Amino Acid and Peptide Synthesis

The control and regulatory mechanisms of biological processes aredependent on peptides and proteins which are derived from a-amino acids. Thereare now many peptides or derivatives in use as medicines, for example, asantibiotics, or to control blood pressure, or as anti-cancer agents. For thisreason a-amino acid and peptide chemistry is central to organic chemistry andtheir synthesis is a core topic of most courses. The study of amino acids andpeptides continues to become increasingly important to chemists because of thegrowing overlap of mainstream organic chemistry with bioorganic chemistry andbiochemistry.This is a thoroughly updated edition of one of the best selling titles in theOxford Chemistry Primer series. John Jones provides an excellent, easy to readintroduction to amino acid and peptide synthesis aimed at second and final yearstudents. The text begins with a brief survey of the role and diversity of aminoacids, peptides, and proteins in nature, and goes on to describe and explain theprincipal methods of chemical synthesis. With its emphasis on chemicalprinciples and strategies rather than detailed technical matters, the book willbe essential reading for all students of chemistry with an interest in thisfield.

John Jones has been working and teaching in organic (especially peptide) chemistry at Oxford for over thirty years. He is on the Council of the European Peptide Society and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Peptide Science.