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Practical Approaches to Biological Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition, reviews the use of spectroscopic and related analytical techniques to investigate the complex structures and mechanisms of biological inorganic systems that contain metals. Each chapter presents an overview of the technique, including relevant theory, a clear explanation of what it is, how it works, and how the technique is actually used to evaluate biological structures. New chapters cover Raman Spectroscopy and Molecular Magnetochemistry, but all chapters have been updated to reflect the latest developments in discussed techniques. Practical examples, problems and many color figures are also included to illustrate key concepts. The book is designed for researchers and students who want to learn both the basics and more advanced aspects of key methods in biological inorganic chemistry. - Presents new chapters on Raman Spectroscopy and Molecular Magnetochemistry, as well as updated figures and content throughout - Includes color images throughout to enable easier visualization of molecular mechanisms and structures - Provides worked examples and problems to help illustrate and test the reader's understanding of each technique - Written by leading experts who use and teach the most important techniques used today to analyze complex biological structures

Metal chelators are emerging as versatile tool with many medical applications. Their versatility allows them to be used in chelation therapy for treating diseases caused by toxic and heavy metal poisoning, chelating agents are capable of binding to toxic metal ions to form complex structures which are easily excreted from the body removing them from intracellular or extracellular spaces. In addition, metal chelators can also be applied as contrast agents in MRI scanning. Metal Chelation in Medicine provides a clear and timely perspective on the role of chelating agents in the management of metal intoxications and storage diseases. Written by leaders in the field of chelators, this publication is at the cutting-edge of the subject. It covers a broad range of topics such as the use of metal chelators in non-invasive assessment of brain iron overload, and the treatment of systemic iron overload and neurodegenerative diseases. As such it is particularly valuable to clinicians treating metal poisonings and metal storage diseases. However, it is also a useful text for researchers, industry professionals and university students with a specific interest in medicinal chemistry, chelation, metal ions, imaging and non-invasive techniques.

Much of organic chemistry is based on the ability of suitably structured chemicals to bind together through the formation of covalent bonds. Biochemistry is replete with exam­ ples of enzymatically catalyzed reactions in which normal body constituents can be linked through covalent bonds during the process of intermediary metabolism. The finding that xenobiotic chemicals that enter the body from the environment, are metabolized to highly reactive species, and then covalently react with cellular macromolecules to induce toxic and carcinogenic effects was an observation that spawned the research featured in the Fifth International Symposium on Biological Reactive Intermediates (BRI V). The group of investigators that became fascinated with this process and its signifi­ cance in terms of human health began their discussions in Turku, Finland (J 975), and continued them at Guildford, England (1980), College Park, Maryland (1985), Tucson, Arizona (1990), and Munich, Germany (1995). Among the results were a series of reports listed below, as well as the book for which this serves as the Preface. • Jollow, DJ., Kocsis, J.J., Snyder, R. and Vainio, H. (eds), Biological Reactive Intermediates: Formation, Toxicity and Inactivation, Plenum Press, NY, 1975. • Snyder, R., Park, D.V., Kocsis, J.J., Jollow, D.V., Gibson, G.G. and Witmer, C.M. (eds), Biological Reactive Intermediates II: Chemical Mechanisms and Biological Effects, Plenum Press, N.Y., 1982.

The finding that chemicals can be metabolically activated to yield reactive chemical species capable of covalently binding to cellular macromolecules and the concept that these reactions could initiate toxicological and carcinogenic events stimulated a meeting by a small group of toxicologists at the University of Turku, in Finland, in 1975 (Jollow et al., 1977). The growing interest in this field of research led to subsequent symposia at the University of Surrey, in England in 1980 (Snyder et al., 1982), and the University of Maryland in the U. S. A. in 1985 (Kocsis et al., 1986). The Fourth International Symposium on Biological Reactive Intermediates was hosted by the Center for Toxicology at the University of Arizona and convened in Tucson, Arizona, January 14-17, 1990. Over 300 people attended. There were 60 platform presentations by invited speakers, and 96 volunteer communications in the form of posters were offered. These meetings have grown from a small group of scientists working in closely related areas to a major international series of symposia which convene every five years to review, and place in context, the latest advances in our understanding of the formation, fate and consequences of biological reactive intermediates. The Organizing Committee: Allan H. Conney, Robert Snyder (Co-chairman), and Charlotte M. Witmer (Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ), David J. Jollow Co­ chairman) (Medical University, South Carolina, Charleston, SC), 1. Glenn Sipes (Co­ chairman) (University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ), James J. Kocsis and George F.

This volume contains the proceedings of the third in a series of conferences entitled, The International Symposium on Biological Reactive Intermediates. The first was held at the University of Turku in Finland, in 1975, the second at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, in 1980 and the most recent at the University of Maryland in the United States, in 1985. The significance of these conferences has been emphasized by the rapid growth of mechanistic toxicology over the last decade. These conferences were initially stimulated by the attempt to uncover the significance behind the observations that the toxicity of carcinogenic responses produced by many chemicals was associated with the observation that their metabolism led to the formation of chemcially reactive electrophiles which covalently bound to nucleophilic sites in cells such as proteins, nucleic acid or fats. Recently, newer concepts have arisen which have necessitated the expansion of subjects covered by the conference. For example, the application of newer knowledge of the role of active oxygen species in reactive metabolite formation, the concept of suicide substrates, examination of the function of glutathione in cells, application of immunological techniques and molecular biological probes to the solution of toxicological problems all had an impact on the study of the biological reactive intermediates.

The importance of metals in biology, the environment and medicine has become increasingly evident over the last twenty five years. The study of the multiple roles of metal ions in biological systems, the rapidly expanding interface between inorganic chemistry and biology constitutes the subject called Biological Inorganic Chemistry. The present text, written by a biochemist, with a long career experience in the field (particularly iron and copper) presents an introduction to this exciting and dynamic field. The book begins with introductory chapters, which together constitute an overview of the concepts, both chemical and biological, which are required to equip the reader for the detailed analysis which follows. Pathways of metal assimilation, storage and transport, as well as metal homeostasis are dealt with next. Thereafter, individual chapters discuss the roles of sodium and potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, nickel and cobalt, manganese, and finally molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten and chromium. The final three chapters provide a tantalising view of the roles of metals in brain function, biomineralization and a brief illustration of their importance in both medicine and the environment.Relaxed and agreeable writing style. The reader will not only fiind the book easy to read, the fascinating anecdotes and footnotes will give him pegs to hang important ideas on.Written by a biochemist. Will enable the reader to more readily grasp the biological and clinical relevance of the subject.Many colour illustrations. Enables easier visualization of molecular mechanismsWritten by a single author. Ensures homgeneity of style and effective cross referencing between chapters

This volume provides a comprehensive look at the biology of plastids, the multifunctional biosynthetic factories that are unique to plants and algae. Fifty-six international experts have contributed 28 chapters that cover all aspects of this large and diverse family of plant and algal organelles. The book is divided into five sections: (I): Plastid Origin and Development; (II): The Plastid Genome and Its Interaction with the Nuclear Genome; (III): Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids; (IV): Non-Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids; (V): Plastid Differentiation and Response to Environmental Factors. Each chapter includes an integrated view of plant biology from the standpoint of the plastid. The book is intended for a wide audience, but is specifically designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and scientists in the fields of photosynthesis, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, and plant biology.

Iron is of fundamental importance to the growth, development and well-being of almost all living organisms. Multiple biological systems have evolved for the uptake, utilisation, storage and homeostasis of iron in microbes, plants and mammals. Both iron deficiency and iron overload are found extensively in man: the intimate links between iron and oxidative stress are associated with a wide range of pathologies. Iron has a well-established role in infections by a wide range of microorganisms and parasites. Other metals such as copper and zinc are also closely linked with iron metabolism. The first edition of this book was published in 1991. Since then the extensive impact of molecular cell biology on the field of iron biochemistry has opened new horizons in our understanding of the transport and storage of iron and of iron homeostasis. The application of molecular biological techniques to cellular biology of iron metabolism has resulted in a rapid expansion in the literature and has precipitated the need for this second edition. Unlike the first edition this book is a collaboration between five authors providing expert knowledge in their individual specialist areas of research. Written, like the first edition, in a relaxed and humorous style, this new edition has many additional features including: • use of illustrations - including extensive use of colour - to make basic concepts clearer • a new chapter dealing with the interactions of iron with other metals particularly copper and zinc • an extensive and up-to-date bibliography. Inorganic Biochemistry of Iron Metabolism, Second Edition is both authoritative - author collaboration ensures coverage by specialists in a coherent manner and comprehensive - both fundamental concepts and applied aspects are covered. It will be essential reading for many researchers in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, nutrition and the medical sciences. These will include bioinorganic chemists with an interest in iron metabolism, health professionals with an interest in diseases of iron metabolism and pharmacologists in the pharmaceutical industry interested in developing novel iron binding drugs.rgy.