Metal-Carbon Bonds in Enzymes and Cofactors

This volume is the 50th book in the two Sigels' series (44 in MIBS and 6 in MILS) and this is celebrated with a comprehensive Author Index given at the end of this Volume 6. Supported by nearly 1700 references and about 160 illustrations (many in color), Metal-Carbon Bonds in Enzymes and Cofactors highlights the function of these metal-carbon bonds in life, but also their importance in research. Written by 20 internationally recognized experts, 12 stimulating chapters provide an authoritative and timely resource for scientists working in the wide range from physical and inorganic biochemistry all the way through to physiology and medicine. This volume is devoted to naturally occurring metal-carbon bonds, a topic recently obtaining (again) significant momentum, largely - but not only - due to new insights gained with hydrogenases. The field started out about 50 years ago when coenzyme B12 was identified as organometallic derivative of vitamin B12. This moved the cobalt-carbon bond into the center of interest and consequently, the first two chapters of this book are devoted to the organometallic chemistry of B12 coenzymes and to the biochemistry of cobalamin- and corrinoid-dependent enzymes. B12 coenzymes are required in the metabolism of a broad range of organisms including humans; however, only microorganisms have the ability to biosynthesize B12 and other natural corrinoids. This fact alone, together with new metabolic insights (e.g., riboswitches), guarantees a continued fascination - not only for the B12 community.