Includes bibliographical references and index.

Molecules and life -- Part I Conformation and dynamics: exemplified by the relation between the three-dimensional structure of proteins and their biological activities: Introduction to protein structure and function -- Oxygen transporters: myoglobin and hemoglobin -- Hemoglobin: an allosteric protein -- Molecular disease: sickle-cell anemia -- Introduction to enzymes -- Mechanisms of enzyme action: lysozyme and carboxypeptidase -- Zymogen activation: digestive enzymes and clotting factors -- Connective-tissue proteins: collagen, elastin and proteoglycans -- Introduction to biological membranes -- Part II Generation and storage of metabolic energy: Metabolism: basic concepts and design -- Glycolysis -- Citric acid cycle -- Oxidative phosphorylation -- Pentose phosphate pathway and gluconeogenesis -- Glycogen and disaccharide metabolism -- Fatty acid metabolism -- Amino acid degradation and the urea cycle -- Photosynthesis -- Part III Biosynthesis of macromolecular precursors: Biosynthesis of membrane lipids and steroid hormones -- Biosynthesis of amino acids and heme -- Biosynthesis of nucleotides -- Integration of metabolism -- Part IV Information: storage, transmission and expression of genetic information: DNA: genetic role, structure and replication -- Messenger RNA and transcription -- The genetic code and gene-protein relations -- Protein synthesis -- Control of gene expression -- Eucaryotic chromosomes and gene expression -- Viruses -- Gene rearrangements: recombination, transposition and cloning -- Part V Molecular physiology: interaction of information, conformation and metabolism in physiological processes: Bacterial cell envelopes -- Immunoglobulins -- Muscle contraction and cell motility -- Hormone action -- Membrane transport -- Excitable membranes and sensory systems.