Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, 28e

Preface

The authors and publisher are pleased to present the twentyeighth edition of Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry. This edition features for the first time multiple color images, many entirely new, that vividly emphasize the ever-increasing complexity of biochemical knowledge. The cover picture of green fluorescent protein (GFP), which recognizes the award of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Martin Chalfie, Roger Y. Tsien, and Osamu Shimomura, reflects the book’s emphasis on new developments. Together with its derivatives, GFP fulfills an ever-widening role in tracking protein movement in intact cells and tissues, and has multiple applications to cell biology, biochemistry and medicine.

In this edition, we bid a regretful farewell to long-time author and editor, Daryl Granner. In 1983, in preparation forthe 20th edition, Daryl was asked to write new chapters on the endocrine system and the molecular mechanism of hormones, which he did with great success. He assumed responsibility for the chapters on membranes, protein synthesis and molecular biology in the 21st edition, and wrote a highly informative new chapter on the then emerging field of recombinant DNA technology. Over the ensuing 25 years, through the 27th edition, Daryl continuously revised his chapters to provide concise, instructive descriptions of these rapidly changing, complex fields. Daryl’s editorial colleagues express their gratitude for his many invaluable contributions as an author, editor and a friend, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

David Bender, Kathleen Botham, Peter Kennelly, and Anthony Weil, formerly co-authors, are now full authors. Rob Murray gratefully acknowledges the major contributions of Peter Gross, Fred Keeley, and Margaret Rand to specific chapters, and thanks Reinhart Reithmeier, Alan Volchuk, and David B. Williams for reviewing and making invaluable suggestions for the revision of Chapters 40 and 46. In addition, he is grateful to Kasra Haghighat and Mohammad Rassouli-Rashti for reading and suggesting improvements to Chapter 54.