The Machinery of Life

by Goodsell, David S.

• ISBN13: 9780387849249
• ISBN10: 0387849246
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-04-21
• Publisher: Copernicus Books

Summary

The Machinery of Life is a journey into the sub-microscopic world of molecular machines. Readers are introduced to the types of molecules built by cells, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides; then, in a series of full-color "watercolor" illustrations, which show a portion of a living cell magnified by 1,000,000 times, the reader is guided through the interior world of cells. The book explores the ways in which molecules work in concert to perform the processes of living, and how vitamins, viruses, poisons, and drugs each have their effects on the molecules in our bodies. The book is a fascinating introduction to biochemistry for the non-specialist, and combines a lucid text with an abundance of drawings and computer graphics that present the world of cells and their components in a truly unique way.This new edition has been updated to include the many major advances of the past decade, and is richly illustrated in full color throughout.About the Author/Illustrator:Dr. David S. Goodsell is Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA. His illustrations have become well known and now appear in many publications as the primary demonstration of the crowded nature of cells. He has also provided expertise and illustrations to many science museums, most recently acting as a "thinking partner' for a new multi-site nanotechnology initiative headed in part by the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
A Matter of Scale	p. 3
The Molecular World	p. 4
Molecular Machines	p. 9
Nucleic Acids	p. 13
Proteins	p. 17
Lipids	p. 19
Polysaccharides	p. 23
The Strange World of Molecules in Cells	p. 25
The Processes of Living	p. 29
Building Molecules	p. 30
Harnessing Energy	p. 40
Protection and Perception	p. 45
Molecules in Cells: Escherichia coli	p. 53
The Protective Barrier	p. 54
Building New Proteins	p. 59
Powering the Cell	p. 63
Cellular Propellers	p. 65
Molecular Warfare	p. 67
A Human Cell: The Advantages of Compartments	p. 71
The Human Body: The Advantages of Specialization	p. 83
Infrastructure and Communication	p. 84
Muscle	p. 87
Blood	p. 92
Nerves	p. 101
Life and Death	p. 109
Ubiquitin and the Proteasome	p. 110
DNA Repair	p. 112
Telomeres	p. 114
Programmed Cell Death	p. 116
Cancer	p. 118
Aging	p. 120
Death	p. 124
Viruses	p. 127
Poliovirus and Rhinovirus	p. 129
Influenza Virus	p. 132
Human Immunodeficiency Virus	p. 133
Vaccines	p. 135
You and Your Molecules	p. 141
Vitamins	p. 142
Broad-Spectrum Poisons	p. 146
Bacterial Toxins	p. 148
Antibiotic Drugs	p. 150
Drugs and Poisons of the Nervous System	p. 154
You and Your Molecules	p. 156
Atomic Coordinates	p. 157
Additional Reading	p. 159
Index	p. 161
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.