Main description:

Bioelectrochemistry: Principles and Practice provides a comprehensive compilation of all the physicochemical aspects of the different biochemical and physiological processes. The role of electric and magnetic fields in biological systems forms the focus of this second volume in the Bioelectrochemistry series. The most prominent use of electric fields is found in some fish. These species generate fields of different strengths and patterns serving either as weapons, or for the purpose of location and communication. Electrical phenomena involved in signal transduction are discussed by means of two examples, namely excitation-contraction coupling in muscles and light transduction in photoreceptors. Also examined is the role of electrical potential differences in energy metabolism and its control. Temporal and spatial changes of the potential difference across the membranes of nerve cells are carefully evaluated, since they are the basis of the spreading and processing of information in the nervous system. The dielectric properties of cells and their responses to electric fields, such as electrophoresis and electrorotation, are dealt with in detail. Finally, the effects of magnetic fields on living systems and of low-frequency electromagnetic fields on cell metabolism are also considered. Further volumes will be added to the series, which is intended as a set of source books for graduate and postgraduate students as well as research workers at all levels in bioelectrochemistry.

Contents:

1. Electric organs and their innervation: A model system for the study of cholinergic function.- * Introduction.- * Anatomy and embryology of the electromotor system.- * Electrophysiology of the electromotor system.- * Electrolocation and electrocommunication.- * The cellular and molecular biology of cholinergic synapses as deduced from work on the electromotor system.- * Summary.- 2. Contractility and motility of muscle and non-muscle cells.- * Introduction.- * Histology of striated muscle cells.- * Muscle physiology.- * The sliding filament model.- * Actin and myosin are proteins organized in filaments.- * Actin and myosin exist in a number of variants.- * The atomic structures of actin and myosin subfragment 1 have been solved.- * The cross-bridge cycle.- * The mechanism of ATP-hydrolysis by myosin and acto-myosin.- * Where in the myosin molecule is the force produced?.- * The regulation of muscle activity.- * Electrochemical coupling in muscle cells.- * Muscle diseases (Myopathies).- * Motor systems in non-muscle cells.- * Summary.- 3. Light-transduction in photoreceptors.- * Introduction.- * Structure and function of photoreceptors.- * Molecular basis of phototransduction.- * Light-induced currents.- * Function of calcium ions in photoreception.- * Voltage-gated currents and their physiological significance.- * Ion transport.- * Summary and conclusions.- 4. An electrochemical description of metabolism.- * Introduction.- * Cellular structure and enzyme organisation.- * Cellular energy transduction.- * Proton and electron flow in intracellular structures.- * Importance of electrical processes in the control of metabolism.- * Significance of cellular potentials.- * Theoretical considerations.- * Relevant experimental studies.- * Electrochemical regulation of metabolism.- 5. The low-frequency dielectric properties of biological cells.- * Introduction.- * Theory of the dielectric experiment.- * Mechanisms of dielectric dispersion in biological systems.- * Mechanisms of dielectric relaxation in cell suspensions and tissues.- * Nonlinear interactions of cells with electrical fields.- * A four state enzyme capable of harvesting electrical energy for the performance of useful (bio)chemical work.- 6. Dielectrophoretic and electrorotation behaviour of cells: Theory and experiment.- * Introduction.- * Theoretical background.- * Cell dielectrophoresis.- * Cell electrorotation.- * Relationship between dielectrophoresis and electrorotation.- 7. Effects of magnetic fields on living systems.- * Introduction.- * Field types and modes of action.- * Experimental in vitro results.- * Experimental in vivo results.- 8. Low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on cell metabolism.- * Introduction.- * Experimental techniques.- * Biochemical and biological response of biological systems.- * Current models for mechanisms of electrostimulation.