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This brief and accessible introduction to the biosynthesis of molecules of biological importance is geared towards helping non-specialist students understand and apply biochemical ideas through the liberal addition of examples, applications, exercises and questions throughout the text.
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BfO~YNrllE~I~ MoleclAlar aVid Cell --- BIOCHEMISTRY --. SMITH AND WOOD SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V. First edition 1992 © 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Chapman & Hall in 1992 Typeset in 10/11 Y2pt Palatino by EJS Chemical Composition, Midsomer Norton, Bath, Avon ISBN 978-0-412-40760-4 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may not be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction only in accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK, or in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the appropriate Reproduction Rights Organization outside the UK. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the terms stated here should be sent to the publishers at the UK address printed on thispage. The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and G(Imot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that maybemade. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Biosynthesis. - (Molecular and cell biochemistry) 1. Smith, C.A. II. Wood, E.J. III. Series 574.19 ISBN 978-0-412-40760-4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Biosynthesis/[editedby]C.A. SmithandE.J. Wood p. cm.-(Molecular and cell biochemistry) ISBN 978-0-412-40760-4 ISBN 978-94-011-2356-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-2356-3 1. Biosynthesis. 1. Smith, C.A. (ChrisA.) (EdwardJ.),1941-. III. Series. 1991 QP517.B57B56 574. 19'29-dc20 II. Wood, E.J. 91-9916 CIP Copy Editors: Sara Firman and Judith Ockenden Sub-editor: Simon Armstrong Production Controller: Marian Saville Layout Designer: Geoffrey Wadsley (after an original design by Julia Denny) Illustrators: lan Foulis and Associates Cover design: Amanda Barragry Contents Editors' foreword Contributors Preface Abbreviations Greek alphabet vii viii ix x xii 1 Basic principles of biosynthesis 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Energy 1.3 The importance of enzymes 1.4 Making small molecules 1.5 Building macromolecules 1.6 Self-assembly 1. 7 Overview Answers to exercises Questions 1 3 6 9 11 20 24 25 26 2 Photosynthesis 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Carbon fixation 2.3 Initial events in CO 2 fixation in C3 plants 2.4 Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) 2.5 The C4 pathway 2.6 Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) 2.7 Overview Answers to exercises Questions 28 28 29 30 36 43 46 48 49 49 3 Carbohydrates and gluconeogenesis 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Gluconeogenesis from lactate 3.3 Gluconeogenesis from amino acids 3.4 Gluconeogenesis from glycerol 3.5 Acetyl CoA cannot be converted to glucose in mammalian tissues 3.6 Regulation of gluconeogenesis 3.7 Overview Answers to exercises Questions 4 Polysaccharides 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Biosynthesis of a glycosidic bond 4.3 The biosynthesis of single sugar polysaccharides 1 52 52 53 58 60 60 60 65 65 66 68 68 69 74 L Contents v I / vi Contents / L _ _ _ _ _ _ _----' 4.4 The biosynthesis of polysaccharides containing mixtures of sugars 4.5 The biosynthesis of polysaccharides usin