Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level, 4th Edition

Book Preface

The last several years have seen enormous advances in biochemistry, particularly in the areas of macromolecular structure and function and in molecular biology. Against this backdrop, we asked, “What do students of modern biochemistry really need to know and how can we, as authors, help them appreciate the details without losing sight of the big picture? ” We concluded that it is more important than ever to provide a solid biochemical foundation, rooted in chemistry, to prepare students for the scientific challenges of the future. With that in mind, we reexamined the contents of Fundamentals of Biochemistry, focusing on basic principles and striving to polish the text and improve the pedagogy throughout the book so that it is even more accessible to students. We added additional opportunities for students to check their understanding as they read. At the same time, we incorporated new material in a way that links it to the existing content, mindful that students optimally assimilate new information in the proper context. We believe that students are best served by a textbook that is complete, clearly written, and relevant to human health and disease.

BRIEF CONTENTS

PART I INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction to the Chemistry of Life 1
2 Water 22
PART II BIOMOLECULES
3 Nucleotides, Nucleic Acids, and Genetic Information 40
4 Amino Acids 76
5 Proteins: Primary Structure 93
6 Proteins: Three-Dimensional Structure 127
7 Protein Function: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin, Muscle Contraction, and Antibodies 176
8 Carbohydrates 217
9 Lipids and Biological Membranes 241
10 Membrane Transport 288
PART III ENZYMES
11 Enzymatic Catalysis 315
12 Enzyme Kinetics, Inhibition, and Control 355
13 Biochemical Signaling 396
PART IV METABOLISM
14 Introduction to Metabolism 436
15 Glucose Catabolism 472
16 Glycogen Metabolism and Gluconeogenesis 517
17 Citric Acid Cycle 551
18 Electron Transport and Oxidative Phosphorylation 581
19 Photosynthesis 623
20 Lipid Metabolism 657
21 Amino Acid Metabolism 712
22 Mammalian Fuel Metabolism: Integration and Regulation 767
PART V GENE EXPRESSION AND REPLICATION
23 Nucleotide Metabolism 793
24 Nucleic Acid Structure 821
25 DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination 867
26 Transcription and RNA Processing 919
27 Protein Synthesis 962
28 Regulation of Gene Expression 1013
Solutions to Odd-Numbered Problems SP-1
Glossary G-1
Index I-1