Part I. Basic Processes at the Cellular Level -- 1. Impact of dietary essential amino acids in man -- 2. Metabolism of BCAAs -- 3. The cytosolic and mitochondrial branched chain aminotransferase -- 4. Isoleucine, PPAR and uncoupling proteins -- 5. Leucine as a stimulant of insulin -- 6. Effects of leucine and isoleucine on glucose metabolism -- 7. Hypothalamic leucine metabolism in the regulation of liver glucose metabolism -- 8. Leucine and resveratrol: experimental model of sirtuin pathway activation -- 9. Branched chain amino acids and blood ammonia -- 10. Use of 2H3-leucine to monitor apoproteins -- Part II. Inherited Defects in Branched Chain Amino Acid Metabolism -- 11. Branched chain amino acid oxidation disorders -- 12. Branched chain amino acids and maple syrup urine disease -- 13. Mental retardation and isoleucine metabolism -- 14. Anorexia and valine-deficient diets -- Part III. Experimental models of growth and disease states: Role of Branched Chain Amino Acids -- 15. Leucine and fetal growth -- 16. Enteral leucine and protein synthesis in skeletal and cardiac muscles -- 17. Use of branched chain amino acids granules in experimental models of diet-induced obesity -- 18. Experimental models of high fat obesity and leucine supplementation -- 19. Branched chain amino acids in experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- 20. Leucine and ethanol oxidation -- 21. Isoleucine, leucine and their role in experimental models of bladder carcinogenesis.