PREFACE
Metal ions play a unique role in
biology. One of the grand challenges of the 21st century is to deduce
how a specific sequence codes for a metalloprotein.
Such knowledge of genomic maps will contribute to the goal of
understanding the molecular mechanisms of life. Specific annotations to a
sequence often allude to the requirement of metals for protein function, but it
is not yet possible to read that information from sequence alone. This increases
the importance of the field of biological inorganic chemistry.
Knowledge coming from work at the interface of inorganic chemistry and
biology has been growing so rapidly in recent years that it is impossible to
capture it fully in a textbook. Nevertheless, with the help of many highly
talented contributors, we have assembled a volume that we believe will be a
valuable resource for students and researchers for years.
The book is divided into four
parts: Part A, “Overviews of Biological Inorganic
Chemistry”, sets forth the unifying principles of the field of Biological
Inorganic Chemistry. Part B, “Metal-Ion Containing Biological Systems”,
treats specific classes of systems in detail. The Tutorials are provided for
those wishing to review some of the background in biology and inorganic
chemistry. The Appendices provide additional information that will be of use to
students in this field. The volume edited by Que (see Appendix III) can be viewed as
a companion to the current volume as it provides an introduction to the physical
methods that have proven so powerful in elucidating structure and mechanism.
The Editors
2006
