SYNTHESIS IN LIPID CHEMISTRY (Special Publications)

Recent achievements in the synthesis of lipids and long-chain fatty acids have often escaped mention in texts dealing with more general aspects of organic chemistry. Yet the synthesis of lipids is an important area of research, leading to the production of beneficial natural products. The therapeutic value of lipidic compounds in human diseases is well known from the time of their use in the treatment of leprosy. In particular, trierucin, better known as 'Lorenzo's Oil', is an example of a novel use of lipids in the treatment of disease. Chapters in this book deal with the properties of lipids in cell walls and their implications for the treatment of cancer. The book contains contributions from three main areas of the subject, firstly glycerides and fatty acids, secondly phospholipids and glycolipids, and thirdly biological, biotechnological and pheromone chemistry. Chapters describe the methodology for isotopically labelling fatty acids for the purposes of disease diagnosis, and for obtaining polyunsaturated fats from new source materials. The book also covers the factors influencing plant biosynthesis of lipids, in particular the effect of herbicides on lipid metabolism. Industrial applications for the chemistry of long-chain fatty acids are also examined. This fascinating book provides a lively look at the current state of the synthesis of lipids, and the wide range of their applications in medicine, nutrition and industry. The book offers a rare opportunity to examine progress in the methodology of lipid synthesis, and provides a stimulating look at what can and might be achieved with these versatile products.