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Books in Life sciences

  • Search and Discovery

    A Tribute to Albert Szent-Györgyi
    • 1st Edition
    • Benjamin Kaminer
    • English
    Search and Discovery: Tribute to Albert Szent-Györgyi is dedicated to Albert Szent-Györgyi and stems from a Symposium, ""Search and Discovery,"" held in his honor at Boston University School of Medicine. Szent-Györgyi, born in Budapest on September 16, 1893, established the Institute for Muscle Research at the Marine Biological Laboratory in 1947. His influence and impact extend beyond the confines of the laboratory. Throughout his life he was intensely concerned with the serious problems of mankind. He opposed Hitler and Stalin, and was outspoken against the involvement of the U.S. Government in the Vietnam War. Starting with recollections of Albert Szent-Györgyi by John T. Edsall of Harvard University, the remainder of the text is organized into six parts that cover the fields of Szent-Györgyi’s major contributions and interests: metabolism, vitamin C, molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction, submolecular biology and cell growth, and cancer; the social interrelations of science were also not neglected. These milestones form the basis of this volume.
  • Current Topics in Bioenergetics

    Volume 5
    • 1st Edition
    • D. Rao Sanadi + 1 more
    • English
    Current Topics in Bioenergetics, Volume 5 provides information pertinent to the molecular properties of purified enzymes and defined reactions. This book presents the development in the research on oxidative phosphorylation. Organized into nine chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the contributions to the knowledge of membrane structure based on X-ray diffraction analysis. This text then examines the reactions of chlorophyll in model systems and the luminescence linked with light absorptions, which relate to the early events in photosynthesis. Other chapters relate spectroscopic and EPR measurements to redox changes linked with energy coupling in the mitochondrial electron carriers. This book discusses as well the role of soluble proteins in the energy transfer process of oxidative phosphorylation. The final chapter deals with the chemical and structural properties of the photoreceptors in the visual process. This book is a valuable resource for biophysicists, physiologists, biologists, biochemists, physical chemists, and research workers.
  • Virus Structure

    • 1st Edition
    • Robert W. Horne
    • English
    Virus Structure describes the physical characteristics of isolated viruses that represent typical structural groups, with particular reference to those features analyzed with the aid of the electron microscope. For descriptive purposes, the book has been divided into sections starting with the small icosahedral viruses and leading to the larger and more sophisticated structures, regardless of whether they are animal, plant, or bacterial viruses. These include double-stranded DNA icosahedral viruses, herpesvirus, viruses with helical symmetry, and viruses with complex or a combination of symmetries. Many common architectural features will be found in those viruses selected for discussion in each of the sections, and for these reasons the introduction places some emphasis on the symmetry elements rather than the shapes of viruses. The mechanism by which viruses enter host cells and the events that follow once the cell has been infected are only mentioned briefly as the virus-host interaction is a relatively complex one.
  • Molecular Biology of Plant Tumors

    • 1st Edition
    • Günter Kahl + 1 more
    • English
    Molecular Biology of Plant Tumors provides an opportunity to learn in detail about the latest insights into the mechanism of transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The study of the molecular mechanism responsible for the crown gall phenomenon (induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens) illustrates the point that the fundamental study of the cause(s) and mechanism(s) of abnormal growth might be one of the most efficient ways to understand cellular differentiation and the molecular basis of gene expression. The book is organized into three parts that contain research on abnormal plant growth, crown gall tumors, and potential vectors for genetic engineering in agriculture. The genetic structure responsible for the neoplasmic transformation of plant cells in crown galls is a bacterial plasmid (called Ti for tumor-inducing). Research described in this volume demonstrates that these Ti plasmids were designed by evolution as natural gene vectors with which some bacteria can introduce active genes into plants. These transferred genes are maintained by integration in the plant genome and their expression is directly or indirectly responsible for the tumorous growth pattern.
  • Advances in Steroid Biochemistry and Pharmacology

    • 1st Edition
    • M. H. Briggs + 1 more
    • English
    Advances in Steroid Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Volume 4 provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of steroid biochemistry and pharmacology. This book covers a variety of topics, including cellular biochemistry, pituitary hormones, corticosteroids, and steroid hormones. Organized into seven chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the potential effects of steroids on cellular biochemistry. This text then examines the development of sleep-monitoring methods, together with methods of plasma sampling that enable very frequent specimen to be taken without disturbing the subject. Other chapters consider the usefulness of sleep-related growth hormone release in diagnosis in both children and adult. This book discusses as well the versatile effect of corticosteroids on the cellular components of the connective tissue. The final chapter deals with the functioning of the adrenal cortex and its control by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This book is a valuable resource for biochemists, histochemists, biologists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and experimental endocrinologists.
  • Methods in Virology

    Volume VIII
    • 1st Edition
    • Karl Maramorosch + 1 more
    • English
    Methods in Virology, Volume VIII focuses on the methods used in virology, including microscopy, hybridization, viruses, and fingerprint analysis. The selection first offers information on the hybridization of viral nucleic acids; applications of oligonucleotide fingerprinting to the identification of viruses; and immunosorbent electron microscopy in plant virus studies. Discussions focus on the detection of double-stranded RNA, principles and mechanisms of fingerprint analysis, preparation of labeled nucleic acid probes, and basic methods of nucleic acid hybridization. The text then elaborates on quantitative transmission electron microscopy for the determination of mass-molecular weight of viruses and use of thin sectioning for visualization and identification of plant viruses. Topics include technical procedures for processing plant tissues, cytological modifications of diagnostic value, procedure and treatment of data to obtain the average mass of virus particles, and applications in virology. The book takes a look at the detection of genome-linked proteins of plant and animal viruses; methods for assay, purification, and characterization of prions; and the use of mosquitoes to detect and propagate viruses. The selection is a valuable source of information for researchers interested in the methods employed in virology.
  • Biochemistry and Oral Biology

    • 2nd Edition
    • A. S. Cole + 1 more
    • English
    Biochemistry and Oral Biology presents a unique exposition of biochemistry suitable for dental students. It discusses the structural basis of metabolism and the general principles of nutrition. It addresses the soft tissues, hard tissues, and the biology of the mouth. Some of the topics covered in the book are the free radical production; scope of biochemistry; characteristics of atoms; structure and properties of water; molecular building materials; ionization of proteins; affinity chromatography of proteins; structural organization of globular proteins; classification of enzymes; and biochemically important sugar derivatives. The naturally occurring fatty acids are fully covered. The nucleic acid components are discussed in detail. The text describes in depth the energy equivalents of different nutrients. The physiological effects of dietary fiber vitamin D deficiency are completely presented. A chapter is devoted to the alternative methods of fluoride administration and description of vitamins. The book can provide useful information to dental students, and researchers.
  • Advances in Lipid Research

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • Rodolfo Paoletti + 1 more
    • English
    Advances in Lipid Research, Volume 1 provides information pertinent to the structure and behavior of lipids through sulfolipids. This book presents the advances on fat absorption and transport. Organized into 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the methods for the analysis of glycerine mixtures that require the determination of the fatty acid composition of the whole mixture and of its component fraction. This text then examines lipids as molecules of biological interest having little or no solubility in water. Other chapters cover the advances in cholesterol metabolism, Vitamin E as it affects lipid metabolism, and a discussion on atherosclerosis. This book discusses as well all areas of lipid research ranging from physical chemistry to physiology and pathology. The final chapter deals with sulfolipid, which appears to be concentrated in the lamellar membranes of the chloroplasts of plants. This book is a valuable resource for physical chemists, biologists, and pathologists.
  • Bacterial Metabolism

    • 1st Edition
    • H. W. Doelle
    • English
    Bacterial Metabolism focuses on metabolic events that occur in microorganisms, as well as photosynthesis, oxidation, polysaccharide formation, and homofermentation. The book first discusses the thermodynamics of biological reactions, photosynthesis and photometabolism, and chemosynthesis. Free energy, photosynthesis, enzymes, and terminology in bacterial metabolism are elaborated. The manuscript then examines acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. Discussions focus on lactate, ethanol, glucose, and glycerol metabolism, glycol oxidation, homofermentation, polysaccharide formation, and electron transport systems. The publication takes a look at pseudomonadaceae and nitrogen metabolism as an energy source for anaerobic microorganisms. Topics include metabolism of pairs of amino acids, single amino acid metabolism, oxidation of glycolate and malonate, and oxygenases. The book is a dependable source of information for readers interested in bacterial metabolism.
  • Current Topics in Bioenergetics

    Volume 9
    • 1st Edition
    • D. Rao Sanadi
    • English
    Current Topics in Bioenergetics, Volume 9 presents the theoretical, thermodynamic perspective of energy transducing reactions. This book provides a detailed kinetic analysis of a specific aspect of an ion pump. Organized into seven chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the quantitative relations between measurable parameters of energy-transducing systems. This text then examines the probes for intracellular pH determination, which stimulate the development of additional methods and their application in pathology and pharmacology. Other chapters consider studies with isolated proteins or protein complexes derived from the membranes. This book discusses as well the chemistry of photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. The final chapter deals with the advances in the use of photo affinity labeling in the study of the structure of ligand sites on proteins, which became possible only in conjunction with the development of methods for the isolation of peptides and their sequence determination. This book is a valuable resource for biologists and biochemists.