Biochemical Pathways

GERHARD MICHAL, PhD, has retired from research at Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (now Roche Diagnostics). He is internationally acclaimed for developing the "Biochemical Pathways" wall chart. The first edition, which was published some forty years ago, has been continuously updated and is used in many biochemistry laboratories around the world. DIETMAR SCHOMBURG, PhD, is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry at the Technische Universitat Carolo-Wilhelmina in Braunschweig. His research interests include protein structure and function, structural biochemistry, bioinformatics, and enzyme information/metabolic networks. Dr. Schomburg has been widely praised for establishing BRENDA, the principal source of enzyme function and property data.

PPreface to the Second Edition IX

From the Preface to the First Edition X

Contributors XI

1 Introduction and General Aspects 1
Gerhard Michal and Dietmar Schomburg

1.1 Organization of This Book 1

1.2 Carbohydrate Chemistry and Structure 4

1.3 Amino Acid Chemistry and Structure 5

1.4 Lipid Chemistry and Structure 6

1.5 Physico-Chemical Aspects of Biochemical Processess 8

2 The Cell and Its Contents 14
Gerhard Michal and Dietmar Schomburg

2.1 Classification of Living Organisms 14

2.2 Structure of Cells 14

2.3 Protein Structure and Function 18

2.4 Enzymes 21

2.5 Regulation of the Enzyme Activity 24

2.6 Nucleic Acid Structure 26

2.7 Genetic Code and the Flow of Information 30

2.8 Polymeric Carbohydrates 31

2.9 Glycosylated Proteins and Peptides 32

2.10 Lipid Aggregates and Membranes 35

3 Metabolism 37

3.1 Carbohydrate Metabolism and Citrate Cycle 37
Röbbe Wünschiers

3.2 Amino Acids and Derivatives 58
Röbbe Wünschiers

3.3 Tetrapyrroles 82
Martina Jahn and Dieter Jahn

3.4 Lipids and Glycolipids 93
Röbbe Wünschiers

3.5 Steroids and Isoprenoids 107
Röbbe Wünschiers

3.6 Nucleotides and Nucleosides 124
Röbbe Wünschiers

3.7 Cofactors and Vitamins 133
Ida Schomburg

3.8 Nucleic Acid Metabolism in Bacteria 149
Susanne Peifer and Elmar Heinzle

3.9 Nucleic Acid Metabolism in Eukarya 157

Helmut Burtscher

3.10 Special Bacterial Metabolism and Biosynthesis of Antimicrobials 164
Julia Garbe, Annika Steen and Max Schobert

3.11 Electron Transfer Reactions and Oxidative Phosphorylation 183
Martina Jahn and Dieter Jahn

3.12 Photosynthesis 188
Dieter Oesterhelt and Josef Wachtveitl

3.13 Plant Secondary Metabolism 193
Antje Chang

4 Protein Biosynthesis, Modifications and Degradation 210

4.1 Protein Synthesis in Bacteria 210
Martina Jahn and Dieter Jahn

4.2 Protein Biosynthesis in Eukarya 219
Röbbe Wünschiers

4.3 Cell Cycle in Eukarya 232
Stefan Ries

4.4 Posttranslational Modification of Proteins 238
Röbbe Wünschiers

4.5 Protein Folding, Transport / Targeting and Degradation 244
Petra Dersch

5 Viruses 261
Klaus Klumpp

5.1 General Characteristics of Viruses 261

5.2 DNA Viruses 264

5.3 RNA Viruses 267

5.4 Retroviruses 268

6 Transport 272

6.1 Transport Through Membranes 272
Wilhelm Just

6.2 Transport of Lipids in Plasma 279
Horst Klima

6.3 Oxygen Transport by Hemoglobin 282
Gerhard Michal

7 Signal Transduction and Cellular Communication 286
Gerhard Niederfellner

7.1 Intercellular Signal Transmission by Hormones 286

7.2 Nerve Conduction and Synaptic Transmission 294

7.3 Principles of Intracellular Communication 296

7.4 Receptors Coupled to Heterotrimeric G-Proteins 299

7.5 Receptors Acting Through Tyrosine Kinases 311

7.6 Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis) 319

7.7 Receptors for Steroid and Thyroid Hormones, for Retinoids and Vitamin D 321

7.8 Cyclic GMP Dependent Pathways and Effects of Nitric Oxide (NO) 322

8 Immune System 325
Ernst Peter Rieber

8.1 Components of the Immune System 325

8.2 Generation of a Specific Immune Response 343

8.3 Pathologic Immune responses 352

8.4 Adhesion of Leukocytes 354
Anton Haselbeck

9 Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis 357
Peter Müller

9.1 Hemostasis 357

9.2 Initial Reactions 358

9.3 Coagulation Propagation and Control 359

9.4 Platelets (Thrombocytes) 362

9.5 Fibrinolysis 364

10 Biochemical Networks, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology 366
Dietmar Schomburg

10.1 Systems Biology and Networks 366

10.2 Modeling of Metabolic Fluxes 366

10.3 Biochemical Pathways Information Resources 366

Index 374

"...highly recommended for every scientist and student working in biochemistry."
- Umwelt & Gesundheit 4/2012 (review in German)