Customer Reviews

Catalysis in Chemistry and Enzymology

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jencks' classic tome "catalysis in chemistry and enzymology" gives such insights into the mechanisms of enzymes which many people are still working with. it's hard to believe this book is as old as it is, given how insightful the material remains.

this should be on the desk of every biochemist and enzymologist, it is that important. what jencks clearly outlines are how the major forms of enzyme reactions work, what their mechanisms are, and how these reactions are catalyzed in terms of kinetics and thermodynamics. only a handful of people can write so clearly and authoritatively, and jencks is near the head of that class. in graduate school i read through this and i am glad i did. i was empowered with insights and knowledge i haven't found elsewhere. on more than one occassion this saved my bacon.

the layout of the book is not only natural but extremely effective. you'll find it easy to navigate and study.

my only complaints with the dover edition is the quality of the binding. given the size of the book, you'll have to crack it open and the binding will weaken. be careful with the book, it's possible you'll wind up with pages falling out afer a few years.

the dover edition is nice in that it adds an important paper by jenck on enzyme-ligand interactions and their energetics (from 1975). don't let the date of this book put you off, it's as relevant as any book from the past five years if not moreso. everyone builds on this, and no one has yet surpassed this material.

Enzymology was developed in the hands of chemists and can be best appreciated and understood by chemists. That generation set the foundation of enzymology with great elegance and immense patience in a rather artistic and poetic manner.

I was happy enough to reach this book in 2001. Not too late in a career. Its written style is clear and crispy much like running mountain creeks. The insights by the author demonstrate a deep harmony of the theories, experiments and understandings.

Enzymology is not equal to kinetics plus site-specific mutations; enzymology means much more than that. Time has changed and some claims are too easily made. However the true values go on to hold
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To be serious in enzymology and catalysis, one needs to read this book a few times.

By then it would be hard to claim an enzymologist.