The transmission of messages across cell membranes is an essential process in complex organisms. The discovery of a new transmembrane signalling system, involving the production of inositol phosphates inside stimulated cells, has led to widespread interest in the chemical synthesis of the inositol phosphates and their analogues. This book provides a concise but comprehensive account of the methods of organic synthesis of inositol phosphates and supplements this with a general background treatment of the stereochemistry and nomenclature of the inositols. The biochemical importance and complexity of the system are also covered, as is the synthesis of inositol phosphate analogues. The book is intended for advanced undergraduate students, postgraduates and research workers in both university and industrial laboratories. '... an invaluable and well-written text for all those working on cellular secondary messengers ... the most comprehensive of all the reviews so far written in this very topical area.' Professor Steven V. Ley, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University

Inositol phosphates are a group of organic compounds found widely in the natural environment. They are important in agriculture because they constitute most of the phosphorus in grain seeds, but they cannot be digested by some animals. As a result, considerable research has been directed towards improving the digestibility of inositol phosphates in animal diets. Inositol phosphates are also abundant in soils and water bodies, yet a clear understanding of their behaviour in the environment remains elusive. This is surprising given the importance of phosphorus in the nutrition of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Written by leading experts, this book brings together critical reviews on inositol phosphates in agriculture, ecology, and the environment. The sixteen chapters cover a diverse range of topics, including the synthesis and hydrolysis of inositol phosphates, their role in animal nutrition, and their fate in soils and aquatic ecosystems. It will prove valuable to a wide readership in the agricultural and biological sciences, and will serve as a unique reference source on this emerging topic.

Inositol and its phosphates are ubiquitous across most life forms, wherein they play important roles in cellular integrity and functions such as signal transduction, DNA damage repair ion transport and mRNA transport. This reference details the biochemistry and industrial applications of inositol and its phosphate derivatives. Topics covered in this book include the use of inositol and its hexaphosphate (IP6) for numerous health benefits – as antioxidants, as an anti-cancer drug, for the management of atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, sickle cell anemia, and even in fighting tooth decay. Readers will also learn about Industrial applications of Inositol including preservation of food and wine, nanotechnology, lithium ion battery, fuel cell technology etc. Inositol & its Phosphates: Basic Science to Practical Applications is a valuable reference for any researcher or aspiring biomedical professional seeking to know more about this fascinating metabolite.

`The heterogeneity of topics ... is very ambitious, and the result is, overall, successful because of the high quality of the individual contributions ... highly recommended.' -American Scientist, from a review of a previous volume Volume 26 examines the emerging areas of signal transduction based on myoinositol phosphates and Ca2+ while focusing on plant and animal responses. Chapters explore synthesis, separation, and identification of different inositol phosphates.

This text introduces the basic methodological tools to measure inositol lipids and phosphates and also describes new approaches that have become available in the last ten years, including g RNA-silencing and the protocols involving inositol pyrophosphates.

Part I: Chemistry; Part II: Biochemistry.

This valuable resource provides a systematic account of the biochemistry of smooth muscle contraction. As a comprehensive guide to this rapidly growing area of research, it covers the structure and characteristic properties of contractile and regulatory proteins, with special emphasis on their predicted function in the live muscle. Also included in this book are intermediate filament proteins, and desmin and vimentin, whose function in smooth muscle is unknown; and several enzymes involved in the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of contractile and other proteins.

Arguably no other field of biological research embraces such a diverse array of experimental approaches as does the field of calcium signaling. Not only does it span virtually all conceptual and technical areas of molecular and cell biology, but a number of unique techniques, such as the use of permeabilized cells to study intracellular calcium metabolism, have evolved directly from calcium research. Calcium Signaling explores this fascinating area of research, covering the biophysical, molecular biological, and cell biological techniques involved in the study of calcium signaling. This work examines a broad range of topics-from techniques for imaging and measuring calcium in subcellular compartments, to subcellular fractionation and intracellular calcium stores, and patch clamp investigation of calcium channels. Filled with detailed illustrations, Calcium Signaling addresses those key methodological approaches that are useful to scientists and researchers investigating calcium function and regulation in many diverse areas of biological and medical research.

Provides a high level reference source for scientists engaged in any aspect of plant research - chemistry, biochemistry or physiology - with primary focus on the chemistry of phosphorus-containing compounds that occur naturally in the plant kingdom, and specifically in the higher plants (Plantae). The book is comprehensive with respect to nomenclature, physical properties, and distribution worldwide. There are many tables of actual data on phosphorus compounds occurring in whole plants and parts of plants. The tables provide detailed data that is needed by the food industry, agriculture, etc as many of the phosphorus compounds are common to both plants and animals. Two appendices cover other aspects including changes in phosphorus-containing compounds during germination and their accumulation during growth and senescence. The final sections of the book comprise separate indexes of plants, compounds and authors. - Comprehensive examination of phosphorus compounds found in plants - Extensive tables listing types of compounds and their occurrence in plants including: Nomenclature; Occurrence; Physical Properties; Synthesis; Hydrolysis; Phosphorylation; Extraction; Separation and Analysis - Easy to use indexes of plants, compounds and authors