Comparative Biochemistry: A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume II: Free Energy and Biological Function focuses on methodologies, processes, and mechanisms involved in the biological transformations of energy. Composed of contributions of various authors, the book first discusses free energy and the biosynthesis of phosphates. The thermodynamics of phosphoryl and phosphate transfer reactions; enzymatic synthesis of phosphates; and phosphoryl transfer sequences in metabolism are considered. The selection also looks at the utilization of free energy in the biosynthesis of saccharides, proteins, and peptides; ammonia metabolism; and biosynthesis of urea. The book also describes muscular contraction. The structure of myofibril; protein components of myofibril; localization of myofibrillar components; contraction of adenosine triphosphate; and adenosine triphosphatases of muscles are discussed. Other mechanisms that produce movements are also noted. The text ends with discussions on experiments on active transport, balance of electrocytes and water, mechanisms of osmoregulation, bioluminescence, and nerve conduction and electrical discharge. The book is a good source of data for readers interested in studying free energy.

Advances in Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry puts emphasis on the advances in the studies of physiology and biochemistry. Divided into four chapters, this book focuses first on the fundamentals in the electrobiology of excitable tissues of animals. Topics discussed are cell structure and bioelectronics activity; the ionic theory of bioelectrogenesis; evolution and molecular basis of bioelectrogenesis; and extension of the atomic theory. The second part offers a comparison of mechanisms of conduction as well as integration of excitation in the central nervous system of invertebrates. Given emphasis are morphological determinants of integrative capacity, giant fiber systems, integration of dynamic stimulus parameters, and the patterns of innervation and central organization of small-fibered elements. The third part deals with metabolic behavior of knallgasbacteria. A survey of species and strains is discussed, including the fixation of carbon dioxide, the utilization of hexoses, and the respiratory chain of these bacteria. The concluding part offers a comparative physiology of marsupials. Given emphasis are reproductive and digestive physiology, temperature regulation, and the control of water and salt level of these animals. This book is valuable for readers interested in doing research on physiology and biochemistry.

Clinical Biochemistry: Contemporary Theories and Techniques, Volume 2 is a collection of papers that deals with coagulation chemistry, inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), and the biochemistry of aging. One paper explains the biochemistry and clinical importance of lipoprotein-X (LP-X) as a marker for obstructive jaundice and also as a pointer in the deficiency of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), a rare inborn error of metabolism. Another paper presents guidelines in determining radioimmunoassay that are used, for example, in identifying enzymes produced by various malignant lesions. One paper reviews the basic molecular events and interactions involved in the blood clotting process and its related systems. To determine inborn errors of metabolism, the investigator can use screening techniques, prenatal diagnosis or therapy, and laboratory procedures related to IEM. To correct errors at the gene level, transgenosis and genetic engineering use recombinant DNA research techniques involving the introduction of a foreign DNA into the host cell. Some examples of IEM are phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia without PKU. This collection can prove useful for the clinical chemists, endocrinologists, internists, medical practitioners, and investigators involved in research on biochemistry.

Newer Methods of Nutritional Biochemistry: With Applications and Interpretations, Volume II provides information pertinent to nutritional biochemistry, including the development in enzyme concepts and methodology. This book discusses the mechanisms of several inborn errors of metabolisms and explains the methods by which these errors may be detected. Organized into 11 chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the advantages of body compositional data that are useful in evaluating treatment effects associated with physiological or nutritional experiments. This text then delineates the detection of aberrations in the metabolism of tryptophan, which may be induced by pathological stress. Other chapters consider the impact of hormones on the utilization of several nutrients. This book discusses as well the utilization of the essential nutrients, including amino acids, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and fat-soluble vitamins. The final chapter deals with principles and methods of nutritional needs in humans. Biochemists, graduate students, and investigators in the life sciences will find this book useful.

The Plasma Proteins, Volume II: Biosynthesis, Metabolism, Alternations in Disease is a 10-chapter text that explores the physiological role and metabolic interrelationships of the human plasma proteins in the normal state and in disease. The first two chapters cover the physical properties, chemical composition, function, methods of analysis of human serum lipoproteins and plasma enzymes. The subsequent chapter considers the normal levels of hormones in plasma or serum and their distribution in the plasma protein fractions. These topics are followed by discussions on the blood coagulation system, the serum proteins in the animal kingdom at maturity and during embryonic development, and the biosynthesis of plasma proteins. The remaining chapters examine the qualitative abnormalities in various plasma proteins. These chapters also discuss the modification in plasma protein synthesis induced by genetic variation. Such alterations are described for albumin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, iron-binding globulin, fibrinogen, antihemophilic globulin, and other blood clotting factors, as well as ?-globulin. Biochemists, physiologists, and medical researchers will find this book invaluable.

Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume II: Biology 1 discusses the major advances made in the biological aspects of coral reef problems. This book is organized into 12 chapters that cover the microbial aspects of coral reefs, the nutrition in corals, and diversity in coral reefs. The opening chapters describe the distribution and role of coral reef microorganisms, as well as the significance of bacterioplankton as a food source for the marine fauna of coral reefs. The following chapter discusses the occurrence of algae in coral reef, their competition with corals for space, and their role in reef construction. Other chapters deal with food and feeding mechanisms of corals, the role of marine antibiotics in coral reef ecology, and some chemical compounds isolated from coral reef organisms, providing evidence for marine pharmacologic activity in coral reef areas. The book also discusses some basic problems relating to the distribution and abundance of hermatypic corals on reefs. It then examines species diversity on coral reefs, variety of reef structure, and the important role of toxic materials produced by holothurians on the general ecology and physiology of coral reefs. The last chapters describe the development, feeding, and behavior of the larval stages of several coral reef asteroids. Particular emphasis is given to the larval and post-larval stages of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. The starfish population explosions, the devastating effects on the hard coral cover of coral reefs, and causes and control of population explosions are also covered. This volume will acquaint readers with some of the exciting developments in coral reef biology and will provide information that will enable them to assess the status of research in different fields.

Marine Natural Products: Chemical and Biological Perspectives, Volume II, reviews the state of knowledge in the chemistry and biology of marine natural products. It attempts to bring together timely and critical reviews that are representative of major current researches and that, hopefully, will also foreshadow future trends. The first three chapters of this volume deal with marine carotenoids, steroids, and diterpenoids. This is followed by a chapter that examines a single phylum, the Coelenterata, and its metabolites. The Coelenterata is an almost exclusively marine phylum of some 9000 described living species. Research predicts that the coelenterates will yield a rich harvest of organic metabolites. The final chapter, which focuses on 13C NMR spectroscopy for structural elucidation, reveals the power of this instrumental method especially when applied to the difficult problems of polyhalogenated marine metabolites.

Isozymes, II: Physiological Function contains manuscripts presented at the Third International Conference on isozymes convened in April 1974 at Yale University. Separating 53 manuscripts into chapters, this book first discusses the medical uses of isozymes. It then describes the various dehydrogenase isozymes mechanisms of action and biological functions. Other general topics explored are the roles of isozymes in adaptation to varying temperatures and their use in the study of mitochondria. Significant topics on specific isozymes are given separately in other chapters.