Fields (chemistry and biochemistry, Florida Atlantic U.) assembles 13 chapters by researchers from the US and Europe who discuss the characterization of peptides and their applications for the study of biochemical systems. They present the most recent advances in selected analytical techniques, including a comprehensive updating of high-performance liquid chromatography for the purification and evaluation of peptides. Mass spectrometry, the synthesis and characterization of membrane peptides, and specific applications are described, such as conformationally constrained peptides, drug and siRNA delivery, and peptides as imaging, anti-aggregatory, and antimicrobial agents. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)