Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells is a well-integrated, up-to-date reference for basic biochemistry, associated chemistry, and underlying biological phenomena. Biochemistry is a comprehensive account of the chemical basis of life, describing the amazingly complex structures of the compounds that make up cells, the forces that hold them together, and the chemical reactions that allow for recognition, signaling, and movement. This book contains information on the human body, its genome, and the action of muscles, eyes, and the brain.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Scene of Action
• Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
• Determining Structures and Analyzing Cells
• Sugars, Polysaccharides, and Glycoproteins
• The Nucleic Acids
• Thermodynamics and Biochemical Equilibria
• How Macromolecules Associate
• Lipids, Membranes, and Cell Coats
• Enzymes: The Catalysts of Cells
• An Introduction to Metabolism
• The Regulation of Enzymatic Activity
• Transferring Groups by Displacement Reactions
• Enzymatic Addition, Elimination, and Isomerization
• Coenzymes: Nature's Special Reagents
• Coenzymes of Oxidation and Reduction
• Transition Metals in Catalysis and Transport
• The Organization of Metabolism
• Electron Transport, oxidative Phosphorylation and Hydroxylation
• The Chemistry of Movement
• Some Pathways of Carbohydrate Metabolism
• Specific Aspects of Lipid Metabolism
• Polyprenyl (Isoprenoid) Compounds
• Light and Life
• The Metabolism of Nitrogen and Amino Acid Bases
• Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds and Nucleic Acid Bases
• Biochemical Genetics
• Organization, Replication, Transposition, and Repair of DNA
• The Transcription of Genes
• Ribosomes and the Synthesis of Proteins
• Chemical Communication Between Cells
• Biochemical Defense Mechanisms
• Growth and Development

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Mammoth in concept, massive as a product, this set likely exceeds the limits of student acceptance. Overall organization is the same as the first edition's (1977), a traditional stepwise construction ranging from small molecules (five chapters) through macromolecules (five chapters) with much detail on enzyme mechanisms (five chapters), reaching pathways of metabolism only in volume 2, chapters 17-32. Sufficient material--more than a million words--for four semesters of coursework or to serve as a resource for those with an undergraduate degree (only advanced-level graduate students could cope with this much material in only two semesters). Chapters 6 ("Thermodynamics and Biochemical Equilibria") and 7 ("How Macromolecules Associate") could serve as basis for a course, as would other groups of chapters. With more than 17,000 references to accessible literature though 2001, this work shows particular strength in the enzyme mechanism area. The Metzlers know and present clearly a wealth of detail on how enzymes use displacement, addition, elimination, and isomerization reactions. Adequately illustrated but with only green highlights, this is not a typical, current, full-color work. Detailed 55-page index; extensive chapter tables of contents. Users will probably prefer the CD-ROM version on a laptop computer for portability. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professionals. L. C. Davis Kansas State University