Sweetness and Power


Book Description

A fascinating persuasive history of how sugar has shaped the world, from European colonies to our modern diets In this eye-opening study, Sidney Mintz shows how Europeans and Americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of capitalism and industry. He discusses the production and consumption of sugar, and reveals how closely interwoven are sugar's origins as a "slave" crop grown in Europe's tropical colonies with is use first as an extravagant luxury for the aristocracy, then as a staple of the diet of the new industrial proletariat. Finally, he considers how sugar has altered work patterns, eating habits, and our diet in modern times. "Like sugar, Mintz is persuasive, and his detailed history is a real treat." -San Francisco Chronicle




Essentials of Glycobiology


Book Description

Sugar chains (glycans) are often attached to proteins and lipids and have multiple roles in the organization and function of all organisms. "Essentials of Glycobiology" describes their biogenesis and function and offers a useful gateway to the understanding of glycans.







Bury the Chains


Book Description

This is the story of a handful of men, led by Thomas Clarkson, who defied the slave trade and ignited the first great human rights movement. Beginning in 1788, a group of Abolitionists moved the cause of anti-slavery from the floor of Parliament to the homes of 300,000 people boycotting Caribbean sugar, and gave a platform to freed slaves.




Sugar


Book Description

From Jewell Parker Rhodes, the author of Towers Falling and Ninth Ward (a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a Today show Al's Book Club for Kids pick) comes a tale of a strong, spirited young girl who rises beyond her circumstances and inspires others to work toward a brighter future. Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son. Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together. Here is a story of unlikely friendships and how they can change our lives forever.




Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)


Book Description

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced during pregnancy by the embryo. It promotes progesterone production by corpus luteal cells. It also functions in pregnancy to promote angiogenesis in uterine vasculature, it immuno-blands the invading placental tissue so it is not rejected by the maternal uterine tissues, promotes the growth of the uterus in line with the growth of the fetus, promotes the differentiation of growing cytotrophoblast cells, promotes the quiescence of contractions in the uterine myometrium during the course of pregnancy, and also has function in growth and development of fetal organs. The book describes the detailed biology, clinical chemistry, and clinical perspectives of hCG and associated molecules, and examines hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG and hCG free ß-subunit, 3 separate and independent molecules with totally sovereign physiological functions. It provides comprehensive information on hCG from basic science to clinical medicine Written by specialists in the field




Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis


Book Description

The Ninth International Conference on Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis was held for the first time in Asia from September 20 to September 24, 1992 in Otsu (a city near Kyoto), Japan. Approximately 400 delegates attended the meeting. Forty papers were presented orally and 147 poster presentations were discussed. Academic sessions were held from early in the morning until late in the evening. We are confident that the Conference was successful in providing up-to-date information about methods in protein sequence analysis to all participants. Moreover, with the knowledge and understanding of the present standard of various methods of analysis that are being used and will be used, we were able to clarify areas that need to be evaluated, to be improved and be explored further. Major topics in the Conference mostly covered areas in the methodology of protein sequence analysis, such as: micropreparation and microsequencing of proteins, mass spectrometry, post-translational modification, prediction and database analysis, and analysis of protein structures of special interests. The evolution of genetic engineering in molecular biology has greatly accelerated the accumulation of knowledge on the amino acid sequence of novel proteins regardless of whether they are expressed or not expressed in living organisms. In the early stage of accumulation of structural information, the amino acid sequence itself is worthy of notice.




Development and Recognition of the Transformed Cell


Book Description

The study of the phenotypic and genetic features that characterize the malignant cell is a rapidly growing and changing field. Clearly new insights into the processes involved in normal and abnormal cell growth will facilitate our understanding of events relevant to cancer and cellular differentiation. Early studies on genetic fea tures associated with cancer focused on chromosomal abnormalities that were observable in several human malignancies. The more recent examination of onco genes and the proteins they encode has helped pinpoint many steps in different processes that might be involved in cancer. Immunologic studies of cancer have also developed from an imprecise series of investigations to a more detailed molecular examination of cell-surface struc tures that can be recognized immunologically. In the course of the development of modern tumor immunology, it has become clear that many of the antigens that can be recognized appear to be the products of genes involved in cell growth. Fur thermore, changes in the cell surface of malignant cells have often been found to include alteration of nonprotein constituents.




Proteins: Form and Function


Book Description

Proteins are of fundamental importance in all aspects of cell structure and function. The study of proteins has always formed a central part of biochemistry, and recent expansion in the range and sophistication of available techniques has provided a wealth of new information. The current methods and approaches used to gain a better understanding of the structure of proteins are described within this book, while other articles focus on the role of proteins within the cell.Most of the articles have appeared previously in the monthly review journal Trends in Biochemical Sciences (TIBS), with a few commissioned specifically for this collection, which should appeal to students, lecturers and researchers interested in the form and function of proteins.




Glycoanalysis Protocols


Book Description

Now fully updated and considerably expanded, Glycoanalysis Protocols, 2nd ed., makes available to all protein scientists, and particularly those working with today's pharmaceuticals, the most advanced and reproducible glycoanalysis techniques currently in use. Developed by highly experienced carbohydrate chemists, biochemists, and physical chemists, these detailed, up-to-date, and proven analytical techniques cover the areas of glycoprotein macromolecular structural analysis, oligosaccharide profiling, lipid conjugate characterization, microorganism structure determination, and proteoglycan function. Special attention has been given to advanced analytical techniques in biotechnology during the production of recombinant glycoproteins and other therapeutics. Hailed as "indispensable" in its first edition, Glycoanalysis Protocols, 2nd ed., continues with vital, time-tested techniques addressing the needs of both biomedical researchers and protein macromolecular structural chemists. It will well serve all those starting work on the analysis of glycoproteins, as well as more experienced investigators seeking to augment their expertise.