Chemistry of Fungi
| Series: | Industrial biotechnology |
| Publisher: | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Subject: | Fungal metabolites. |
| Authors: | James R. Hanson |
| Pages: | 221 pages |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| ISBN: | 9780854041367 |
| Call No: | QR 84. H238 2008 |
Fungi occupy an important place in the natural world, as non-photosynthetic organisms, they obtain their nutrients from the degradation of organic material. They use many of their secondary metabolites to secure a place in a competitive natural environment and to protect themselves from predation. The diverse structures, bio syntheses and biological activities of fungal metabolites have attracted chemists for many years. Fungi are ubiquitous and their activities affect many aspects of our daily lives whether it be as sources of pharmaceuticals and food or as spoilage organisms and the causes of diseases in plants and man. The chemistry of the fungi involved in these activities has been the subject of considerable study particularly over the last fifty years.