PREFACE FUNDAMENTAL MEMBRANE PROCESSES O F LIVING CELLS, for example,
THE
Downloaded via 91.200.82.50 on October 28, 2018 at 18:39:10 (UTC). See https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines for options on how to legitimately share published articles.
generation of i o n gradients, sensory transductance, c o n d u c t i o n o f impulses, a n d energy transduction, are electrical i n nature. E a c h process involves charge m o v e m e n t i n a specialized p r o t e i n structure, w h e r e part o f the p r o t e i n forms a c h a n n e l for c o n d u c t i o n o f ions. T h e o p e n i n g of the channel is c o n t r o l l e d b y changes i n physical factors such as the electrical potential across the m e m b r a n e or the b i n d i n g o f signaling (e.g., neurotransmitter or hormone) molecules a n d ions to specific receptor or enzyme sites. T h e many structural similarities b e t w e e n dif ferent p r o t e i n assemblies suggest that there is a general design a n d that specific functions are based o n variations o f that design. A n u m b e r of channel p r o t e i n structures are k n o w n i n considerable detail, so their f u n c t i o n can be studied i n relation to structure, a n d models for w h i c h structure a n d properties can be characterized together can be constructed. E x p e r i m e n t a l approaches to this p r o b l e m have t e n d e d to focus o n the specific f u n c tions o f each p r o t e i n rather than o n the general physical aspects of the p r o b l e m . A n approach based o n electrochemical concepts a n d techniques emphasizes the general properties o f the different structures a n d provides insights into the elec t r o c h e m i c a l nature of the charge-transfer p h e n o m e n a i n all c h a n n e l systems. F o r these reasons, the O f f i c e o f N a v a l Research initiated i n O c t o b e r 1986 an A c c e l e r a t e d Research Initiative o f electrochemical research o n biological a n d m o d e l membranes. T h e 5-year p r o g r a m explored the physical basis o f b i o l o g i c a l sensory and energy-transducing processes b y focusing o n the e l e c t r o c h e m i cal properties o f integral m e m b r a n e proteins (i.e., channel structures) associ ated w i t h ion-transport processes. T h e major research areas covered were inter faces a n d l i p i d layers, channels (structure a n d function), a n d signal transduc tion.
T h i s v o l u m e contains papers f r o m that p r o g r a m , as w e l l as some related
studies. T h e electrochemical emphasis i n the study o f channels has l e d to some useful generalizations about the physical properties of integral m e m b r a n e p r o teins a n d some o f the specialized properties that d e p e n d o n u n i q u e structures. T h e findings w e r e presented a n d discussed at contractor s meetings i n N o v e m b e r 1988 at B e l m o n t H o u s e i n E l k r i d g e , M a r y l a n d , a n d i n A p r i l 1991 at A i r l i e H o u s e i n A i r l i e , V i r g i n i a . M a n y research papers were p u b l i s h e d as a result of
xiii
Blank and Vodyanoy; Biomembrane Electrochemistry Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1994.
this program. T h i s v o l u m e summarizes the most important research accom plishments o f the p r o g r a m a n d indicates the critical problems that require fur ther research. MARTIN
BLANK
D e p a r t m e n t o f Physiology a n d C e l l u l a r Biophysics C o l u m b i a University N e w York, NY 10032
IGOR VODYANOY
Biology D i v i s i o n Office o f N a v a l Research 800 N o r t h Q u i n c y A r l i n g t o n , VA 22214-5000
Blank and Vodyanoy; Biomembrane Electrochemistry Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1994.
