isolation and characterization of phenolic compounds, phenolics used in plant defense, and the impact of phenolics on human health. The book is written in an accessible style, and assumes only basic knowledge of organic chemistry, biochemistry and cell physiology. More than 300 chemical structures and reaction schemes illustrate the text.

Wilfred Vermerris is Associate Professor of Agronomy at the University of Florida Genetics Institute in Gainesville, FL. His research focuses on the genetic control of phenolic compounds that impact agro-industrial processing of crop plants.

Ralph Nicholson is Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He is an expert on phenolic compounds involved in the planta (TM)s defense against pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Pteridine and folate research has long been recognized as important for many biological processes, such as amino acid metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, cancer, cardiovascular function, and growth and development of essentially all living organisms. Defects in synthesis, metabolism and/or nutritional availability of these compounds have been implicated as major causes of common disease processes, e.g. cancer, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, neurological diseases, autoimmune processes, and birth defects. Since pteridine and folate biology uses concepts and experimental techniques drawn from all of these disciplines, the breadth of this volume is its great strength, bringing together researchers from a wide variety of fields including biochemistry, chemistry, physics, biophysics, genetics, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, virology, immunology, cancer, neurobiology and medicine. This volume should be a valuable and unique reference work for scientists with interests in these areas as well as those seeking up to date information.

The Fifth Chinese Peptide Symposium, hosted by Lanzhou University, was held at Lanzhou, China July 14-17, 1998, with 156 participants, including 30 scientists from abroad, representing nine countries. The four-day conference was both intense and spiritually rewarding. Our goal for CPS-98 was to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge, cooperation and friendship between the international and Chinese scientific communities, and we believe this goal was met. The symposium consisted of 8 sessions with 42 oral and 90 poster presentations, including synthetic methods, molecular diversity and peptide libraries, structure and conformation of peptides and proteins, bioactive peptides, peptide immunology, De Novo design and synthesis of proteins and peptides, ligand-receptor interactions, the chemistry-biology-interface and challenging problems in peptides. The enthusiastic cooperation and excellent contributions were gratifying and the active response of the invited speakers contributed to the success of the symposium. The presentations were of excellent caliber and represented the most current and significant aspects of peptide science. Dr. Kit Lam of the University of Arizona and Dr. Yun-Hua Ye of Peking University were the recipients of "The Cathay Award" sponsored by the H. H. Liu Education Foundation, offered for their seminal contribution in peptide science and the Chinese Peptide Symposium. Four outstanding young scientists were selected by the organizing committee to receive awards sponsored by Haikou Nanhai Pharmaceutical Industry Co. Ltd. (Zhong He Group).

This volume presents the physiological and biochemical aspects of storage carbohydrates, or starch granules, in plants. This up-to-date and thorough resource carefully integrates fundamental knowledge with the most recent information on the starch granule. It discusses the chemistry of the starch granule and the biochemistry, molecular biology, plant physiology, and genetics of plant starch synthesis. The books also describes the implications of these studies for theseed, biotechnology, and modified starch industries.
Key Features
* Written for a broad readership
* Emphasizes the recent findings on the properties of starch biosynthetic enzymes and on studies describing their localization
* Details the implications these studies have on the seed, biotechnology, and modified starch industries
* Includes numerous references to the original literature
* Introduces the reader to the most important individuals and discoveries in the field

Carbohydrate Chemistry provides review coverage of all publications relevant to the chemistry of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a given year. The amount of research in this field appearing in the organic chemical literature is increasing because of the enhanced importance of the subject, especially in areas of medicinal chemistry and biology. In no part of the field is this more apparent than in the synthesis of oligosaccharides required by scientists working in glycobiology. Clycomedicinal chemistry and its reliance on carbohydrate synthesis is now very well established, for example, by the preparation of specific carbohydrate- based antigens, especially cancer-specific oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Coverage of topics such as nucleosides, amino-sugars, alditols and cyclitols also covers much research of relevance to biological and medicinal chemistry. Each volume of the series brings together references to all published work in given areas of the subject and serves as a comprehensive database for the active research chemist Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

This volume presents methods related to the role of anaerobic dissimilatory cycles and sulfur metabolism.
Key Features
@bul* Sulfate Transport
* Dissimilatory Sulfate Metabolism
* Dehydrogenases
* Hydrogenases from sulfate-reducing bacteria
* Electron carrier protein sulfate-reducing bacteria
* Terminal reductases of sulfate-reducing bacteria molecular biology
* Dissimilatory sulfur reduction
* Oxidation of reduction compounds
* Metabolism of polythinates
* Special techniques

Internationally acclaimed for more than 40 years, this serial, founded by the late Professor R.H.F. Manske, continues to provide outstanding coverage of the rapidly expanding field of the chemotaxonomy, structure elucidation, synthesis, biosynthesis, and biology of all classes of alkaloids from higher and lower plants, marine origins, or various terrestrial animals. Each volume provides, through its distinguished authors, up-to-date and detailed coverage of particular classes or sources of alkaloids. Over the years, this series has become the standard in natural product chemistry to which all other book series aspire. The Alkaloids, Chemistry and Pharmacology endures as an essential reference for all natural product chemists and biologists who have an interest in alkaloids, their diversity, and their unique biological profile.

The discovery of fullerenes, species belonging to the electronodeficient polyalkenes with weakly conjugated double bonds, has opened novel opportunities for the radical chemistry. Pioneering study in this field was performed by P. J. Krusic, E. Wasserman, P. N. Keizer, J. R. Morton, and K. F. Preston (Science, 1991, 254, 1184). The fullerenyl radical adducts formed via addition of atoms or free radicals to fullerenes have no analogs in organic chemistry. In fact, radicals in which the unpaired electrons are delocalized over the surface of a sphere or ellipsoid have never been studied before. The unusual character of the fullerenyl radicals is also due to the fact that they occupy a sort of intermediate position between the planar and tetrahedral radicals. Thus, the elucidation of the characteristic features of fullerenyl radicals and their reactivity by EPR spectroscopy, and the comparison of the results with those of quantum-chemical studies are of fundamental importance. Isolation of the products from homolytic reactions of fullerenes in bulk amounts opens the door to large-scale preparation of new organic and organoelement derivatives of including biologically active ones. Radical reactions of fullerenes find wide application in the synthesis of fullere- containing polymers with valuable photophysical characteristics. Ferromagnetism of the complex of with tetra(dimethylamino)ethylene found lends impetus to a search of novel methods for preparation of biradicals one unpaired electron of those is located on the fullerene cage while the other retained by the addend.

The American Peptide Society (APS) provides a forum for advancing and promoting knowledge of the chemistry and biology of peptides. The approximately one thousand members of the Society come from North America and from more than thirty other countries throughout the world. Establishment of the APS was a result of the rapid worldwide growth that has occurred in peptide-related research, and of the increasing interaction of peptide scientists with virtually all fields of science. Peptides for Youth: The Proceedings of the the 20th American Peptide Symposium will highlight many of the recent developments in peptide science, with a particular emphasis on how these advances are being applied to basic problems in biology and medicine. The 20th American Peptide Symposium will take place June 26 - 30, 2007 in Montreal, Canada.

Microorganisms are capable of producing a wide variety of biopolymers. Homopolymer peptides, which are made up of only a single type of amino acid, are far less ubiquitous. The only two amino-acid homopolymers known to occur in nature are presented in this volume. Poly-epsilon-L-lysine is a polycationic peptide and exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of microorganisms. It is both safe and biodegradable and is therefore used as a food preservative in several countries. In addition, there has been great interest in medical and other applications of poly-lysine and its derivatives. In contrast, poly-gamma-glutamic acid is an unusual anionic polypeptide. It is also water soluble, biodegradable, edible, non-toxic and non-immunogenic and can be chemically modified to introduce various drugs. These features are very useful for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Poly-glutamic acid is also a highly attractive as a food ingredient.

In order to meet the ever-increasing demands for enantiopure compounds, heteroge- ous, homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis evolved independently in the past. Although all three approaches have yielded industrially viable processes, the latter two are the most widely used and can be regarded as complementary in many respects. Despite the progress in structural, computational and mechanistic studies, however, to date there is no universal recipe for the optimization of catalytic processes. Thus, a trial-and-error approach remains predominant in catalyst discovery and optimization. With the aim of complementing the well-established fields of homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis, organocatalysis and artificial metalloenzymes have enjoyed a recent revival. Artificial metalloenzymes, which are the focus of this book, result from comb- ing an active but unselective organometallic moiety with a macromolecular host. Kaiser and Whitesides suggested the possibility of creating artificial metallo- zymes as long ago as the late 1970s. However, there was a widespread belief that proteins and organometallic catalysts were incompatible with each other. This severely hampered research in this area at the interface between homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis. Since 2000, however, there has been a growing interest in the field of artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis. The current state of the art and the potential for future development are p- sented in five well-balanced chapters. G. Roelfes, B. Feringa et al. summarize research relying on DNA as a macromolecular host for enantioselective catalysis.

In this thesis, Xiaoshi Wang investigates the function and mechanism of a newly discovered heme-thiolate peroxygenase, AaeAPO. This enzyme class comes from Agrocybe aegerita and is used in the conversion of inert hydrocarbons to alcohols. Xiaoshi's work focuses on an extracellular P450 enzyme which is not limited in its stability and lack of solubility and therefore is relevant for widespread industrial use. The author demonstrates that the peroxygenase catalyzes a wide range of reactions. In some cases the author even describes very difficult transformations in molecules that are highly inert. Her detailed investigations provide a mechanistic framework for how the peroxygenase catalyzes such a large number of reactions. A major highlight of this thesis is the identification of key short-lived intermediates in the catalytic cycle of the peroxygenase, using rapid kinetic and spectroscopic methods, as well as the elucidation of the thermodynamic properties of these high-energy intermediates. This work adds new insight into an important class of enzymes.

The book summarizes the latest research and developments in dairy biotechnology and engineering. It provides a strategic approach for readers relating to fundamental research and practical work with lactic acid bacteria. The book covers every aspect from identification, ecology, taxonomy and industrial use. All contributors are experts who have substantial experience in the corresponding research field. The book is intended for researchers in the human, animal, and food sciences related to lactic acid bacteria. Dr. Heping Zhang is a Professor at the Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China. Dr. Yimin Cai works in Livestock and Environment Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Japan.

Taxonomy; R.A. Samson. Physiology of Aspergillus; Z. Kozakiewicz, D. Smith. Improvement of Industrial Aspergillus Fungi; S. Ushijima. Molecular Genetics and Expression of Foreign Proteins in the Genus Aspergillus; J.R. Kinghorn, S.E. Unkles. Solid State Fermentations of the Genus Aspergillus; P. Gervais, H. Bensoussan. Liquid Fermentation Systems and Product Recovery of Aspergillus; L.M. Harvey, B. McNeil. Enzymes of the Genus Aspergillus; W.M. Fogarty. Health Related Aspects of the Genus Aspergillus; C.W. Lewis, et al. Index.

Methods and Procedures for Preparing Resealed Erythrocytes: IHP Entrapment into Human Erythrocytes; A. Mosca, et al. Resealed Erythrocytes as a Tool for Basic Studies: ATP Monitoring in Human Red Blood Cells with Luciferase Introduced Intracellularly; V.M. Vitvitsky, et al. Resealed Erythrocytes as a Cellular Bioreactors: Acetaldehayde Oxidation by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Loaded Erythrocytes; P. Ninfali, et al. Resealed Erythrocytes as Advanced Drug Delivery Systems: Erythrocytes as Carriers of New Anti-Opioid Prodrugs; S. Noel-Hocquet, et al. Site Specific Targeting of Resealed Erythrocytes: Erythrocytes as Carriers of Ricin A Chain; N. Chestier, et al. Human and Veterinary Studies Using Resealed Erythrocytes: Susceptibility of Carrier Erythrocytes to a Natural Hemolytic System; H.J. Kirch, et al. 36 additional articles. Index.

Application of recent advances, such as non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the maintenance concept and the material balancing method, to the description, of microbial growth has suggested new experimental approaches which have yielded a wealth of data. These data have been used to develop mathematical models of microbial growth and metabolism, and the models have made it possible to direct the metabolism of a microorganism in such a way that more of a certain desired product is made. While a full quantitative description of all aspects of microbial growth and metabolism is till remote, the new approaches are opening up large areas of new potential -- it is now possible, for instance, to deal with individual cells in a population and with quantitative aspects of product formation and optimisation. Microbiologists, biochemists and physiologists will find this an invaluable update on a field of great promise.

Mongolia is an expansive land-locked country, tilted by tectonic forces to the North, that experiences extremes of continental climate. Moisture-carrying wind currents are scarce so that the land has extended highs and lows in its environment. Culturally the people are mostly nomadic, having been sustained for centuries by an economy based on domestic livestock grazing. There is a saying that, As the noses go, so goes Mongolia', referring to the domesticated grazing noses of sheep, goats, camels, yaks or horses, and wild ungulates such as gazelles. The vast fenceless steppes of Mongolia furnish the vegetation for grazing. With such extremes in climate it is clear that the vegetation must be resilient and dynamic to cope with the dictates of its extremely harsh environments. Pollen profiles from lakes, plant macrofossils and other data over the last 15,000 years show the dynamic nature of Mongolian vegetation. Currently Mongolian society is experiencing much human-driven economic development which increases pressure on its vegetation. The Great Khural Laws of 1995 forcefully addressed such environmental concerns with the expanded establishment of National Reserves and Parks. But continued effort and vigilance must be expended to insure that Mongolian society will continue to be sustained by its vegetation. This book highlights work such as conserving and restoring plant diversity in various ecosystems and makes recommendations for sustaining the vegetation basis of the nomadic Mongolian society.

Plant signalling has emerged as an integrated field which has become indispensable in recent times to study any biological process. Over the last decade, an enormous amount of information has been generated in this field and the advances in information technology gave birth to bioinformatics which has helped greatly in managing the galaxy of information. It is now possible to view the different information s in a systems biology approach which has unravelled the association/ new processes and thus helped us enormously in understanding of the biological processes. The present book is an attempt at understanding the plant signalling processes with different perspectives. Even though the plants are sessile but there exists a tremendous interconnected network of perception at morphological, physiological and molecular levels. The impact of the surrounding environment in terms of abiotic and biotic stresses is significant in terms of its survival, adaptation and productivity for the human welfare. The plants possess a wide array of processes at the organ, tissue and cellular levels which are governed by a plethora of molecules. The molecules govern individual processes and these exists a cross talk between them to form a complex network of processes. The book tries to envision how different processes are operating at different points in the life cycle of the plant."

Chemical genomics technology has been steadily improving, delivering new biological probes and drugs, and the explicit use of the term 'chemical proteomics' has increased with it, as proteins have always been at the heart of this technology. In "Chemical Genomics and Proteomics: Reviews and Protocols," experts in the field present updated reviews of the chemistry of small molecules and their interaction with protein targets as well as detailed protocols that cover different types of ligands, carbohydrates, and lipids. For example, the generation of their protein targets and methods for measuring their interactions is covered. Written in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology " series format, methodology chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Thorough and up to date, "Chemical Genomics and Proteomics: Reviews and Protocols" aims to provide inspiration to those who wish to use chemical genomics and proteomics in their work and develop this young field into full maturity through the incorporation of the new biological and chemical technologies beginning to emerge here."