http://ctrstbio.org.uic.edu/manuals/kellybba.pdf

How to study proteins by circular dichroism

In the face of continuous threats from parasites, hosts have evolved an elaborate series of preventative and controlling measures - the immune system - in order to reduce the fitness costs of parasitism. However, these measures do have associated costs. Viewing an individual's immune response to parasites as being subject to optimization in the face of other demands offers potential insights into mechanisms of life history trade-offs, sexual selection, parasite-mediated selection and population dynamics. We discuss some recent results that have been obtained by practitioners of this approach in natural and semi-natural populations, and suggest some ways in which this field may progress in the near future.

Ecological immunology: costly parasite defences and trade-offs in evolutionary ecology

Polyamines in rapid growth and cancer

Role of Polyamines in the Control of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

Polyamines are essential for the growth and function of normal cells. They interact with various macromolecules, both electrostatically and covalently and, as a consequence, have a variety of cellular effects. The complexity of polyamine metabolism and the multitude of compensatory mechanisms that are invoked to maintain polyamine homoeostasis argue that these amines are critical to cell survival. The regulation of polyamine content within cells occurs at several levels, including transcription and translation. In addition, novel features such as the +1 frameshift required for antizyme production and the rapid turnover of several of the enzymes involved in the pathway make the regulation of polyamine metabolism a fascinating subject. The link between polyamine content and human disease is unequivocal, and significant success has been obtained in the treatment of a number of parasitic infections. Targeting the polyamine pathway as a means of treating cancer has met with limited success, although the development of drugs such as DFMO (alpha-difluoromethylornithine), a rationally designed anticancer agent, has revolutionized our understanding of polyamine function in cell growth and provided 'proof of concept' that influencing polyamine metabolism and content within tumour cells will prevent tumour growth. The more recent development of the polyamine analogues has been pivotal in advancing our understanding of the necessity to deplete all three polyamines to induce apoptosis in tumour cells. The current thinking is that the polyamine inhibitors/analogues may also be useful agents in the chemoprevention of cancer and, in this area, we may yet see a revival of DFMO. The future will be in adopting a functional genomics approach to identifying polyamine-regulated genes linked to either carcinogenesis or apoptosis.

/pdf/a-perspective-of-polyamine-metabolism-5gbwgwozbs.pdf

A perspective of polyamine metabolism.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that have a number of remarkable properties This book builds on the previous two editions to show how we can understand these properties and explain how enzymes work in cells and organisms and how they can be clinically and commercially exploited

Fundamentals of Enzymology

The biology of birds is diverse and frequently differs significantly from that of other vertebrates. Many birds migrate or fly at high altitudes, while egg-laying and feather production places high demands on nutrient uptake and storage. This book is the only comprehensive and up-to-date survey of avian biochemistry and molecular biology available. It emphasises the similarities and differences between birds and other vertebrates, concentrating on new developments. The first section deals with protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, its hormonal control and the adaptations that occur in birds. The second covers the avian genome, gene expression, and avian immunology. Growth and embryological development are also discussed. Avian Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will be of interest to all those working on birds, especially postgraduate students and researchers.

Avian biochemistry and molecular biology

1. 1. Egg white proteins are the principal solutes present in egg white, making up approximately 10% of its weight. 2. 2. They are globular proteins and most have acidic isoelectric points. 3. 3. Many are glycoproteins with carbohydrate contents ranging from 2 to 58%. 4. 4. Of the major egg white proteins, lysozyme is the only one having catalytic activity, but many have specific binding sites, e.g. for vitamis such as biotin, riboflavin and thiamin, or for metal ions such as FeIII. 5. 5. A major group are those showing proteinase inhibitory activity, and they include ovomucoid, ovoinhibitor, cystatin and ovostatin. 6. 6. The synthesis of egg white protein occurs in the oviduct, and is hormonally controlled either by oestrogens or progesterone. 7. 7. Extensive studies have been carried out in the genes coding for egg white proteins.

Egg white proteins.

Since the publication of the second edition of "Fundamentals of Enzymology" in 1989 there has been a large increase in the knowledge of several aspects of enzymology, not least the rapid acceleration of structural characterization of enzymes and the development of the field of bioinformatics. This edition places appropriate emphasis on this knowledge and consolidates the strengths of the previous editions. As before, the book gives an all-round view of the field including enzyme purification and characterization, enzyme structure (including information on World Wide Web sites), enzyme kinetics, the mechanisms and control of enzyme action, enzyme folding, how enzymes act in vivo, enzyme synthesis and degradation, and also clinical and industrial applications of enzymology. Throughout the book, the integration of these themes is stressed. This book is intended for second or third (fourth in Scotland) year undergraduates on biochemistry/molecular biology courses.

Fundamentals of Enzymology: The Cell and Molecular Biology of Catalytic Proteins

https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/0307-4412%2883%2990048-1

Lewis Stevens

Papers

Fundamentals of Enzymology

Avian biochemistry and molecular biology

Egg white proteins.

Fundamentals of Enzymology: The Cell and Molecular Biology of Catalytic Proteins

The stabilities of various thiol compounds used in protein purifications