Comparative Biochemistry: A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume IV: Constituents of Life — Part B focuses on the distribution, biogenesis, and metabolism of cells and organisms. Composed of various literature, the book first looks at the optical asymmetry of metabolites. The natural occurrence of D-amino acids and L-sugars; significance of purity; optical asymmetry and protein structure; and the relationship of optical asymmetry and cancer are discussed. The text also discusses structural studies on cellulose, starch, and glycogen; biochemistry of lignin formation; structure and localization of nucleic acids; and intraspecific and interspecific variations of protein molecules. The book considers the metabolism of aromatic amino acids, structural and chemical properties of keratin-forming tissues, sclerotization, and blood coagulation. The text further discusses metamorphosis and biochemical adaptation in amphibians. The importance of intrinsic tissue sensitivity in tadpoles; comparative morphological alterations; and the increase in serum albumin and serum protein are considered. The book focuses as well on the structure, distribution, and metabolism of porphyrins, pteridines, and carotenoids. The selection is a good source of data for researchers wanting to study the distribution, biogenesis, and metabolism of cells and organisms.

Newer Methods of Nutritional Biochemistry: With Applications and Interpretations, Volume IV, presents discussions and reviews of principles and procedures of nutritional biochemistry which have been developed for assays of nutritive quality of foods. Comprised of six chapters, this book describes determinations of dietary needs of fats, vitamins, and amino acids which fail to apply the long-known ""Law of Diminishing Returns"" to the experimental data. It examines the correlation of urinary metabolites with dietary conditions from the point of view of the dynamic state of metabolism. The book also discusses analytical methods for determining plasma amino acids and their application to nutritional problems of young children; laboratory methods for evaluating changes in protein quality; optimal nutrition for the aged and basic mechanisms of biological aging; and advances in instrumentation and methodology and their application in resolving biological and nutritional problems.

The Proteins: Composition, Structure, and Function, Second Edition, Volume IV covers the significant developments in understanding the relationships between the composition, structure, and function of proteins. This three-chapter volume deals first with the genetic determination of protein structure and with the effects of mutational alteration on the structure and function of proteins. A highly relevant aspect of this topic is the change in protein structure during evolution and cell development. The second chapter describes the basic structure of several glycoproteins, such as orosomucoid, egg albumin, and submaxillary gland glycoprotein. The third chapter highlights the features of composition and arrangement of the group protein, which impart the capacity to perform their physical function. This book is of value to organic chemists, biochemists, and researchers in the protein-related fields.

Chemical Zoology, Volume IV: Annelida, Echiura, and Sipuncula presents chemical information on zoological significance of Annelida, Echiura, and Sipuncula. This book is organized into 13 chapters that tackle the biological and biochemical aspects of these phyla. The opening chapter describes the comparative anatomy, phylogeny, and classification of Annelida, Echiura, and Sipuncula. The book goes on discussing the biological aspects of these phyla, including nutrition and digestion; respiration and energy metabolism; oxygen transport; and carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. This volume also covers these organisms' composition of guanidine compounds and phosphagens, lipids, inorganic components, and pigments. Other chapters deal with the growth and development, luminescence, endocrines, and pharmacologic properties of Annelida, Echiura, and Sipuncula. This book is an invaluable resource for zoologists and biochemists.

Methods of Enzymatic Analysis, Volume 4 reviews developments in the use of enzymes as tools in analytical biochemistry, including advances in assay techniques. It discusses the principles and methods for the elucidation of structures of enzymes, such as peptides, proteins, amino acids, fatty acid metabolites, lipids, steroids, nucleic acids, purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, and coenzymes. It also considers the isolation and characterization of active centers in enzymes. This volume is divided into four parts, each discussing a group of enzymes and their determination. Part I focuses on proteins, peptides, and amino acids including amines and amides. Part II is concerned with fatty acid metabolites, lipids, and steroids ranging from polyunsaturated fatty acids and lecithin to choline, acetylcholine, triglycerides, glycerol, acetoacetate, triacetate, fumarylacetoacetate, 20-ketosteroids, prostaglandins, bile acids, and cholesterol. Part III discusses nucleic acids, purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, coenzymes, and related compounds, whereas Part IV looks at other substrates and effectors such as inorganic phosphate. The book concludes with a chapter on metabolites and their concentrations in animal tissues. Biochemists as well as students and researchers working in the field of analytical biochemistry will find this book highly informative.

The Hormones: Physiology, Chemistry and Applications, Volume IV covers the advances in understanding the nature and function of plant and non-mammalian animal hormones. This volume is divided into 11 chapters, and begins with an examination of the major characteristics of auxins, including the diversity of its action, chemical control, and systematic patterns. The subsequent chapters explore the chemistry and physiology of neurohormones and their role in insect growth. A chapter highlights the control of color of hormones and the actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine. The remaining chapters are devoted to the occurrence, physiological role, biochemistry, mode of action, metabolism, and biosynthesis of other hormones, such as gastrointestinal hormones, catecholamines, insulin, and glucagon. These chapters deal also with the general principles and application of immunoassay of protein hormones. Endocrinologists, physiologists, biochemists, and hormone researchers will find this book invaluable.