The Secondary Metabolism Of Plants And Animals

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost identical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary metabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organisms, of single "chemical races" or even of a certain stage of differentiation of special ized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as "secondary metabolism", and the compounds formed are called "secondary products". Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsible for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g., alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used by industry, e. g., rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary products in microorganisms, plants, and animals. It shows that the formation of secondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material. It demon strates that the. biosynthesis of secondary products is typically without signifi cance for the individual producer cell, but may play a decisive role in the develop· ment and function of the producer organism as a whole.

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost identical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary metabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organisms, of single "chemical races" or even of a certain stage of differentiation of special ized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as "secondary metabolism", and the compounds formed are called "secondary products". Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsible for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g. , alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used by industry, e. g. , rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary products in microorganisms, plants, and animals. It shows that the formation of secondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material. It demon strates that the. biosynthesis of secondary products is typically without signifi cance for the individual producer cell, but may play a decisive role in the develop· ment and function of the producer organism as a whole.

Life has evolved as a unified system; no organism exists similar role also has been suggested for fatty acids from alone, but each is in intimate contact with other organisms cyanolipids. Nonprotein amino acids, cyanogenic glyco and its environment. Historically, it was easier for workers sides, and the non-fatty-acid portion of cyanolipids also are in various disciplines to delimit artificially their respective incorporated into primary metabolites during germination. areas of research, rather than attempt to understand the entire Secondary metabolites of these structural types are accumu system of living organisms. This was a pragmatic and neces lated in large quantities in the seeds of several plant groups sary way to develop an understanding for the various parts. where they probably fulfill an additional function as deter We are now at a point, however, where we need to investi rents to general predation. gate those things common to the parts and, specifically, those The second type of relationship involves interaction of things that unify the parts. The fundamental aspects of many plants with other organisms and with their environment. Bio of these interactions are chemical in nature. Plants constitute logical interactions must be viewed in the light of evolution an essential part of all life systems; phytochemistry provides ary change and the coadaptation, or perhaps coevolution, of a medium for linking several fields of study.

This volume presents the latest research on herbivores, aquatic and terrestrial mammals and insects. The Second Edition, written almost entirely by new authors, effectively complements the initial work. It includes advances in molecular biology and microbiology, ecology, and evolutionary theory that have been achieved since the first edition was published in 1979. The book also incorporates relatively new methodologies in the area of molecular biology, like protein purification and gene cloning. Volume II, Ecological and Evolutionary Processes, also opens up entirely new subjects: The discussions of interactions have expanded to include phenomena at higher trophic levels, such as predation and microbial processing and other environmental influences. Both this and Volume I, The Chemical Participants, will be of interest to chemists, biochemists, plant and insect ecologists, evolutionary biologists, physiologists, entomologists, and agroecologists interested in both crop and animal science. Presents coevolution of herbivores and host plants Examines resource availability and its effects on secondary metabolism and herbivores Studies physiology and biochemistry of adaptation to hosts Includes tri-trophic interactions involving predators and microbes

This book consists of an introductory overview of secondary metabolites, which are classified into four main sections: microbial secondary metabolites, plant secondary metabolites, secondary metabolites through tissue culture technique, and regulation of secondary metabolite production. This book provides a comprehensive account on the secondary metabolites of microorganisms, plants, and the production of secondary metabolites through biotechnological approach like the plant tissue culture method. The regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolite production in plants and the pharmaceutical and other applications of various secondary metabolites are also highlighted. This book is considered as necessary reading for microbiologists, biotechnologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and botanists who are doing research in secondary metabolites. It should also be useful to MSc students, MPhil and PhD scholars, scientists, and faculty members of various science disciplines.