Biochemistry

Collection Development Policy Statement

Library's Collection Development Objectives

Support faculty and student research and the curriculum through Doctor degree level in the disciplines of Biochemistry; also to support research projects and programs conducted on behalf of the researchers in the College of Basic Sciences; and to assist those involved in research in Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Institute for Mutagenesis, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana Agricultural Center and the Center for Coastal, Energy, & Environmental Resources (CCEER).

Curriculum Program Descriptions

The Department of Biochemistry is part of the College of Basic Sciences. There are nineteen faculty and all have Ph.D. degrees. There are seven adjunct professors. Listed below are the number of degrees awarded to students in Biochemistry for the past five years:

Degrees Awarded

E (Empty String)      - (Info unavailable)

The following degree programs are offered which the Library collection supports:

New and Expanding Areas of Interest

• Chloroplast biogenesis, especially the synthesis and transport of chloroplast proteins.
• Structural and functional properties of Photosystem II in cyanobacteria and higher plants.
• Signal transduction events in disease resistance.
• Biological investigations on the structure and function of metabolic enzymes.
• Regulation of tissue-specific expression of PFK applications of recombinant DNA technology on mechanisms of mutagenesis for environmental mutagens.
• Study of proteins that interact with nascent RNAs to process and package them within amphibian oocyte nuclei.
• Investigation of how nucleolin binds preribosomal RNA.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy of biological molecules.
• Nitrogen fixation. Metalloproteins.
• Clinical nutrition, prostaglandins, lipids, and signal transduction.
• Mass spectrometry in carbohydrate structural analysis.
• Chemistry of human fibronectins and their glycopeptides.
• Biosynthesis and function of cell-surface complex carbohydrates, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. Recombinant DNA in studies of saccharide-degrading enzymes.
• Regulation of membrane lipid synthesis by compartmentalization, substrates and products, energy charge, hormones, and other factors in plant organs and cell cultures.
• Conformation and dynamics of nucleic acids.
• Interactions of small molecules with DNA.
• Models for frameshift mutagenesis.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of biological molecules.
• Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy of biological free radicals.
• Photosynthesis and bioenergetics, especially the role of membrane transport processes in the regulation of CO₂ fixation and photorespiration.
• Development of plant transformation system--tiplasmid and direct gene transfer.
• Structure and function of plant genes.
• Biosynthesis and mode of action of plant growth hormones; plant-microorganism interaction.
• Chemistry, biochemistry, and toxicology of free radical reactions.
• Cigarette smoke chemistry and combustion toxicology.
• Viral gene expression and its regulation.
• Proteolytic processing of viral proteins.
• Kinetic and chemical mechanisms of enzymatic reactions.
• Structure and function of biotin-dependent and biotin-independent carboxylases.
• Production of oxyradicals during microsomal electron transport and their role in chemical carcinogenesis.
• Xenobiotic metabolism of environmental pollutants.
• Chronic ethanol ingestion and activation of chemical carcinogenesis.
• Mitochondrial electron transport.
• Microsomal mixed-function oxygenases in aquatic organisms.
• Mechanism of regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in mammalian and plant systems (e.g., sucrose synthesis, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis).

Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests

• Analysis of structure and function of complex carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
• Characterization of enzymes and their reaction mechanisms.
• Intermediary metabolism in animals and microorganisms.
• Nutritional biochemistry.
• Physical biochemistry.
• Molecular biology of mammalian viruses.
• DNA repair.
• Genetic engineering of disease resistance in plants and animals.
• Tumor immunology.
• Organelle biogenesis.

Treatment of Subject Depth

The goal of collection development activities in Biochemistry is to support the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, sustained independent research of students and faculty in the Polymer Analysis Laboratory (PAL), Institute for Environmental Studies, the Interdepartmental Program in Systematics, the Audubon Sugar Institute, the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, the developing Louisiana Biotechnology Institute, and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. The existing collection strength for Biochemistry is at level 4 and current collecting intensity is at level 3/4 (See Appendix -- Classed Analysis).

CD ROMs, Electronic Books, Remotely Accessed Texts

LSU Libraries will purchase CD ROM works on a case by case basis when requested by faculty members or graduate students in need of enhanced capabilities afforded by CD ROMs. The LSU Libraries recognizes that electronic information, e-books, electronic paper, etc. merit attention. The purchase of access to remote data and texts, such as J-STOR and others, will be pursued when the ownership of remote products will benefit the greatest number of students, staff, and faculty at the best possible price. Purchase of remotely accessed texts must follow the policy and procedures set forth in Procedures for Acquiring and Processing Electronic Resources.

Specific Delimitations

Type

Collected Extensively: Specialized reference tools, such s indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, major secondary works (monographs); monographic serials.

Collected selectively: Proceedings, popular treatments, biographies, catalogs, undergraduate and upper division textbooks, laboratory manuals, workbooks, curriculum guides.

Excluded: Juvenile literature

Physical Format

Collected extensively: Traditional print formats, I.e. monographs, serials; microforms, microfilm.

Collected selectively: CD-ROM, Audio-cassette packets, phonodiscs, charts, pamphlets, loose leaf services.

Imprint Date

Collected extensively: Materials published during the last ten years.

Collected selectively: Materials published more than ten years ago.

Place of Publication

Collected extensively: United States, Canada, Great Britain, West Germany, Netherlands.

Collected Selectively: All others.

Languages

Collected extensively: English, and translations of foreign language works.

Collected selectively: All others.

Chronological Periods

Collected extensively: The contemporary science as defined by developments of the past ten years.

Collected selectively: All other periods more than ten years ago.

Geographical focus

Collected extensively: United States, Canada, Great Britain, West Germany, Netherlands.

Collected selectively: All others.

Overlap with Other Subjects of Collections

Primary: Two overlapping subject areas have been identified for which this statement assumes the primary collection development responsibility. The Biochemistry development is strongly interdisciplinary and overlaps with chemistry, microbiology, plant biology, and zoology.

• Biochemistry -- (Biology)
• Biochemistry (peptide, protein, lyposomes, lipids) -- (Chemistry, Microbiology)

Secondary: In seven other areas only occasionally will selections be made by the Biochemistry selector.

• Gene expression (Microbiology)
• Pathogenic microorganisms (Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine)
• Molecular genetics (Zoology/Physiology)
• Gene expression (Biochemistry/Genetics)
• Molecular Systematics (Zoology)
• Cell Biology (Zoology, Physiology)
• Molecular Biology (Zoology, Physiology)

Shared:

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Physics, Engineering, Chemistry)
• Electron Spin Resonance Imaging (Physics, Engineering, Chemistry)
• Recombinant DNA techniques (Microbiology)
• Microscopy (Biology)
• Electron microscopy (Chemistry, Microbiology, Physics)

Cooperative Programs

Louisiana State University relies on document delivery from Knight Ridder - UnCover to supply serial documents. LSU is part of the South Eastern Library Association (SELA) to foster inter-library lending and borrowing practices.

Other Considerations

The Biochemistry department also interacts with the Interdepartmental Program in Systematics, the Audubon Sugar Institute, the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, the developing Louisiana Biotechnology Institute, and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Classed Analysis

Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 15, 2003