Based on the Second Edition of Marks' Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach, Marks' Essentials of Medical Biochemistry has been streamlined to focus on only the most essential biochemical concepts important to medical students. The authors present facts and pathways to emphasize how the underlying biochemistry is related to the body's overall physiological functions. This text presents patients to the students as the biochemistry is being discussed, which strengthens the link between biochemistry and medicine and allows the student to learn about this interaction as the biochemistry is presented. Each chapter includes clinical and biochemical notes and comments, questions and answers to encourage further thinking, and suggested references for those who would like to pursue a particular topic in more depth.

FUEL METABOLISM

An Overview of Fuel Metabolism

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Water, Acids, Bases, and Buffers

Structures of the Major Compounds of the Body

Amino Acids in Proteins

Structure-Function Relationships in Proteins

Enzymes as Catalysts

Regulation of Enzymes

Cell Structure and Signaling by Chemical Messengers

GENE EXPRESSION AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

Structure of the Nucleic Acids

Synthesis of DNA

Transcription: Synthesis of RNA

Translation: Synthesis of Proteins

Regulation of Gene Expression

Use of Recombinant DNA Techniques in Medicine

OXIDATIVE METABOLISM AND THE GENERATION OF ATP

Cellular Bioenergetics: ATP and O2

Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle

Oxidative Phosphorylation, Mitochondrial Function, and Oxygen Radicals

Generation of ATP from Glucose: Glycolysis

Oxidation of Fatty Acids and Ketone Bodies

CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM

Basic Concepts in the Regulation of Fuel Metabolism by Insulin, Glucagons and Other Hormones

Digestion, Absorption, and Transport of Carbohydrates

Formation and Degradation of Glycogen

Pathways of Sugar Metabolism: Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Fructose and Galactose Metabolism

Synthesis of Glycosides, Lactose, Glycoproteins, and Glycolipids

Gluconeogenesis and Maintenance of Blood Glucose Levels

LIPID METABOLISM

Digestion and Transport of Dietary Lipids

Synthesis of Fatty Acids, Triacylglycerols, and the Major Membrane Lipids

Cholesterol Absorption, Synthesis, Metabolism and Fate

Integration of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism

NITROGEN METABOLISM

Protein Digestion and Amino Acid Absorption

Fate of Amino Acid Nitrogen: Urea Cycle

Synthesis and Degradation of Amino Acids

Tetrahydrofolate, Vitamin B12, and S-Adenosylmethionine

Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism

Intertissue Relationships in the Metabolism of Amino Acids