Advanced Organic Chemistry Of Nucleic Acids

Sequencing, cloning, transcription - these are but a few key techniques behind the current breathtaking advances in molecular biology and biochemistry. As these methods continuosly diversify, biochemists need a sound chemical understanding to keep the pace. Chemists beginning working in the molecular biology lab need an introduction to this field from their point of view. This book serves both: it describes most of the known chemical reactions of nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids in sufficient detail to provide the desired background, and additionally, the fundamental relations between sequence, structure and functionality of nucleic acids are presented. The first edition of this book, which was published in Russian, has immediately become a recognized standard reference. This second, thoroughly revised and updated edition, now published in English, is likely to achieve a similar position in the international scientific community.

The study of nucleic acids is one of the most rapidly developing fields in modern science. The exceptionally important role of the nucleic acids as a key to the understanding of the nature of life is reflected in the enormous number of published works on the subject, including many outstanding monographs and surveys. The pathways of syn thesis and metabolism of nucleic acid,s and the many and varied biological functions of these biopolymers are examined with the utmost detail in the literature. Nearly as much attention has been paid to the macromolecular chemistry of the nucleic acids: elucidation of the size and shape of their molecules, the study of the physicochemical properties of their solutions, and the appropriate methods to be used in such research. The surveys of the chemistry of nucleic acids which have been published so far deal almost entirely with their synthesis and, in particular, with the synthetic chemistry of monomers (nucleosides and nucleotides) ; less attention has been paid to the synthesis of poly nucleotides. There is yet another highly important aspect of the chemistry of nucleic acids which is still in the formative stage, the study of the reactivity of nucleic acid macromolecules and their components. This can make an important contribution to the deter mination of the structure of these remarkable biopolymers and to the correct understanding of their biological functions.

The study of nucleic acids is one of the most rapidly developing fields in modern science. The exceptionally important role of the nucleic acids as a key to the understanding of the nature of life is reflected in the enormous number of published works on the subject, including many outstanding monographs and surveys. The pathways of syn thesis and metabolism of nucleic acids and the many and varied biological functions of these biopolymers are examined with the utmost detail in the literature. Nearly as much attention has been paid to the macromolecular chemistry of the nucleic acids: elucidation of the size and shape of their molecules, the study of the physicochemical properties of their solutions, and the appropriate methods to be used in such research. The surveys of the chemistry of nucleic acids which have been published so far deal almost entirely with their synthesis and, in particular, with the synthetic chemistry of monomers (nucleosides and nucleotides); less attention has been paid to the synthesis of poly nucleotides. There is yet another highly important aspect of the chemistry of nucleic acids which is still in the formative stage, the study of the reactivity of nucleic acid macromolecules and their components. This can make an important contribution to the deter mination of the structure of these remarkable biopolymers and to the correct 'understanding of their biological functions.

The Nucleic Acids, Volume III covers the significant progress in understanding the chemistry and biological importance of the nucleic acids. This volume is composed of 12 chapters, and begins with an overview of the general principles of the determination of weight, shape, and dimension of large molecules in solution. These topics are followed by discussions on the photochemistry of nucleic acids and its constituents; chemical and enzymic synthesis of polynucleotides; and nucleic acid content and dynamics of bacterial viruses. The next chapters describe the biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. A chapter examines the relationship of nucleic acid and protein synthesis through considering cell-free systems, particularly those derived from mammalian tissues. Another chapter looks into the protein biosynthesis in intact bacterial cells. The final chapters explore the nucleic acid metabolism, with a special emphasis on the effect of radiation on the process. This book is of value to organic chemists and biochemists.