The chemistry and biochemistry of carbohydrates have become key research areas throughout the world. This text brings together a range of contributors, each working in carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry, to provide a review of these areas. As a distinct chemical group, the carbohydrates, comprising mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides and their derivatives, are the most abundant group of natural products. From simple monosaccharides produced in photosynthesis to polysaccharides built in complex biochemical reactions, carbohydrates are produced in huge quantities by plant and animal life. Apart from dietary and structural uses in plants and animals, it is now well established that carbohydrates play a number of other key roles in living systems. From cell-cell recognition to hormonal activities, carbohydrates are implicated in a wide range of cellular processes. This new understanding has forced the study of carbohydrates to the forefront of modern chemical research. For example, the nature of the role of carbohydrates in living systems offers the potential to provide important lead compounds in the development of new bioactive molecules.
Similarly, the relative abundance of carbohydrates is prompting research aimed at utilizing simple monosaccharides as starting materials for a range of high value chemical products, offering a renewable alternative to current starting materials. The book should be of interest to chemists, biochemists and biologists.