Carbohydrates: The Essential Molecules of Life

'Carbohydrates: The Essential Molecules of Life' is a sequel to the widely acclaimed text of 2001, 'Carbohydrates: The Sweet Molecules of Life'. The early chapters, completely revised and up-dated, give an authoritative coverage of the 'nuts and bolts' of carbohydrates, together with an overview of the protecting groups and chemical transformations popular in monosaccharide chemistry. One of the strengths of 'Essentials' is the in-depth chapter on the formation of the glycosidic linkage, with extension to oligosaccharide synthesis. The book then moves smoothly into a discussion of monosaccharide metabolism and the enzymes responsible for the cleavage (glycoside hydrolases) and synthesis (glycosyltransferases) of the glycosidic linkage. The occurrence, biosynthesis and functions of disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides follow, along with their biologically important modification through processes such as sulfation, acetylation and phosphorylation. The next section on glycoproteins and proteoglycans continues with a discussion of their structures, biosynthesis and functions before the book finishes with a chapter on the chemistry and glycobiology of four 'classics': the immucillins, an anti-toxic malarial vaccine, carbohydrate anti-tumour vaccines, and anti-coagulant therapies based on heparin.'Essentials' is just that: it gives the reader the basics of the subject, a sense of its history, the ways to make glycosides and oligosaccharides by chemical or enzymic methods, and the importance of these molecules and their conjugates in the world of glycobiology. It will prove to be an essential teaching text and reference book.