Excluding the biological polymers proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, modified tetrapyrroles are the biological molecules that have had the greatest impacton the evolution of life over the past 4 billion years. They are involved in a wide variety of fundamental processes that underpin central primary metabolism in all kingdoms of life, from photosynthesis to methanogenesis. Moreover, they bring colour into the world and it is for this reason that these compoundshave been appropriately dubbed the ‘pigments of life’. To understand how and why these molecules have been so universally integrated into the life processes one has to appreciate the chemical properties of the tetrapyrrole scaffold and, where appropriate, the chemical characteristics of the centrally chelated metal ion. This book addresses why these molecules are employed in Nature, howthey are made and what happens to them after they have finished their usefulness. INDICE: From the contents 1. An Historical Introduction to Porphyrin and Chlorophyll Synthesis.- 2. Biosynthesis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid.- 3. 5-Aminolaevulinic Acid Dehydratase, Porphobilinogen Deaminase and Uroporphyrinogen III Synthase.- 4. Transformation of Uroporphyrinogen III into Protohaem.- 5. Inherited Disorders of Haem Synthesis: The Human Porphyrias.- 6. Heme Degradation: Mechanistic and Physiological Implications.- 7. Regulation of Mammalian Heme Biosynthesis.- 8. Tetrapyrroles in Photodynamic Therapy.- 9. Heme Transport andIncorporation into Proteins.- 10. Heme and Hemoproteins.- 11. Novel Heme-Protein Interactions–Some More Radical Than Others.- 12.Synthesis and Role of Bilins in Photosynthetic Organisms.- 13. Phytochromes: Bilin-Linked Photoreceptorsin Bacteria and Plants.- 14. Biosynthesis of Chlorophyll and Bacteriochlorophyll.- 15. Regulation of Tetrapyrrole Synthesis in Higher Plants.- 16. Regulation of the Late Steps of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis.
- ISBN: 978-0-387-78517-2
- Editorial: Springer
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 415
- Fecha Publicación: 01/06/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés