Kinetics for the Life Sciences
Receptors, Transmitters and Catalysts

This book introduces the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level.

H. Gutfreund (Author)

9780521485869, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 September 1995

360 pages, 51 b/w illus. 8 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.53 kg

'... a thought-provoking treatise on the ways to apply kinetics in different biological systems, certainly worth a look at by current researchers in this field'. Chris Cooper, Chemistry in Britain

The aim of the book is to introduce the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level. It is intended to show that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps in enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception and ligand binding receptors that trigger other physiological processes. Attention is also given to methods for characterizing these steps in chemical terms. Although the treatment is mainly theoretical, a wide range of examples and experimental techniques are also introduced and an historical approach is used to demonstrate the development of the theory and experimental techniques of kinetic analysis in biology.

Part I. The Time Scales of Nature: a Historical Survey: 1. The history of the application of physical principles
2 Kinetics and biological problems
3 Time scales of nature and of measurement
Part II. Some Mathematical Introductions: 4. The origins of exponential behaviour
5. Modelling of kinetic systems
6. Data collection, reduction and analysis
7. Guidelines for the derivation of equations used in the text
Part III. Elementary Kinetic Equations: Ground Rules: 8. The law of mass action, rates and equilibria
9. The evaluation of first and second order rate constants
10. An introduction to practical steady state kinetics
11. Steady state kinetics of reversible effectors and ionic equilibria
Part IV. Kinetic Analysis of Complex Reactions: 12. Introduction to the study of transients and reaction sequences
13. Consecutive reactions and physiological responses
Part V. Kinetic Mechanisms of Enzyme Reactions: 14. Transient kinetics and enzyme reactions
15. Sequential enzyme reactions in metabolism and control
16. Kinetics of ligand dissociation and exchange between binding sites
Part VI. Chemical Relaxation Phenomena: 17. Applications of relaxation kinetics
18. Basic equations for the analysis of chemical relaxations
19. Chemical relaxation of ligand binding and recognition
20. Relaxations of proton equilibria
PartVII. Factors Affecting the Rates of Chemical Reactions
21. Introduction to the history and concepts of chemical dynamics
22. Temperature dependence of reactions and the activation parameters
23. Viscosity and molecular dynamics
24. Diffusion control of reactions
25. Some comments on the use of isotopes in kinetic investigations
Part VIII. The Role of Light in Kinetic Investigations
26. Applications of photochemistry
27. Luminescence and other excited states
28. The scope of fluorescence life time studies
29. Photolabile (caged) compounds for the initiation of reactions
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Biochemistry [PSB], Neurosciences [PSAN]