Enzymes: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Engel (English) Paperback Book

Publisher Description

Enzymes are the astonishing, tiny molecular machines that make life possible. Each one of these small proteins speeds up a single chemical reaction inside a living organism many millionfold. Working together, teams of enzymes carry out all the processes that collectively we recognise as life, from making DNA to digesting food. This Very Short Introduction explains the why and the how of speeding up these reactions - catalysis -before going on to reveal how we have evolved these catalysts of such extraordinary power and exquisite selectivity. Paul Engel shows how X-ray crystallography has revealed the complex molecular shapes that allowenzymes to function at an extraordinarily sophisticated level. He also examines medical aspects of enzymes, both in the way faulty enzymes cause disease and in the way enzymes can be used for diagnosis and therapy. Finally, he looks at the many varied ways in which individual enzymes, taken out of their biological context, are used nowadays as tools - in washing powders, food production, waste treatment, and chemical synthesis. ABOUT THE SERIES: The VeryShort Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Ourexpert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Author Biography

Paul Engel is an Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at University College Dublin. He lectured at Sheffield for many years before taking up the Chair of Biochemistry at University College Dublin in 1994, where his research career focussed on enzymology, kinetics, and protein engineering. Paul Engel has taken an active interest in the public awareness of science and started a programme at UCD for training Ph. D. students in presenting science to the public. Elected aMember of the Royal Irish Academy in 2001, he has also chaired its Life Sciences Committee. In 2010 he was awarded the Biochemical Irish Area Section's Medal for outstanding research carried out inIreland.

Table of Contents

1: No Enzymes, No Life2: Making Things Happen - Catalysis3: The Chemical Nature of Enzymes4: Structure for Catalysis5: Enzymes in Action6: Metabolic Pathways and Enzyme Evolution7: Enzymes and Disease8: Enzymes as Tools9: Enzymes and Genes - New HorizonsReferencesFurther readingIndex

Review

A fairly comprehensive textbook that provides a decent technical grounding in enzymology and will no doubt teach many professional biologists a thing or two * Nadia Abbott AMRSB, The Biologist *
This book would be an excellent accompaniment to an undergraduate biology student or someone with a scientific background who wishes to know more about enzymology. * Lucy Elphick, The Biochemist *
It would be perfect for students who want to have a (somewhat more than) basic understanding of the subject before delving deeper ... my overall understanding of the subject is more rounded. Thanks Professor Engel! * Mary Staunton, University College Dublin Today *

Long Description

Enzymes are the astonishing, tiny molecular machines that make life possible. Each one of these small proteins speeds up a single chemical reaction inside a living organism many millionfold. Working together, teams of enzymes carry out all the processes that collectively we recognise as life, from making DNA to digesting food. This Very Short Introduction explains the why and the how of speeding up these reactions - catalysis - before going on to reveal how we have evolved these catalysts of such extraordinary power and exquisite selectivity. Paul Engel shows how X-ray crystallography has revealed the complex molecular shapes that allow enzymes to function at an extraordinarily sophisticated level. He also examines medical aspects of enzymes, both in the way faulty enzymes cause disease and in the wayenzymes can be used for diagnosis and therapy. Finally, he looks at the many varied ways in which individual enzymes, taken out of their biological context, are used nowadays as tools - in washing powders, food production, waste treatment, and chemical synthesis.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Review Quote

"This book would be an excellent accompaniment to an undergraduate biology student or someone with a scientific background who wishes to know more about enzymology.

Feature

Explains what enzymes are, what they do and how they do itConsiders the role of enzymes both in our bodies and cells, and also as tools in washing powders, food production, waste treatment, and chemical synthesisDescribes contemporary applications of cloned enzymes for a multitude of industrial and medical usesPart of the Very Short Introductions series - over ten million copies sold worldwide

New Feature

Acknowledgements List of illustrations 1. No enzymes, no life 2. Making things happen 3. Making things happen 4. Nuts and bolts 5. Molecular machines 6. Metabolic pathways and enzyme evolution 7. Enzymes and disease 8. Enzymes as tools Further reading Index

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