This volume presents a discussion of the biological effects produced following the metabolism of xenobiotic chemicals to chemically reactive metabolites, that is, toxic and carcinogenic effects, which have been the basis of all five earlier volumes in this series. In particular, this volume devotes sections to structure-activity relationships, advances in the understanding of the chemistry of reactive metabolites, and the generation and activity of reactive oxygen species with special emphasis on nitric oxide. There are also segments on DNA damage by reactive metabolites and DNA repair,...

Historically we have separated the disciplines of Chemistry and Biochemistry by recognizing that the distinguishing characteristic of Biochemistry is the catalysis of reactions by enzymes. Enzymes permit metabolic reactions which would otherwise require extremes of temperature, pressure or pH, often associated with Chemistry, to proceed under ambient conditions of the body. Under some conditions chemical reactions occur in vivo in which products of enzymatic reactions proceed to undergo further reactions non- enzymatically with cellular macromolecules. The results can often be seen as toxic...