Chemical Biology of Natural Products This unique, long-awaited volume is designed to address contemporary aspects of natural product chemistry and its influence on biological systems, not solely on human interactions. The subjects covered include discovery, isolation and characterization, biosynthesis, biosynthetic engineering, pharmaceutical, and other applications of these compounds. Each chapter begins with a brief and simple introduction to the subject matter, and then proceeds to guide the reader towards the more contemporary, cutting-edge research in the field, with the contributing authors presenting current examples from their own work in order to exemplify key themes. Topics covered in the text include genome mining, heterologous expression, natural product synthesis, biosynthesis, glycosylation, chemical ecology, and therapeutic applications of natural products, both current and potential.

Based on the award winning Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology, this book provides a general overview of the unique features of the small molecules referred to as "natural products", explores how this traditionally organic chemistry-based field was transformed by insights from genetics and biochemistry, and highlights some promising future directions. The book begins by introducing natural products from different origins, moves on to presenting and discussing biosynthesis of various classes of natural products, and then looks at natural products as models and the possibilities of using them in medicine.

Sterols and other isoprenoids are of great interest for their molecular structure and function in cell architecture and evolution, as well as for their importance in medicine and agriculture. Molecules’ 2019 Festschrift Special Issue in honor of the 65th birthday of Prof. W. David Nes, an internationally recognized chemical biologist and recipient of the George Schroepher medal for sterol research, focuses on recent developments in the chemistry, biosynthesis, and function of these polycyclic natural products. This volume of Molecules contains 16 leading-edge review articles and original research contributions from an international cast of scientists. This volume is grouped into three sections: (i) isoprenoid metabolome and diversity, (ii) clinical evaluation of sterol and triterpene structures and biosynthesis, and (iii) methods and synthesis of steroids and other compounds. The volume will be a valuable reference tool for those who study medicinal chemistry, protein chemistry, and biochemistry of isoprenoid lipids.

Cancer is a common disease with a devastating impact on the physical and psychological well being of patients. The diagnosis of cancer brings upon many clinical challenges and questions for which clear and simple answers are not always provided by modern medicine. To date, only limited therapeutic options are available for patients with advanced cancer. The recent shift toward targeted therapies has improved substantially patient’s survival, however, relapses are frequent and cure remains rare. This led patients and many health care managers to shift attention to the holistic approach of traditional medicine particularly preparations from herbal products to manage and alleviate the disease. Typically, herbal preparations contain single or multiple plant ingredients, including a number of potential active components. Yet, they remain classified as food supplements and thus are exempt from regulations on quality control and proof of efficacy that govern standard pharmaceuticals. Clinical evidence for many preparations is often based on non-documented or anecdotal evidence. In consequence, several preparations with unproven efficacy are circulating in the market with the fear of interference with standard cancer therapies and/or severe toxicity that some can generate, in addition to the unjustified economical burden to patients. Despite inconsistent and conflicting clinical results single molecules have been isolated from herbal preparations and many are exploited to develop potential novel agents. This has fostered the need to organize a set of timely, in-depth and up-to-date review covering the latest developments in alternative cancer management from a scientific and clinical perspective dedicated to the medical community and health care providers, as well as to patients and their families. This book brings the latest comprehensive cancer information and practical recommendations on the best documented practice of alternative therapies for cancer management put together by recognized experts in the fields of medical oncology, traditional medicine, and cancer pharmacology. It goes hand-in-hand with the patient’s medical treatment options, quality of life issues, and more. The book is organized into four major sections: The first is an overview of the cancer syndrome by renowned medical oncologists from the USA and Europe. The second is a comprehensive description of traditional medicine by renowned experts from China and Germany. The third is an overview on the pharmacological impact of herb-based formulations on standard chemotherapy agents used in clinical practice. The fourth is a survey of cases reports from several hospitals with approved practice of alternative medicine. The book will feature simple definitions and essential information grouped in both medical and lay-term terminology, and straightforward illustrations related to human physiology, disease definition, scientific data on know and potential mechanisms of action, and preventive approaches. Finally, the book will feature collaboration of experts from China, India, USA, Canada, Germany, France, and other centres with recognized expertise in alternative/traditional medicine. This international cooperation is crucial to cover the complex topic of alternative therapies for cancer.

Advanced Chemical Biology The modern approach to teaching chemical biology Advanced Chemical Biology is organized around the central dogma of life, progressing from genes to proteins and higher-order cellular structures, including core application areas such as imaging, chemical genetics, activity-based protein profiling, and natural product discovery and biosynthesis. Advanced topics and applications in, e. g., microbiology, developmental biology, and neurobiology, are covered in separate sections. Every chapter is homogeneous in style and layout, consisting of a short historical introduction followed by a description of the underlying concepts and a selection of recent examples of how the concept has been turned into practice. The subdivision of the contents into core and supplemental chapters enables a flexible use in teaching, both for a one-semester and a two-semester course. Written by authors and editors coming from the leading scientific institutions that have developed the concepts and technologies for this discipline, Advanced Chemical Biology includes specific information on topics like: DNA function, synthesis and engineering, chemical approaches to genome integrity, and RNA function, synthesis, and probing Chemical approaches to transcription and RNA regulation in vivo, chemical biology of genome engineering, and peptide/protein synthesis and engineering Directed evolution for chemical biology, chemical biology of cellular metabolism, chemical biology of lipids, and protein post-translational modifications Chemical glycobiology, chemical and enzymatic modification of proteins, genetic code expansion, bio-orthogonal chemistry, and cellular imaging With its broad scope and focus on turning concepts into applications, Advanced Chemical Biology is an excellent starting point for anyone entering the field and looking for a guide to the wide range of available methods and strategies that chemical biology has to offer. With a Foreword by Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi.

Demonstrates how advances in plant chemical biology can translate to field applications With contributions from a team of leading researchers and pioneers in the field, this book explains how chemical biology is used as a tool to enhance our understanding of plant biology. Readers are introduced to a variety of chemical biology studies that have provided novel insights into plant physiology and plant cellular processes. Moreover, they will discover that chemical biology not only leads to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of plant biology, but also the development of practical applications. For example, the authors discuss small molecules that can be used to identify targets of herbicides and develop new herbicides and plant growth regulators. The book begins with a historical perspective on plant chemical biology. Next, the authors introduce the chemical biology toolbox needed to perform successful studies, with chapters covering: Sources of small molecules Identification of new chemical tools by high-throughput screening (HTS) Use of chemical biology to study plant physiology Use of chemical biology to study plant cellular processes Target identification Translation of plant chemical biology from the lab to the field Based on the latest findings and extensively referenced, the book explores available compound collections, principles of assay design, and the use of new research tools for the development of new applications. Plant Chemical Biology is recommended for students and professionals in all facets of plant biology, including molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, agriculture, horticulture, and agronomy. All readers will discover new approaches that can lead to the development of a healthier and more plentiful global food supply.

An authoritative look at the application of chemical biology in drug discovery and development Based on the award-winning Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology published in 2008, this book explores the role of chemical biology in drug discovery and development. The first part of the book reviews key principles and techniques used in the design and evaluation of drug candidates. The second part elucidates biological mechanisms of certain diseases, illuminating approaches to investigate and target these diseases. Comprising carefully selected reprints from the Encyclopedia as well as new contributions from leading scholars in the field, this book provides researchers in academia and industry with important information to aid in the development of novel agents to treat disease. Self-contained articles cover a variety of essential topics, including: The design, development, and optimization of drug candidates The pharmacokinetics and properties of drugs Drug transport and delivery Natural products and natural product models as pharmaceuticals Biological mechanisms underlying health and disease Treatment strategies for a range of diseases, from HIV to schizophrenia Chemical Biology is a top-notch guide and reference for anyone working in the areas of drug discovery and development, including researchers in chemical biology and other fields such as biochemistry, medicine, and pharmaceutical sciences.

Retaining the proven didactic concept of the successful "Chemical Biology - Learning through Case Studies", this sequel features 27 new case studies, reflecting the rapid growth in this interdisciplinary topic over the past few years. Edited by two of the world's leading researchers in the field, this textbook introduces students and researchers to the modern approaches in chemical biology, as well as important results, and the techniques and methods applied. Each chapter presents a different biological problem taken from everyday lab work, elucidated by an international team of renowned scientists. With its broad coverage, this is a valuable source of information for students, graduate students, and researchers working on the borderline between chemistry, biology, and biochemistry.

This book describes cutting-edge organic syntheses of biologically active compounds, isolation of pharmaceutically promising compounds from microorganisms, drug design, and progress on chemical biology. Synthetic strategy and tactics are summarized for super-carbon chain compounds, antitumor polycycles, aryl C-glycoside, antimycins, duocarmycins, cannabinoids, and other compounds. Special chapters are devoted to synthesis and biochemistry of fatty acid metabolites, which play a central role in the initiation and resolution of inflammation. The book provides a quick survey of trending topics in organic synthesis and chemical tools for biological investigation, and furnishes ideas for future research in organic synthesis. In addition, the contents can easily be understood by young chemists, graduate students, and those who are looking for new research based on organic chemistry.

The inspiration provided by biologically active natural products to conceive of hybrids, congeners, analogs and unnatural variants is discussed by experts in the field in 16 highly informative chapters. Using well-documented studies over the past decade, this timely monograph demonstrates the current importance and future potential of natural products as starting points for the development of new drugs with improved properties over their progenitors. The examples are chosen so as to represent a wide range of natural products with therapeutic relevance among others, as anticancer agents, antimicrobials, antifungals, antisense nucleosides, antidiabetics, and analgesics. From the content: * Part I: Natural Products as Sources of Potential Drugs and Systematic Compound Collections * Part II: From Marketed Drugs to Designed Analogs and Clinical Candidates * Part III: Natural Products as an Incentive for Enabling Technologies * Part IV: Natural Products as Pharmacological Tools * Part V: Nature: The Provider, the Enticer, and the Healer