edited by Zhang Li (The University of Texas at Dallas, USA)

Table of Contents (69k)
Preface (64k)
Chapter 1: Introduction (122k)

This invaluable book provides the first description of the diverse and fascinating functions of heme in life processes for a broad audience. It begins with an introduction to the intricate chemical properties of heme and the history of early observations of human diseases associated with heme. It then proceeds to describe the versatile roles of heme in controlling diverse molecular and cellular processes germane to human life and disease processes. Finally, an up-to-date review of human diseases associated with heme synthesis and application of heme synthesis in photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment is presented.

Heme biology is unified and logical in presentation. It is well suited for students and professionals in life sciences who wish to comprehend the fascinating biology of heme and its usefulness in health and diseases. It may also be used as a reference book for advanced readers and researchers who are interested in heme biology. The explanations in the book are detailed enough to capture the interest of the curious reader, and complete enough to provide the necessary information for researchers to have an in-depth molecular understanding of heme biology and further their studies in this fascinating realm.

• Introduction (Li Zhang)
• Heme Biosynthesis and Degradation: What Happens when it goes Haywire? (Li Zhang and Rebekah Sessoms)
• Heme: An Ingenious Regulator of Gene Transcription (Li Zhang)
• Heme-Regulated eIF2α Kinase in Translation and Erythropoiesis (Jane-Jane Chen and Rajasekhar NVS Suragani)
• Role of Heme in Brain Functions: Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde? (Tatyana Chernova and Andrew G Smith)
• Heme and microRNA Biogenesis (Feng Guo)
• The Vast Potential of Heme in Regulating Biological Processes: A Global Perspective (Li Zhang, Aaron Arvey, Donovan Pham Huynh and Christina Leslie)
• The Chemical and Structural Bases of Heme Recognition: Binding Interactions of Heme with Proteins and Peptides (Y Li and Li Zhang)
• Clinical Applications of Heme Biosynthetic Pathway: Photodynamic Therapy with Protoporphyrin IX (Huiying Ding, Baran D Sumer and Jinming Gao)