This book summarizes mountains of research by various scientists in the field of general biochemistry, with an emphasis on enzymes which make all the important molecules in our body, such as DNA, proteins, etc. Enzymes are also essential for removing all toxic chemicals that inadvertently enter our body. All metabolic reactions in our body are performed by enzymes.
But perhaps, most importantly, it should give the reader a satisfying feeling of knowing: Aha! That is how my cells work."
Prolog.- CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR LIFE: TAKE MINERALS, WATER, OXYGEN AND
STIR.-WHAT ARE THESE THINGS DOING IN MY BODY? OVERVIEW OF LIVING CELLS.-OUR
SUPERBEES: HOW FAST ARE ENZYMES?.-WHAT ARE THESE THINGS DOING IN MY BODY?
OVERVIEW OF LIVING CELLS.-HOW DID WE GET HERE? STARTING CONDITIONS FOR LIFE
ON EARTH.-THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF METABOLISM: HOW CELLS FUNCTION.-THE ABCS OF
PROTEINS STRUCTURE AND SYNTHESIS.-OUR AMAZING HEMOGLOBIN: BLOOD AND THE
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.-ALLOSTERIC ENZYMES: SHAPE SHIFTERS.-SEX AND NUCLEIC ACID
ENZYMES.-UH, OH MY GENES ARE CHANGING: EVOLUTION AND DISEASES.-CONTROL YOUR
SUGAR: SPECIAL ENZYMES CONTROL GLUCOSE METABOLISM.-ENEMIES WITHIN? OUR OWN
ENZYMES HELP VIRUSES TO INFECT US.-TRAITORS: CANCER RESULTS WHEN REGULATORY
PROTEINS BECOME MUTATED.-Epilog.-INDEX.
Thomas Traut has a PhD in molecular biology and has studied enzymes since 1974. As a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he has focused on enzyme regulation and taught advanced enzymology to graduate students. Important findings from his research helped to define the mechanism of allosteric control for dissociating enzymes.
