Over the past two decades there has been a remarkable increase in the recognition
of the salient importance and the wondrous complexity of the control of
enzyme catalysis. The modulation of enzymic and other protein-dependent
processes by protein phosphorylation or dephosphorylation has emerged as the
most widespread and important control achieved by covalent modification. So
much information has emerged that adequate coverage in two volumes (XVII
and XVIII) was a challenging task. The editors are gratified that the contributing
authors have commendably met this challenge.
The first portion of Volumes XVII and XVIII concerns the “machinery” of
control by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and includes coverage
of the major types of protein kinases and of phosphoprotein phosphatases. The
central core of the volumes presents chapters on the control of specific enzymes.
This is followed by a substantial final section on the control of biological
processes.