This is a fascinating introduction to the topic. Spanning the spectrum of nucleic acid chemistry, carbohydrates, peptides, molecular recognition, biosynthesis and natural biosynthesis, right up to medical and biophysical chemistry, the book provides advanced students and those already working in the field with a balanced overview. In more than 30 contributions, a new generation of recognized scientists gives an account of the latest research in such areas as * Artificial receptors for the stabilization of ?-sheet structures * Carbohydrate recognition by artificial receptors * Combinatorial chemistry as a tool for the discovery of catalysts * The interaction of NO and peroxynitrite with hemoglobin and myoglobin * Inhibitors against human mast-cell-tryptase as a potential approach to conquering asthma * The selectivity of DNA replication. A readily accessible survey for everyone wishing to stay abreast of developments. With a Foreword by Ronald Breslow.

Carsten Schmuck is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Würzburg. He studied chemistry and obtained his PhD at the Ruhr-University in Bochum. After a postdoctorate at Columbia University in New York, he carried out his Habilitation at the University of Cologne and joined the Unviersity of Würzburg as associate professor in 2002.

Helma Wennemers is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Basel. She studied chemistry at the Johann Wolfgand Goethe-University in Frankfurt and obtained her PhD at the Columbia University in New York. After a postdoctorate at Nagoya University in Japan she joined the University of Basel as assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2003.

STRUCTURE OF BIOMOLECULES b-amino acids in Nature: Biosynthesis and Biology Artificial receptors for the stabilization of b-sheet structures Conformational equilibria of RNA Conformational restriction of sphingolipids Stabilization of peptide-microstructures by coordniation of metal ions Synthesis and application of proline and piccolic acid derivatives: tools for stabilization of peptide secondary structures. INTERMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS (BINDING) Artificial rotary motors at the molecular level Carbohydrate recognition by artificial receptors Synthetic approaches to study carbohydrate-lectin interactions Cyclopeptides as macrocyclic host molecules for charged guests Combinatorial chemistry as a tool for the development of molecular receptors for small peptides The design of new binding motifs for c-terminal peptides INTERACTION OF SMALL MOLECULES WITH BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (FUNCTION) Modulation of biochemical processes by synthetic hosts for substrates Interaction of NO and peroxynitrite with hemoglobin and myoglobin Oxidative splitting of pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers Inhibitors against human mast-cell-tryptase: a potential approach to attack asthma? Selectivity of DNA replication Acridizinium salts and their photophysical interaction with DNA DNA-detection in homogeneous solution