Ideas in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

Ideas in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences gives an account of the most recent results of research in life sciences in Europe based on a selection of leading young scientists participating in the 2008 European Young Chemists Award competition. In addition to this, the authors provide the state of the art of their field of research and the perspective or preview of future directions.

This volume represents one of the three edited by inviting a selection of young researchers participating to the European Young Chemist Award 2008. The other two volumes concern the two different areas of Synthetic Chemistry and Nanotechnology/Material Science and are respectively entitled "Ideas in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences: Advances in Synthetic Chemistry" and "Ideas in Molecular Sciences: Advances in Nanotechnology, Materials and Devices".This book contains the contributions of selected young chemists from the field of life sciences. The contributions are grouped under the following umbrella topics:* Biochemical studies* Drug delivery* Research in therapeutics* Enzyme chemistry* Structure-property relationship and biosensingThis volume is an indispensable read for all Biochemists, Molecular Biologists, Organic Chemists, Pharmaceutical Chemists, Medicinal Chemists interested in seeing what tomorrow's chemistry will look like.

PrefacePART I: Biochemical StudiesTHE ROLE OF COPPER ION AND THE UBIQUITIN SYSTEM IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERSIntroductionMetal Ions in the BrainBrain Copper HomeostasisBrain Copper and Neurodegenerative DisordersThe Role ob Ubiquitin in Protein DegradationFailure of the Ubiquitin System in Neurodegenerative DisordersInteraction of Ubiquitin with Metal IonsBiological ImplicationsConclusions and PerspectivesTHE BIOINORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY OF COPPER(III)IntroductionBioinorganic Implications of Copper(III)Organometallic CuIII Species in Organic TransformationsMiscellany: Cuprate Superconducting MaterialsOverview and Future TargetsCHEMICAL PROTEIN MODIFICATIONIntroducing Diversity by Posttranslational ModificationChemistry: A Route to Modified ProteinsChallenges in Chemical Protein ModificationTraditional Methods for Protein ModificationRecent Innovations in Site-Selective Protein ModificationConclusion and OutlookPART II: Drug DeliveryVITAMIN B12: A POTENTIAL TARGETING MOLECULE FOR THERAPEUTIC DRUG DELIVERYIntroductionTransport MechanismMetabolism of B12Vitamin B12 DerivativesOutlookSTRATEGIES FOR MICROSPHERE-MEDIATED CELLULAR DELIVERYIntroductionMicrospheresFuture PerspectivesPART III: Research in TherapeuticsFUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES IN RADIATION DAMAGE TO DNA: HOW LOW-ENERGY ELECTRONS DAMAGE BIOMOLECULESRadiation Damage and the Role of Low-Energy ElectronsDEA Studies on Model Compounds for the DNA BackboneOutlook and Future ProspectsSTRUCTURE-BASED DESIGN ON THE WAY TO NEW ANTI-INFECTIVESIntroductionIsoprenoids and the Nonmevalonate PathwayTargeting the CDP-Binding Pocket of IspEX-Ray Cocrystal Structure AnalysisConclusions and OutlookDRUG-MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THERAPEUTIC AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGSBiological MembranesDrug-Membrane InteractionsAnalysis and Quantification of Drug-Membrane InteractionsDrug-Membrane Interactions Applied to the Study of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)Conclusions and Future Research DirectionsTARGETING DISEASE WITH SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS OF PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONSIntroductionHigh-Throughput Screening of Chemical LibrariesHigh-Throughput Screening of Biosynthesized LibrariesFuture DirectionCRACKING THE GLYCOCODE: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN GLYCOMICSState of the ArtSome New Insights in GlycomicsFuture PerspectivesPART IV: Enzyme ChemistryO2 REACTIVITY AT MODEL COPPER SYSTEMS: MIMICKING TYROSINASE ACTIVITYGeneral Introduction: O2 Activation and Model SystemsCopper Proteins Involved in O2 ActivationO2 Binding and Activation at Biomimetic Cu ComplexesConcluding RemarksPART V: Structure-Property Relationship and BiosensingCHIRALITY IN BIOCHEMISTRY: A COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH FOR INVESTIGATING BIOMOLECULE CONFORMATIONSIntroductionComputational Techniques for Studying Protein DynamicsEmploying Chirality to Analyze Protein MotionsPerspectivesCOLLISIONAL MECHANISM-BASED E-DNA SENSORS: A GENERAL PLATFORM FOR LABEL-FREE ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF HYBRIDIZATION AND DNA BINDING PROTEINSIntroductionE-DNA Signaling MechanismE-DNA Sensor for DNA Binding Proteins DetectionConclusions and Future Perspectives