This is a fascinating introduction to the topic. Spanning the spectrum of nucleic acid chemistry, carbohydrates, peptides, molecular recognition, biosynthesis and natural biosynthesis, right up to medical and biophysical chemistry, the book provides advanced students and those already working in the field with a balanced overview. In more than 30 contributions, a new generation of recognized scientists gives an account of the latest research in such areas as * Artificial receptors for the stabilization of ß-sheet structures * Carbohydrate recognition by artificial receptors * Combinatorial chemistry as a tool for the discovery of catalysts * The interaction of NO and peroxynitrite with hemoglobin and myoglobin * Inhibitors against human mast-cell-tryptase as a potential approach to conquering asthma * The selectivity of DNA replication. A readily accessible survey for everyone wishing to stay abreast of developments. With a Foreword by Ronald Breslow.

The understanding of (patho)physiological processes - the biosynthesis of biomolecules such as enzymes, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites; the pathways of signaltransduction; or the function of pharmaceutical agents - is of increasing importance not only for drug research but also for the development of new synthetic methods in organic chemistry and biochemistry. In a truly interdisciplinary way bioorganic chemistry unites the central questions of biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, and spectroscopy. This book fills a void in this rapidly growing field of chemistry and gives a thorough yet understandable introduction for advanced students and researchers alike. Contributions of more than sixty scientists provide a topical overview of recent advances in: drug development based on natural products; the biosynthesis, activity, and application of enzymes; carbohydrates; peptides; nucleic acids; analytical methods in bioorganic chemistry. This book will be an appetizer for all - students and researchers alike - seeking orientation in this fascinating field of chemistry.

Concise but complete, this mini-encyclopedia contains over 1,500 entries covering all important concepts, compounds, techniques and acronyms for quick and easy reference. Guiding readers through the ever-increasing jungle of nucleic acid science and technology, the book distills the key information out of the large body of primary literature and presents it in a single volume. A first-stop resource for everyone, from students to established researchers, as both a desktop and library reference.

In The Aptamer Handbook, leading scientists from academia as well as biotech and pharma companies introduce the revolutionary concept of designing RNA and DNA oligonucleotides with novel functions by in vitro selection. These functions comprise high affinity binding (aptamers), catalytic activity (ribozymes and deoxyribozymes) or combinations of binding and catalytic properties (aptazymes). Basic concepts and technologies describing in detail how these functional oligonucleotides can be identified are presented. Numerous examples demonstrate the versatility of in vitro selected oligonucleotides. Special emphasis has been put on a section that shows the broad applicability of aptamers, e. g. in target validation, for analytics, or as new therapeutics. This first overview in the field is of prime interest for a broad audience of scientists both in academia and in industry who wish to expand their knowledge on the potential of new oligonucleotide functions and their applications.

Covers all facets of the synthesis of ß-amino acids As evidenced by an exponential increase in the literature published on the subject, interest in ß-amino acids has grown over the past several years. With major pharmaceutical applications, these amino acids are now studied across multiple lines of research, including combinatorial chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular design, proteomics, and others. This Second Edition of Enantioselective Synthesis of ß-Amino Acids updates reviews included in the First Edition while also covering new developments since its publication. The book presents detailed discussions of the most important methods for the synthesis of ß-amino acids. In most cases, the lead chemist who originally developed a method provides an authoritative description of it. In addition, Enantioselective Synthesis of ß-Amino Acids, Second Edition: * Features introductory overviews on the structural types of relevant ß-amino acid targets and salient ß-amino acids present in natural products * Dedicates several chapters to advances in the synthesis of oligomers from ß-amino acids * Includes general and practical procedures for the preparation of ß-amino acids in each chapter * Discusses the most important methods that have been recently developed for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic and open-chain ß-amino acids * Includes a report on the preparation of libraries of enantiopure ß-amino acids using combinatorial approaches The only book of its kind available today, Enantioselective Synthesis of ß-Amino Acids, Second Edition offers upper-level students and professionals an essential resource for pharmaceutical development, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the development of therapeutic oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, touching on a number of additional oligonucleotides including a number of small interfering RNAs currently in various phases of clinical development. Written by leading expert scientists from both academia and leading biotechnical companies, the authors provide a compelling update on current status of RNA interference with emphasis on fascinating topics including oligonucleotides: antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, siRNAs, decoy oligonucleotides and aptamers. This exceptional work will be a valid resource for researchers and students as well as academia, consultants and scientists.

bacterial carbohydrate recognition are conveyed, covering Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria, in Chapter 4 Streptococci and Staphylococci, and in Chapter 5, carbohydrate binding specificities of Helicobacter pylori. In Chapter 6, "Bitter sweetness of complexity," the collected reflections on mic- bial adhesion are expanded by a perspective on a broader impact of glycosylation on cellular adhesion, motility and regulatory processes, paralleling the complexity of N-glycan structures on cell surfaces. It highlights particularly how structural details of N-glycans have been causally related to pathological scenarios, with a focus on ?(1,6)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. In the final chapter, biofilm formation is reviewed, covering knowledge about structure and biosynthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesins (PIAs) which are central to biofilm formation. This comprehensive chapter explains all PIA-related principles of medical device-associated infections. It is our hope, that this collection of expert articles, ranging from structural ch- istry and structural biology to biochemistry and medicine, will be a stimulation and motivation for our colleagues in the life sciences. At the same time, we hope that these reflections on microbial adhesion will awake interest in and promote und- standing of the complex processes associated with the glycocalyx and the multif- eted interactions between the host cell and its "guest," as well as the biological consequences resulting from this mutual interplay.

This book provides an excellent overview on state-of-the-art of modern organocatalysis. It presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state-of-the-art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.

Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology is the first textbook to blend modern tools of organic chemistry with concepts of biology, physiology, and medicine. With a focus on human cell biology and a problems-driven approach, the text explains the combinatorial architecture of biooligomers (genes, DNA, RNA, proteins, glycans, lipids, and terpenes) as the molecular engine for life. Accentuated by rich illustrations and mechanistic arrow pushing, organic chemistry is used to illuminate the central dogma of molecular biology. Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology is appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry and molecular biology, as well as those going into medicine and pharmaceutical science.