Biochemistry of the Essential Ultratrace Elements

The remarkable development of molecular biology has had its counterpart in an impressive growth of a segment of biology that might be described as atomic biology. The past several decades have witnessed an explosive growth in our knowledge of the many elements that are essential for life and maintenance of plants and animals. These essential elements include the bulk elements (hydro gen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur), the macrominerals (sodium, potas sium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphorus), and the trace elements. This last group includes the ultra trace elements and iron, zinc, and copper. Only the ultratrace elements are featured in this book. Iron has attracted so much research that two volumes are devoted to this metal-The Biochemistry of Non-Heme Iron by A. Bezkoravainy, Plenum Press, 1980, and The Biochemistry of Heme Iron (in preparation). Copper and zinc are also represented by a separate volume in this series. The present volume begins with a discussion of essentiality as applied to the elements and a survey of the entire spectrum of possible required elements.

Contenu

1. A Survey of the Essential Biochemical Elements.- 1.1 Essentiality.- 1.2 A Survey of the Biochemistry of the Elements.- 1.3 Mechanism of Action of the Essential Ultratrace Elements.- 1.4 Summary.- General References.- Specific References.- 2. The Discovery of the Essential Trace Elements: An Outline of the History of Biological Trace Element Research.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Classification of the Bioelements.- 2.3 The Concept of Essentiality.- 2.4 Trace Element Discoveries from 1925 to 1956.- 2.5 Discoveries from 1956 to 1978: The Era of Klaus Schwarz.- 2.6 Current Trends and Problems.- References.- 3. Iodine.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Chemistry of Iodine and Iodoamino Acids.- 3.3 Iodine Metabolism.- 3.4 Mechanism of Action of Thyroid Hormones.- 3.5 Summary.- References.- 4. Fluorine.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Fluoride in Cells and Tissues.- 4.3 Fluoride Deficiency and Function.- 4.4 Metabolism and Toxicity of Fluoride.- 4.5 Summary.- References.- 5. Manganese.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Manganese Concentration in Animal Tissues.- 5.3 Metabolism of Manganese.- 5.4 Biochemistry of Manganese.- 5.5 Manganese Nutrition.- 5.6 Manganese Toxicity.- 5.7 Manganese in Relation to Immunocompetence and Cancer.- 5.8 Summary.- References.- 6. Cobalt.- 6.1 Introduction and History.- 6.2 Cobalt and Its Compounds in Cells and Tissues.- 6.3 Cobalt Deficiency and Function.- 6.4 Metabolism and Toxicity of Cobalt.- 6.5 Conclusion.- References.- 7. Molybdenum.- 7.1 Introduction and History.- 7.2 Molybdenum and Its Compounds in Cells and Tissues.- 7.3 Nutritional Aspects of Molybdenum.- 7.4 Conclusion.- 7.5 Summary.- References.- 8. Chromium.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Chromium: Physical and Chemical Properties.- 8.3 Biologically Active Chromium.- 8.4 Absorption and Transport of Chromium.- 8.5 Chromium Occurrence in Blood, Tissues, and Hair.- 8.6 Chromium Excretion.- 8.7 Functions of Chromium and Signs of Chromium Deficiency.- 8.8 Factors Affecting Chromium Metabolism.- 8.9 Chromium and Stress.- 8.10 Dietary Requirements of Chromium.- 8.11 Effects of Chromium Supplementation.- 8.12 Toxicity of Chromium.- 8.13 Summary.- References.- 9. Selenium.- 9.1 Introduction and History.- 9.2 Selenium and its Compounds in Cells and Tissues.- 9.3 Selenium Deficiency and Function.- 9.4 Metabolism and Toxicity of Selenium.- 9.5 Summary.- References.- 10. Vanadium.- 10.1 Introduction and History.- 10.2 Vanadium in Tissues.- 10.3 Vanadium Deficiency and Function.- 10.4 Vanadium Metabolism.- 10.5 Vanadium Toxicity.- 10.6 Summary.- References.- 11. Silicon.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Silicon in Tissues.- 11.3 Silicon Deficiency and Functions.- 11.4 Metabolism.- 11.5 Toxicity.- 11.6 Summary.- References.- 12. Nickel.- 12.1 Introduction and History.- 12.2 Nickel and Its Compounds in Cells and Tissues.- 12.3 Nickel Deficiency.- 12.4 Nickel Function.- 12.5 Biological Interactions between Nickel and Other Trace Elements.- 12.6 Nickel Metabolism and Toxicity.- 12.7 Summary.- References.- 13. Tin.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Tin in Cells and Tissues.- 13.3 Deficiency and Function.- 13.4 Metabolism and Toxicity.- 13.5 Summary.- References.- 14. Arsenic.- 14.1 Introduction and History.- 14.2 Arsenic and Its Compounds in Cells and Tissues.- 14.3 Arsenic Deficiency and Interaction with Other Nutrients.- 14.4 Arsenic Function.- 14.5 Arsenic Metabolism.- 14.6 Arsenic Toxicity.- 14.7 Summary.- References.- 15. Cadmium.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Chemistry of Cadmium: Biological Perspectives.- 15.3 Evidence for the Possible Essentiality of Cadmium.- 15.4 Metabolism of Cadmium.- 15.5 Biochemical Effectsof Cadmium.- 15.6 Summary.- References.- 16. Lead.- 16.1 Introduction and History.- 16.2 Metabolism of Lead.- 16.3 Lead Deficiency.- 16.4 Toxicity of Lead.- 16.5 Conclusions.- References.- 17. Boron.- 17.1 Boron in Biology.- 17.2 Carbohydrate Metabolism.- 17.3 Hormone Action.- 17.4 Membrane Structure and Function.- 17.5 Nucleic Acid Biosynthesis.- 17.6 Summary.- References.