Found in all organisms, the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes have
central roles in cellular metabolism and are major sites of regulation.
The understanding of the organization, function and regulation of these
quintessential multienzyme complexes has been greatly advanced by
studies employing molecular biology and biophysical techniques. Although
these enzyme systems have some features in common, their diversity in
fulfilling unique organism - or tissue - specific roles is truly
amazing. These systems have medical importance in areas ranging from
defects in regulation (linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity,
nutrition defects), to inherited diseases (inborn errors, maple syrup
urine disease) to acquired immune diseases (primary biliary cirrhosis).
This book brings together wide-ranging recent findings on the
structure(function relationships, gene regulation, and genetic defects
of the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes, namely the pyruvate
dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the branched-chain
alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes. A wide variety of experimental
approaches together with new results presented in this book should serve
as a resource for beginning to established investigators in the field as
well as scientists who are interested in mitochondria, dehydrogenases,
kinases, phosphatases, lipoic acid, thiamine pyrophosphate, and enzyme
complexes.