Biochemistry of the Nucleic Acids

• 1 Introduction.- 2 The structure of the nucleic acids.- 3 Genomes of eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses: chromosome organization.- 4 Degradation and modification of nucleic acids.- 5 The metabolism of nucleotides.- 6 Replication of DNA.- 7 Repair, recombination and rearrangement of DNA.- 8 The arrangement of genes.- 9 RNA biosynthesis.- 10 Control of transcription.- 11 Processing of RNA transcripts and its control.- 12 The translation of mRNA: protein synthesis.- Appendix: methods of studying nucleic acids.- A.1 Occurrence and chemical analysis.- A.1.1 Chemical determination of nucleic acids in tissues.- A.1.2 Analysis of base composition and nearest-neighbour frequency.- A.1.3 Estimation of the molecular weight of DNA.- A.2 Isolation and separation of nucleic acids.- A.2.1 Isolation and separation of DNA.- A.2.2 Isolation and separation of RNA.- A.3 Hybridization of nucleic acids.- A.4 Methods of labelling nucleic acids.- A.4.1 General labelling methods.- A.4.2 End-labelling methods.- A.5 Determination of nucleic acid sequences.- A.5.1 Determination of DNA sequences.- A.5.2 Determination of RNA sequences.- A.6 Restriction mapping of DNA.- A.7 The polymerase chain reaction.- A.8 Cloning DNA.- A.8.1 The principles.- A.8.2 The major cloning vectors.- A.8.3 cDNA cloning.- A.8.4 Genomic cloning.- A.9 Analysis and manipulation of cloned DNA.- A.9.1 Mapping of RNA transcripts.- A.9.2 Identification of regions of DNA that interact with proteins.- A.9.3 Expression.- A.10 Chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides.- A.11 Cell-free systems for transcription and translation.- A.12 The use of inhibitors in the study of gene expression.- References.

'With its emphasis on the biochemistry that has led to so much of our knowledge of nucleic acids, this text is a valuable complement to other works that concentrate on the contribution made by more genetic approaches.' Nature 'This book is very readable with helpful diagrmas, and an extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter; thus it is useful not only for third year undergraduate courses, but also as a basic reference book.' New Scientist 'The authors have contiued to select their material to fulfil the requirements of advanced undergraduate, and graduate, students in biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology ... The book is very readable and profusely illustrated, and embraces most of the current trends in molecular biology.' Febs Letters