The invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1994 and remains one of the most important scientific discoveries of the twentieth century. More than 50,000 researchers in the United States use PCR replication technology, and yet a book has not been published on the subject in more than ten years. In this book, Dr. Stephen A. Bustin, a world-renowned PCR expert, examines in detail the latest innovations and the overall impact of PCR on many areas of molecular research. The book contains personal reflections, opinions, and comments by leading authorities on the many applications of the PCR and how this technology has revolutionized their respective areas of interest. This book conveys the ways in which PCR has overcome many obstacles in life science and clinical research and also charts the PCR s development from time-consuming, low throughput, non-quantitative procedure to today s rapid, high throughput, quantitative super method."

A high proportion of drugs currently coming to market exert their action in the body by inhibiting a target enzyme involved in a particular body function or in a bacterium, protozoon, or virus causing an infection. This book extends the previous volume in providing a comprehensive coverage of< br> more recently recognized target enzymes and their known inhibitors and, within this framework of knowledge, demonstrates how the drug designer uses all available information to develop a specific therapeutic agent. Drug design is an interdisciplinary art; this text illustrates the pathway followed< br> from the initial design concept and synthesis of an inhibitor, through its in vitro and in vivo assessments, to clinical trial -- a process involving chemists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and clinicians.

Glutathione S-Transferases: Structure and Mechanism of an Archetypical Detoxication Enzyme (R. Armstrong).

Regulation of Cholesteryl Ester Hydrolases (D. Hajjar).

The New Biology of Adenosine Receptors (T. Palmer & G. Stiles).

Microtubule Dynamics: Bioenergetics and Control (D. Purich & J. Angelastro).

Expression of the α-Crystallin/Small Heat-Shock Protein/Molecular Chaperone Genes in the Lens and Other Tissues (C. Sax & J. Piatigorsky).

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP): The Gene and the Enzyme (R. Hanson & Y. Patel).

Indexes.

Authored by leading experts in the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis, this completely revised and updated edition provides a description of the types of natural products, the biosynthetic pathways that enable the production of these molecules, and an update on the discovery of novel products in the post-genomic era. Although some 500 000 - 600 000 natural products have been isolated and characterized over the past two centuries, there may be a 10-fold greater inventory awaiting immediate exploration based on biosynthetic gene cluster predictions. The approach of this book is to codify the chemical logic that underlies each natural product structural class as they are assembled from building blocks of primary metabolism. This second edition integrates many new findings into the sets of principles of the first edition that parsed categories of natural product chemistries into the underlying enzymatic mechanisms and the catalytic machinery for building the varied and complex end product metabolites. New chapters include evaluation of a core set of thermodynamically activated but kinetically stable metabolites that power both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Also, after decades of uncertainty about the existence of various pericyclase classes, a series of genome mining, heterologous expression, and enzymatic activity characterization have validated a plethora of pericyclases over the past decade. The several types of pericyclases are involved in biosynthetic complexity generation of almost every major category of natural products. This text will serve as a reference point for chemists of every subdiscipline, including synthetic organic chemists and medicinal chemists. It will also be valuable to bioinformatic and computational biologists, pharmacognocists and chemical ecologists, and bioengineers and synthetic biologists.

Biological catalysis plays a dominant role both in fermentation and industrial process chemistry. This collection of chapters, written by a well-known biochemist and enzymologist, should serve as an invaluable reference to those investigators seeking to optimize the application of enzymatic catalysis for commercial purposes.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are good anti-cancer targets. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and HDIs play opposite roles in the regulation of gene expression via an epigenetic mechanism. HATs catalyse the acetylation of lysine residues in histone tails, facilitating and sustaining gene transcription. HDIs remove the acetyl moieties from the epsilon-amine of lysine residues of histone tails, leading to a more condensed form of chromatin and preventing gene transcription. This book focuses on the use of HDIs for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies; myeloid malignancies; and breast cancer.

Enzymes are necessary for nearly all of life's chemical reactions. With the advance of biotechnology, increasing numbers of enzymes are identified and over-produced prior to application in various industries that encompass medicine, agro-industry, commodity products sectors, and biofuel biotechnologies. Many enzymes currently are derived from recombinant micro-organisms. Enzyme manufacturers take advantage of new genetic techniques to develop and manufacture enzymes with improved properties. Such enzymes often originate from micro-organisms that cannot be readily cultured under laboratory or industrial conditions. By judicious selection of host micro-organisms, recombinant production strains can be constructed to allow efficient production of enzymes that are substantially free of undesirable enzymes or other microbial metabolites. The developments in molecular genetics and cell biology in the last four decades have reshaped enzyme production. This book provides comprehensive material on applications of important microbes and their gene functions in enzyme technology for audiences across many disciplines.

In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the properties, medicinal uses and health benefits of alfalfa and clover. Topics discussed in this compilation include the position of alfalfa oxidoreductases in soil enzymology and biotechnology; alfalfa properties and livestock nutrition and phytoestrogen use in menopausal patients.

Lipases are ubiquitous enzymes which catalyse the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols to glycerols and free fatty acids. Due to their characteristics of enantioselectivity and regioselectivity and stability in organic solvents, they have gained importance in industrial applications. In this book, the authors examine the functions, synthesis and role in disease of lipases. Topics discussed include the action of lipases as a biotechnological tool; fungal lipases in biocatalysis; secreted phospholipase A2 inhibitors from cynara cardunculus L. and aloe vera extract as a potential therapeutic drug for inflammatory diseases; lipoprotein lipase activity in sickle cell nephropathy; lipases in the pharmaceutical industry; and yeast cell surface display of lipases.

Keeping in view the well-established place of enzymes in the field of biotechnology and the recent development in biotech industries, this comprehensive and well-written textbook presents the fundamental concepts of enzyme technology, emphasizing the practical and economic aspects of enzyme usage. Beginning with an overview of enzymes giving insights into the physicochemical properties, classifications, sources, mechanisms and characteristics of enzymes, the text discusses the enzyme kinetics in detail. It furnishes a great deal of information on potential of enzymes for their commercial exploitation. The text then goes on to describe the biotechnical significance of enzymes with their applications in the fields of food and pharmaceutical industries. The text is supported by a large number of solved examples and illustrative diagrams. Primarily designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students of biotechnology and biochemical engineering, the book will also be useful to professionals, researchers and entrepreneurs. KEY FEATURES: Written in an easy-to-understand style. Provides simple, clear and authoritative guide to the principles and scope of enzymes in biotechnology. Includes chapter-end review questions based on recently appeared university question papers.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that have a number of remarkable properties. Fundamentals of Enzymology, 3rd ed builds on the strengths of the previous two editions to show how we can understand these properties and explain how enzymes work in cells and organisms and how they can be clinically and commercially exploited.

This book covers the most recent development of enzymatic organic synthesis, with particular focus on the use of isolated enzymes. It is organized into one introductory chapter dealing with the characteristics of enzymes as catalysts, and five chapters dealing with different types of chemical transformations. Methods for enzyme immobilization and stabilizaton, the use of enzymes in extreme environments, and the alteration of enzyme properties by chemical modification and site-directed mutagenesis for synthetic purposes are covered.

The critically acclaimed laboratory standard, Methods in Enzymology, is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Since 1955, each volume has been eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. The series contains much material still relevant today - truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences.

This book comprises a total of fourteen chapters contributed by experts from different countries across the globe. The book is divided into five sections containing two to three chapters each. It is a comprehensive collection of articles that give an overview of microbial catalysts which include enzymes that contribute to many fields and are widely used in industrial products. Microorganisms have served and continue to serve as one of the largest and useful sources of many enzymes used in foods and the food industry. Microbial catalysts are environmentally friendly and consume lower energy. A particular focus of this book is on applied and industrial microbiology, agricultural microbiology, and food microbiology. All of the sections discuss microbial catalysts, enzymes with respect to their function and their benefits to humankind in general, and biotechnology as a subject of which enzymology is an integral part. This book deals also with the structure and function of some microbial enzymes. Microbial catalysts are generally preferred than plants and animals as sources of industrial enzymes because their production cost is low. In addition, their enzyme content is more predictable and controllable, and more so because of the easy availability of raw materials with constant composition for their cultivation.

Advances in Enzymology and Related Areas of Molecular Biology covers the advances in enzymology, explaining the behavior of enzymes and how they can be utilized to develop novel drugs, synthesize known and novel compounds, and understand evolutionary processes.

Caspases are proteases that are responsible for the initiation and execution of cell death pathways in developmental, inflammatory and pharmacological paradigms. Caspase activity is required for the execution of apoptotic cell death through the proteolytic cleavage of approximately one thousand substrates that result in the apoptotic phenotype. This book provides new research and discusses the roles and significance caspases have in cell death and disease.

This text is presented in English & French. It includes proceedings of the International Congress on Cellular & Molecular Aspects of Glucronidation held in Montpellier (France), 27-29 April 1988.

Proteases refer to a group of enzymes whose catalytic function is to hydrolyse (cleavage) peptide bonds of proteins. Proteases occur naturally in all organisms and are involved in a multitude of physiological reactions from simple digestion of food proteins to highly regulated cascades. In this book, the authors discuss the maturation and stabilisation mechanisms of two hyperthermostable subtilisin-like serine proteases from thermococcus kodakarensis; serine protease-related innate immunity; fungal and bacterial serine proteases; and the physiological function and pathology of neurosin/kallikrein 6 in the central nervous system.

The sulphur amino acid, cysteine, plays an essential role in maintaining cellular redox potential and is a key constituent of the antioxidant, glutathione. Cysteine is highly reactive and readily oxidises to the disulfide form, cystine, producing oxygen radicals as a by-product. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the biosynthesis, chemical structure and toxicity of cysteine. Topics include cysteine biosynthesis in plants; the structural and functional role of cysteine residues; new cysteine synthesis pathways and their applications; implications for cysteine neurotoxicity; and the protecting groups used to cage cysteine and their applications in biochemical experiments are reviewed.

The activity of a bacterial enzyme "able to degrade penicillin" had first been described in 1940, even before the exact structure of penicillin was elucidated and, by 1970, several enzymes had been purified to homogeneity, the amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal penicillinase was also known and that of its Bacillus licheniformis counterpart was well under way. By contrast, their catalytic mechanism remained quite mysterious. A Zn++ metallo-beta-lactamase (ss-lactamase II, BcII or ssII) had also been described as soon as 1967 and later purified. It was thus surprising that the first mechanistic information demonstrating the presence of a penicillin-binding serine residue was obtained with a penicillin-sensitive DD-peptidase rather than a ss-lactamase. This seemed to open the floodgates and several class A ss-lactamases were then rapidly shown to be active-site serine enzymes. This book presents current research in the study of beta-lactamases.

Enzymatic processing of lipids and oils is becoming an important area of research. Hydrolytic enzymes, such as lipases and proteases are being sought after as the biocatalysts of the future. Synthetic reactions to create new compounds that have novel properties may be achieved through biocatalysis. Some of these compounds can improve or even replace on existing products that were produced by inorganic catalysis or being fractionated from un-renewable resources, such as petroleum. The authors focused on lipases and proteases as the most critical enzymes. Proteases are already widely used in industry and there is always the possibility for new enzymes to be used in existing and new applications. Lipases have an exciting potential for advancing the bioprocessing industry, in particular oleochemicals. Thermostable enzymes are always sought by the industries. Whereas solvent tolerant enzymes are becoming the vogue in view of their ability to function in a low aqueous medium, suitable for synthetic reactions. The research in this book involves a broad range of the biotechnology scope. However, the focus of this book is on the search and acquisition, isolation and purification and the characterisation of these enzymes. However, derivatised enzymes must also be taken into consideration. The authors' laboratory is involved in the development and application of immobilised and modified enzymes. These designer enzymes may prove to be the new enzymes that would really expand the potential applications of enzymes in industries.

Aerobic organisms have evolved to utilise the intrinsic oxidising power of oxygen from the atmosphere. This so-called 'activation' of oxygen is often catalysed by a heme-containing enzyme. This book highlights the many and varied catalytic activities of O2-dependent heme-iron enzymes, including monoxygenases and cytochrome P450, dioxygenases, oxidases and model heme systems. Dioxygen-dependent Heme Enzymes will be a useful resource for postgraduate students and researchers in biochemistry and metallobiology working in, or moving into, research areas involving heme proteins.

Heme peroxidases are widely distributed in biological systems and are involved in a wide range of processes essential for life. This book provides a comprehensive single source of information on the various aspects of heme peroxidase structure, function and mechanism of action. Chapters written and edited by worldwide experts span a range of heme peroxidases from plants, yeast, bacteria and mammals. Discussed functions of peroxidases range from cell wall synthesis, synthesis of prostaglandins, role in drug suppression of tuberculosis, and antibacterial activity. Included is a discussion of peroxidases that also act as catalases and oxygenases. Heme Peroxidases serves as an essential text for those working in industry and academia in biochemistry and metallobiology.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a well-known zinc-metallopeptidase that converts angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and degrades bradykinin, a powerful vasodilator, both for the regulation of vascular tone and cardiac functions. Other natural substrates of ACE were identified broadening the functions of this enzyme within different physiological contexts such as neuronal metabolism, hematopoiesis, digestion, and reproduction. In this context, ACE has an essential role in diseases, for instance, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, oxidative stress, sperm maturation and fertility, intraocular pressure, bone metabolism, fibrillary glomerulonephritis, among others. This book describes the role of ACE as a part of the Renin-Angiotensin-System, on different metabolic processes related to some diseases, such as the examples already mentioned. Moreover, ACE is related to adipose tissue. The modulation of ACE can modulate hypertension and diseases related to this enzyme. Captopril is the first successful ACE inhibitor in the treatment of hypertension; however, it has adverse effects such as dry cough, dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of taste and others. The search for alternatives to Captopril has increased research on bioactive peptides. Then, several book chapters describe how ACE can be modulated by bioactive peptides, which are short amino acid sequences previously encrypted in whole proteins and liberated through the digestion process. Animal and vegetal proteins can be used as a source of bioactive peptides. Milk, milk-derived food products and lionfish are examples of animal proteins, while several legumes such as beans and peanuts are vegetable sources of bioactive peptides.

The reduction of nitrate to nitrogen by metalloenzymes is a vital step in the nitrogen cycle. The importance of this pathway has inspired efforts to understand in greater depth the mechanisms involved. This book presents and discusses the latest information on multiple aspects of denitrification. Written by recognized specialists in the field, this book describes the bioinorganic aspects and the key enzymes involved in denitrification, including their structure, function and mechanisms. Active site modelling, novel methodologies for monitoring denitrification in vivo and biotechnological methods for water treatment are discussed. The book also focusses on the environmental implications of denitrification, such nitrate accumulation and the release of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere from excessive fertiliser use. An important topic in many biological, environmental and agricultural contexts, this book will aid teaching and help bioinorganic chemists and biotechnologists gain an up-to-date picture of the science behind the denitrification process.