The nature and significance of degradative processes

Abstract

This book concerns primarily intracellular degradation reactions, which are undergone by most biological molecules. It concentrates on the breakdown of macromolecules (such as the polymeric carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins). Most smaller biological molecules undergo several such reactions too (such as oxidation, de-amination, etc) These constitute the classical metabolic pathways, and will not be discussed here in any detail. Instead, the release of such small molecules from the breakdown of the complex cellular macromolecules is considered. Digestion of food in specialized organs of multicellular organisms (such as the alimentary canal of man) is given brief mention, but the degradation of endogenously generated molecules is the central topic of the book.