Progress in biological chirality: Title from e-book title screen (viewed Nov. 15, 2007)

Following on from Advances in BioChirality, Progress in Biological Chirality provides a unique summary and review of the most recent developments in the field of biochirality. Living organisms use only one enantiomer of chiral molecules in the majority of biologically important processes. The exact origin and mechanisms for this surprising selectivity are not yet known. This book discusses current research aimed at identifying the scientific reasons that may contribute to this phenomenon. Progress in Biological Chirality takes an interdisciplinary approach to this exciting field, covering a wide range of topics, such as, theory, palaeontology and food technology, to name but a few. This book presents findings via a broad spectrum of scientific approaches making it an excellent overview of Biological Chirality, suitable for postgraduate students, practitioners and researchers in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, palaeontology, and food science with an interest in Chirality. * This book contains 32 chapters written by Authors, who are leading authorities in the field * Presents the most recent research taking place in this highly challenging field * Contains both reference material for the specialist and provides an overview for those who are interested in the fundamental problems of biology and chemistry.

Origin of biomacromolecular homochirality : in search of evolutional dynamics / Vladik Avetisov -- Carbon monoxide clusters in the formation of D-sugars, L-amino acids, ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleic acids in prebiotic molecular evolution on earth / Nigel Aylward and Neville Bofinger -- Molecular clockworks as potential models for biological chirality / Lajos Bencze, Claudia Zucchi, Luciano Caglioti and Gyula Palyi -- Diasteromers do, what they should not do / Henri Brunner -- Molecular origins of life : homochirality as a consequence of the dynamic co-emergence and co-evolution of peptides and chemical energietics / Auguste Commeyras, Jacques Taillades, Helene Collet, Laurent Boiteau, Odile Vandenabeele-Trambouze, Robert Pascal, Herve Cottet, Raphael Plasson, Jean-Philippe Biron, Eddy Souaid, Laurence Garrel, Olivier Lagrille, Gregoire Danger, Jean-Christophe Rossi, Franck Selsis, Michel Dobrijevic and Herve Martin.

- Racemization of amino acids in hydrothermal environments : a contribution of temperature gradient / Koichiro Matsuno and Atsushi Nemoto -- The theory of chirality induction and chirality reduction in biomolecules / Paul G. Mezey -- Transfer of the chiral information of natural amino acids in biomimetic organic syntheses / Karoly Micskei, Csongor Hajdu, Tamas Patonay, Claudia Zucchi, Luciano Caglioti and Gyula Palyi -- CD and visual science / Koji Nakanishi, Nathan Fishkin and Nina Berova -- Volatile compounds in food aroma : biosynthesis and biotransformations / Franco Bellesia, Adriano Pinetti, Ugo M. Pagnoni, Riccardo Rinaldi, Claudia Zucchi, Luciano Caglioti and Gyula Palyi -- Origin of the biological chirality / N.M. Chernavskaya, D.S. Chernavsky and R.F. Polishchuk -- Chiral spaces in encapsulation complexes / Alessandro Scarso, Alexander Shivanyuk, Osamu Hayashida and Julius Rebek -- Serum albumin and natural products / Lorenzo Di Bari, Silvia Ripoli and Piero Salvadori.

- Selection in the abiotic synthesis of RNA using metal ion catalyst and template / Hiroaki Sawai -- Different internal gradients for L and D homochiral solutions in inhomogenous magnetic fields / Romulus Scorei and Vily Marius Cimpoiasu -- Tryptophanase activity on D-tryptophan / Akihiko Shimada, Noriko Fujii and Takeshi Saito -- Deviation from physical identity between D- and L-tyrosine / Meir Shinitzky, Avshalom C. Elitzur and David W. Deamer -- Occurrence of D-amino acids in food / Livia Simon Sarkadi -- Asymmetric autocatalysis, absolute asymmetric synthesis and origin of homochirality of biomolecules / Kenso Soai -- Charophyte gyrogonites, the result of enantioselective influence 250 million years ago / Ingeborg Soulie-Marsche -- Chirality transfer in the formation of the indole alkaloids derived from secologanin / Gyula Beke, Laszlo Karolyhazy, Agnes Patthy-Lukats, Benjamin Podanyi and Laszlo F. Szabo -- Origin of biological chirality / Tetsuyuki Yukawa.

- Use of amino acids and amino acid racemization for age determination in archaeometry / J. Csapo, M. Collins, Z. Csapo-Kiss, E. Varga-Visi, G. Pohn and J. Csapo, Jr. -- Enantiomeric enrichment in nonracemic conglomerates. a possible component of the solution to the problem of the origin of biochirality / Stanley I. Goldberg -- Genetic code : a self-referential and functional model / Romeu Cardoso Guimaraes and Carlos Henrique Costa Moreira -- Specific symmetry of living systems / Victor A. Gusev -- Origin of biomolecules : origin of homochirality / C. Hajdu and L. Keszthelyi -- Chiral crystal faces of common rock-forming minerals / Robert M. Hazen -- Implication of Polya's urn experiment in biochirality and cerebral lateralization / Noboru