Physical labels such as stable nitroxide radicals, luminescent and photochromic chromophores, so-called Moessbauer atoms and electron-dense assemblies of heavy atoms have proved to be effective tools in solving many problems at the molecular level in biological systems. These physical labels are used as 'molecular rulers' to measure the distances between chosen groups and to measure the size, form and microrelief of objects. By providing information about these factors, the label provides information that can help the scientist to understand the structure of membranes, nucleic acids, enzymes and proteins and how they function. This 1993 volume covers all aspects of this field: the theoretical bases, the experimental techniques, and it also shows how to interpret the resulting data. It also critically discusses some recent results obtained with these techniques and gives an analysis of likely developments in the future.

This monograph describes the theoretical bases and experimental prerequisites for methods such as spin fluorescence, triplet, Mo ssbauer, photochromic and electron-density labeling, including the procedures used to obtain specifically modified proteins, enzymes, biomembranes, nucleic acids, and other biological molecules. The fundamentals of the physical theory behind each technique is explained and details are given of how to interpret the experimental data obtained. Special sections deal with critical reviews of recent data on the structure, molecular dynamics and conformational transitions of biological molecules. Each section concludes with a discussion of the results obtained from these techniques in connection with various problems of enzyme catalysis, electron transfer, molecular biophysics and molecular biology. The uses that labeling techniques can be put to for the investigation of whole cells and tissues are also discussed.

Written by a pioneer in the development of spin labeling in biophysics, this expert book covers the fundamentals of nitroxide spin labeling through cutting-edge applications in chemistry, physics, materials science, molecular biology, and biomedicine. Nitroxides have earned their place as one of the most popular organic paramagnets due to their suitability as inhibitors of oxidative processes, as a means to polarize magnetic nuclei, and, in molecular biology, as probes and labels to understand molecular structures and dynamics AS DRAGS FOR CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES. Beginning with an overview of the basic methodology and nitroxides' 145-year history, this book equips students with necessary background and techniques to undertake original research and industry work in this growing field.

This book embraces all physiochemical aspects of the structure and molecular dynamics of water, focusing on its role in biological objects, e.g. living cells and tissue, and in the formation of functionally active structures of biological molecules and their ensembles. Water is the single most abundant chemical found in all living things. It offers a detailed look into the latest modern physical methods for studying the molecular structure and dynamics of the water and provides a critical analysis of the existing literature data on the properties of water in biological objects. Water as a chemical reagent and as a medium for the formation of conditions for enzymatic catalysis is a core focus of this book. Although well suited for active researchers, the book as a whole, as well as each chapter on its own, can be used as fundamental reference material for graduate and undergraduate students throughout chemistry, physics, biophysics and biomedicine.

Written by a pioneer in the development of spin labeling in biophysics, this expert book covers the fundamentals of nitroxide spin labeling through cutting-edge applications in chemistry, physics, materials science, molecular biology, and biomedicine. Nitroxides have earned their place as one of the most popular organic paramagnets due to their suitability as inhibitors of oxidative processes, as a means to polarize magnetic nuclei, and, in molecular biology, as probes and labels to understand molecular structures and dynamics AS DRAGS FOR CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES. Beginning with an overview of the basic methodology and nitroxides' 145-year history, this book equips students with necessary background and techniques to undertake original research and industry work in this growing field.

New Trends in Enzyme Catalysis and Biomimetic Chemical Reactions embraces modern areas of enzyme catalysis where other books in the field concentrate mainly on kinetic, bioorganic and biochemical aspects of the enzyme catalysis and do not cover biophysical and physicochemical problems. Topics covered include:

-modern physical and kinetic methods of investigation,
-contemporary theories of elementary chemical processes in enzymes,
-structure, dynamics and action mechanism of enzyme active sites,
-concept of pretransition state,
-theory of long-range electron transfer and proton translocation,
-mechanisms of "tough" biochemical reactions (dinitrogen reduction, light energy conversation, water photooxidation, hydroxilation),
-the achievements and problems of biomimetic chemical reactions.

"Chemical physics is a science of the physical foundations of chemical transformations" (N. N. Semenov). The main objective of chemical physics is to disclose the detailed mechanism of chemical reactions and to learn to control these processes. The physico-chemical approach hinges upon the extensive application of methods of molecular physics and chemical kinetics. Based originally on simple gas-phase processes, chemical physics gradually extended its sphere of interest to liquid-phase reactions and to processes taking place in solids, including polymers. At present, we witness the fact that the ideas and methods of this science penetrate deeper and deeper into modern molecular biology, including enzyme catalysis. This monograph treats, from the standpoint of modern chemical physics, the principal general and individual features of the structure and mechanism of action of various classes of oxidation-reduction (redox) metalloenzymes. There are several reasons for which this branch of science attracts the attention of specialists in various fields - from biologists and those working in medicine to chemists and theoretical physicists. First of all, is the enormous biological and biochemical importance of processes catalyzed by metalloenzymes. These include biological ox idation with oxygen, oxidative and photo-phosphorylation, atmospheric nitrogen fixation, assimilation of nitrates and sulphites, phototransport of electrons, hydrogen evolution and hydrogenation and photo-oxida tion of water, which is far from a complete list of such processes."

This book embraces all physiochemical aspects of the structure and molecular dynamics of water, focusing on its role in biological objects, e.g. living cells and tissue, and in the formation of functionally active structures of biological molecules and their ensembles. Water is the single most abundant chemical found in all living things. It offers a detailed look into the latest modern physical methods for studying the molecular structure and dynamics of the water and provides a critical analysis of the existing literature data on the properties of water in biological objects. Water as a chemical reagent and as a medium for the formation of conditions for enzymatic catalysis is a core focus of this book. Although well suited for active researchers, the book as a whole, as well as each chapter on its own, can be used as fundamental reference material for graduate and undergraduate students throughout chemistry, physics, biophysics and biomedicine.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a tiny molecule with tremendous impact in biology, biochemistry, physiology, biomedicine and clinical practice. Nitric oxide, as a signaling molecule, significantly contributes in the regulation of transcriptional, translational and post-translational processes, aging, inflammation, and major human pathologies. This book represents a view on the area from physical chemists with long and broad expertise in chemical biophysics, mechanisms of enzyme catalysis and physical methods for application in biology, in particular. This book forms the physicochemical basis for a deep understanding of the biochemical and physiological impact of nitric oxide. With numerous references to essential literature, this volume provides a tool to fundamental knowledge in all important aspects of the vast area. The book chapters are dedicated to basic physical and chemical properties of nitric oxide, NO donors, NO metallocomplexes, and methods of NO analysis. A general survey is made of data on nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase, an NO receptor, and reactive nitrogen species. Brief reviews of the nitric oxide involving genetics and aging, occurrence of pathology and treatment of cancer, arterial and bone diseases, central nervous systems and neurodegenerative diseases, and other miscellaneous diseases are all presented. This book is intended for scientists working in areas related to the impact of nitric oxide in biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics, physiology and biomedicine. The book will also be useful for doctors and pharmacologists involved in the clinical practice. This text, as a whole or as separate chapters, can also be employed as subsidiary manuals for instructors, graduate and undergraduate students of university physics, bio-physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biomedicine departments, and researchers of laboratories for pharmacological companies.

Covering all aspects of this field, this volume also critically discusses recent results obtained with the use of nitroxides, while providing an analysis of future developments.
Written by a group of scientists with long-term experience in investigating the chemistry, physicochemistry, biochemistry and biophysics of nitroxides, the book is not intended as an exhaustive survey of each topic, but rather a discussion of their theoretical and experimental background, as well as recent advances.
The first four chapters expound the general theoretical and experimental background and the advantages of modern ESR technique. Chapter 5 focuses on fundamentals and recent results in the preparation and basic chemical properties, while the next two chapters briefly outline principles and current results in nitroxides as spin probes, and as redox probes and spin traps. These chapters form the basis for the subsequent more detailed studies of nitroxides in physicochemistry, while the final chapters concentrate on the advantages of magnetic materials on the basis of nitroxides. Finally, the concluding chapter considers the rapidly developing field of biomedical, therapeutic and clinical applications.
With more than 1,100 references to essential literature, this volume provides fundamental knowledge of instrumentation, data interpretation, capacity and recent advantages of nitroxide applications, allowing readers to understand how nitroxides can help them in solving their own problems.

Filling the gap on the market for comprehensive coverage of this versatile class of compounds, the scope of this monograph ranges from preparation and modern methods of investigation, via chemical and photochemical reactions, photochronism and nonlinear effects, to stilbenes as bases for optical and measuring instruments, applications in industry, biochemistry and biomedicine, and as fluorescence-photochrome biophysical labels.
Invaluable for molecular biologists, materials scientists and cell biologists, as well as catalytic, organic, medicinal and complex chemists, and those working with/on organometallics.