Page 14 - The Biochemistry of Inorganic Polyphosphates

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PREFACE Char Count= 0

This book is devoted to the current problems of biochemistry of inorganic polyphosphates
(PolyPs), linear polymers of orthophosphoric acid, which are important regulatory biopoly-
mers widespread in living organisms. The great progress in the field of PolyP biochemistry
over the last 15 to 20 years has contributed much to the appearance of this second edition.
The topics of this text include the following:
Data on the chemical structure and properties of condensed inorganic phosphates.

Comparative analysis of the methods of PolyP investigation in biological materials.

Data on PolyP distribution in living organisms.

Localization and forms of PolyPs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Characteristics of the known enzymes of PolyP metabolism.

Description of the functions of PolyPs and PolyP-dependent enzymes, in particular, such

important functions as phosphate and energy reservation, sequestration and storage of
cations, formation of membrane channels, involvement in cell envelope formation and
function, gene activity control, regulation of enzyme activities, participation in stress
response, and stationary phase adaptation.
In addition, some chapters will be devoted to such problems as the peculiarities of PolyP
metabolism in different organisms, applied aspects of PolyP biochemistry, and a discussion
of the possible place of inorganic PolyPs in chemical and biological evolution.
The originality of this present edition lies in a comprehensive presentation of the modern
concepts of PolyP biochemistry, including a comparative description of PolyP metabolism
in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, i.e. the role of these compounds in the cells of organisms
at different stages of evolution, and offers a critical analysis of the methods of isolation
and quantitative assessment of these compounds and methods of studying PolyP-dependent
enzymes. The contemporary literature on these problems is presented to its maximal extent.
The book may therefore serve as a manual for researchers in this field, and in particular, as
a textbook.
I. S. Kulaev, V. M. Vagabov and T. V. Kulakovskaya
Moscow Region
Russian Federation

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