Chemical Aspects of Biosynthesis

About this book

This clear, straightforward text provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the chemistry involved in the biosynthesis of natural products. It explains the connections between the primary and secondary metabolites, outlines the chemistry mediated by the major enzyme cofactors, and describes the methods for the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways. The different classes of metabolites are then discussed, with an emphasis on the pharmacological and toxicological significance of the various compounds. The ecological significance of a wide variety of natural products is also examined.Contents:Introduction1 Fatty acids and derivatives2 Polyketides3 Terpenoids and steroids: the isoprenoids4 The shikimic acid pathway: biosynthesis of phenols, lignans, flavonoids, etc.5 Alkaloids6 Ecological chemistryReferences and further readingIndex

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