Molybdenum Chemistry Of Biological Significance

In retrospect, it was obvious that we were both, quite inde pendently, contemplating a conference on the role of molybdenum in biology and related chemistry. At the time though, the meeting of minds on this matter was quite surprising. Although this subject has been treated in previous meetings within the overall context of, say, magnetic resonance or nitrogen fixation, it was apparent to us both that research in molybdenum-containing enzymes and molyb denum chemistry had progressed rapidly in the last several years. Jointly, we decided to organize the first meeting on Molybdenum Chemistry of Biological Significance which was held at the Hotel Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan, on April 10-13, 1979. This volume con stitutes the Proceedings of that international conference and covers the broad spectrum of interests from enzymes to coordination chemistry. It should serve not only as a source of new information on the latest research results in this area and as a useful ref erence tool, but should also allow a newcomer or other peripherally interested researcher to become conversant very rapidly with the "state-of-the-art" in this specialized and important area of research. The conference was sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Japan World Exposition Commemerative Fund the Yamada Science Foundation, the Nissan Science Foundation, the Chemical Society of Japan (Kinki Regional Office) and the Agri cultural Chemical Society of Japan (Kansai Branch). We thank these organizations sincerely for their interest and generosity.

In this brief, the authors explore and review the current knowledge regarding the role of molybdenum in the evolution of biological systems and their interaction with biogeochemical cycles. Special emphasis is placed on biological nitrogen fixation and the nitrogen element cycle. The origin and evolution of molybdenum cofactor biosynthetic pathways as well as the evolutionary significance of molybdenum containing enzymes appearance is analyzed. Original data regarding nitrogen fixation pathways and related enzymes molecular evolution processes is presented. The trace element molybdenum is essential for nearly all organisms and forms the catalytic center of a large variety of enzymes such as nitrogenase, nitrate reductases, sulphite oxidase and xanthine oxidoreductases.

Volume 39: Molybdenum and Tungsten: Their Roles in Biological Processes is devoted soley to the vital research area on molybdenum and tungsten and their role in biology. It offers a comprehensive and timely account of this fascinating topic by 40 distinguished international authorities. Topics include: transport, homeostasis, regulation and binding of molybdate and tungstate to proteins, crystallographic characterization, coordination of complexes, and biosynthesis.

There has been enormous progress in our understanding of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes and relevant inorganic complexes of molybdenum and tungsten over the past twenty years. This set of three books provides a timely and comprehensive overview of the field and documents the latest research. Building on the first volume that focussed on biochemistry aspects, the second volume in the set focusses on the inorganic complexes that model the structures and reactivity of the active sites of each major group of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes. Special attention is given to synthetic strategies, reaction mechanism and chemical kinetics of these systems. The introductory chapter provides a useful overview and places the topic of the book into a wider context. This text will be a valuable reference to workers both inside and outside the field, including graduate students and young investigators interested in developing new research programs in this area.

Volume 39: Molybdenum and Tungsten: Their Roles in Biological Processes is devoted soley to the vital research area on molybdenum and tungsten and their role in biology. It offers a comprehensive and timely account of this fascinating topic by 40 distinguished international authorities. Topics include: transport, homeostasis, regulation and binding

The importance of metals in biology, the environment and medicine has become increasingly evident over the last twenty five years. The study of the multiple roles of metal ions in biological systems, the rapidly expanding interface between inorganic chemistry and biology constitutes the subject called Biological Inorganic Chemistry. The present text, written by a biochemist, with a long career experience in the field (particularly iron and copper) presents an introduction to this exciting and dynamic field. The book begins with introductory chapters, which together constitute an overview of the concepts, both chemical and biological, which are required to equip the reader for the detailed analysis which follows. Pathways of metal assimilation, storage and transport, as well as metal homeostasis are dealt with next. Thereafter, individual chapters discuss the roles of sodium and potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, nickel and cobalt, manganese, and finally molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten and chromium. The final three chapters provide a tantalising view of the roles of metals in brain function, biomineralization and a brief illustration of their importance in both medicine and the environment. Relaxed and agreeable writing style. The reader will not only fiind the book easy to read, the fascinating anecdotes and footnotes will give him pegs to hang important ideas on.Written by a biochemist. Will enable the reader to more readily grasp the biological and clinical relevance of the subject.Many colour illustrations. Enables easier visualization of molecular mechanismsWritten by a single author. Ensures homgeneity of style and effective cross referencing between chapters

Molybdenum and Molybdenum-Containing Enzymes is a collection of papers that deals with the various concerns with molybdenum-containing enzymes. The text first covers the organometallic chemistry of molybdenum, and then proceeds to tackling molybdenum-containing enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulphite oxidase. The text also discusses the advancement in the understanding of molybdenum-containing enzymes. The remaining chapters deal with the genetics of molybdoenzymes and the nutritional aspects of molybdenum. The book will be of great use to students, researchers, and practitioners of biochemistry.

This book covers the bioinorganic chemistry of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes and the physicochemical methods that are used to investigate their structure and function.