The volumes of this classic series, now referred to simply as "Zechmeister" after its founder, L. Zechmeister, have appeared under the Springer Imprint ever since the series' inauguration in 1938. The volumes contain contributions on various topics related to the origin, distribution, chemistry, synthesis, biochemistry, function or use of various classes of naturally occurring substances ranging from small molecules to biopolymers. Each contribution is written by a recognized authority in his field and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the topic in question. Addressed to biologists, technologists, and chemists alike, the series can be used by the expert as a source of information and literature citations and by the non-expert as a means of orientation in a rapidly developing discipline.

The volumes of this classic series, now referred to simply as "Zechmeister" after its founder, L. Zechmeister, have appeared under the Springer Imprint ever since the series' inauguration in 1938. The volumes contain contributions on various topics related to the origin, distribution, chemistry, synthesis, biochemistry, function or use of various classes of naturally occurring substances ranging from small molecules to biopolymers. Each contribution is written by a recognized authority in his field and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the topic in question. Addressed to biologists, technologists, and chemists alike, the series can be used by the expert as a source of information and literature citations and by the non-expert as a means of orientation in a rapidly developing discipline.

Depuis l'isolement de la creatine par CHEVREUL, en 1832, dans les extraits de viande (44) et son identification par LIEBIG, en r847, l'attention des biochimistes a porte principalement, pendant longtemps, sur le role de l'arginine dans la production de l'uree (I28), sur le cyde de l'ureo- genese (I34) et sur celui de la phosphocreatine (7I) et de la phospho- arginine (r68, I69) dans la contraction musculaire. A la suite de la mise en evidence, d'une part des reactions de trans- amidination expliquant la convertibilite entre l'arginine et un certain nombre de derives guanidiques (28,29,33,73,2 5, 29I, 292), et, d'autre part, du mecanisme complexe de la biosynthese de l'arginine (34, 45, 46, I95, I96) , l'importance du groupement guanidique dans la fixation et le transfert de l'azote organique est devenue beaucoup plus manifeste. Par ailleurs, l'isolement de nouvelles substances dont certaines: la phosphotaurocyamine, la phosphoglycocyamine (280-282), la phospho- 10mb ricine (270), jouent le meme role de phosphagenes que le creatine- et l'argininephosphate (257), amis en evidence la part importante que les derives guanidiques prennent dans la chimie du musde. L'etude de leur biogenese a montre en outre que leur role n'est pas seulement equivalent a l'arginine dans la fixation de l'azote du groupe amidinique, mais qu'ils sont capables de jouer egalement de role de regulateurs du metabolisme azote (258). I. Structure et formation.