The biological chemistry of the elements : the inorganic chemistry of life

The study of the chemistry of living processes has traditionally centered on the behavior of organic compounds in water; together they account for 99 per-cent of the matter in living systems. However, we also know that about 20 "inorganic" elements are also essential for life, and that they are found in similar amounts in most living systems. This book's objective is to examine and explain the importance of these elements. The authors begin with a survey of the chemical and physical factors controlling the elements of life. The essential functions of individual inorganic elements are then detailed. A final section consolidates a major theme of the book -- the cooperative interaction of elements in living systems. These chapters discuss the relationships between chemical activity and morphology and the effect that changes in the availability of elements have on life -- not only in providing evolutionary pressures but also in the context of the use of medicines and the spread of pollutants. This major graduate-level chemistry text provides a completely new way of looking at the chemistry of living processes. It is essential reading for all scientists interested in bioinorganic chemistry, including biologists, biochemists, chemists and physicists The Chemical Elements In Biology -- The Principles Of The Uptake And Chemical Speciation Of The Elements In Biology -- Physical Separations Of Elements : Compartments And Zones In Biology -- Kinetic Considerations Of Chemical Reactions, Catalysis, And Control -- Energy In Biological Systems And Hydrogen Biochemistry -- The Functional Value Of The Chemical Elements In Biological Systems -- The Role Of Biological Macromolecules And Polymers -- Sodium, Potassium, And Chlorine : Osmotic Control, Electrolytic Equilibria, And Currents -- The Biological Chemistry Of Magnesium : Phosphate Metabolism -- Calcium : Controls And Triggers -- Zinc : Lewis Acid Catalysis And Regulation -- Non-haem Iron : Redox Reactions And Controls -- Haem Iron : Coupled Redox Reactions -- Manganese : Dioxygen Evolution And Glycosylation -- Copper : Extracytoplasmic Oxidases And Matrix Formation -- Nickel And Cobalt : Remnants Of Early Life? -- Molybdenum, Vanadium, And Tungsten -- Phosphate, Silica, And Chloride : Acid-base Non-metals. Sulphur, Selenium, And Halogens : Redox Non-metals -- Biological Minerals And Biological Shapes -- An Integrated View : The Elements In Homeostasis, Morphogenesis, And Evolution -- Man's Use Of The Chemical Elements In Biological Environments. J.j.r. Frausto Da Silva And R.j.p. Williams. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The authors of this study on bio-inorganic chemistry seek to examine the importance of inorganic elements. They survey chemical and physical factors controlling the elements of life, discuss the functions of inorganic elements and examine the co-operative interaction in living systems This study on bio-inorganic chemistry examines the importance of inorganic elements. It surveys chemical and physical factors controlling the elements of life, discusses the functions of inorganic elements and examines the co-operative interaction in living systems. The analytical element content of cells as we know them today is in some way related to the limitations imposed by the genome, DNA, of the cell.