The Redox State and Circadian Rhythms - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792364538 ISBN 13: 9780792364535

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Synopsis

Although the term redox covers an important number of chemical reactions, biochemists are more familiar with reactions involving the reactions mediated by electron transfer chains associated with respiration, the thiol-disulfide exchanges and the reactions occurring in the presence of free radicals. More recently, the importance of these reactions in the living world and in medicine has been recognized by biochemists, biologists, physiologists, physicians, etc. The importance of the subject in both fundamental and is reflected by the abundance of interesting reviews applied science concerning the subject (Cadenas, 1989, Del Maestro, 1991) and books (Dreosti, 1991; Rice-Evans and Burdon, 1994; Armstrong, 1994) The aim of this chapter is to describe basic reactions known with references to reviews covering special subjects related to redox reactions. Transformation of energy in living organisms is mediated by complex biological systems such as electron transfer chains where the succession of redox reactions provides energy to the organisms. Molecular oxygen or dioxygen is an essential molecule and is the terminal acceptor of electrons during respiration in eukaryotes. In these organisms, the electron transfer chain is located in the mitochondrial membranes and produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In anaerobes, the electron acceptor is C0 , S, sulphate or nitrate ions 2 instead of 02.

About this title

Review

`In summary, this is an excellent volume that I recommend without reservation to the biologist in all disciplines. It s rare to find a text of this nature that makes truly enjoyable reading. Not only is this volume packed with useful information, but it also conveys much of the enthusiasm and motivation of the authors in the pursuit of the advancement of science. As such it makes compelling reading in this volume would be an asset to any scientific library.'
Annals of Botany 89:4 (2002)

Synopsis

This book addresses the redox balance in cells and organisms, which is of paramount importance in biology. In addition, a generally overseen circadian modulation is underlined. The balance involves, on the one hand, free radicals and reactive oxygen species and, on the other hand, scavengers capable of neutralizing their effects. This balance is crucial for life, since free radicals are required for some basic reactions (such as the activation of an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis) and since their excess leads to various toxic effects, most notably cancer. Different scavengers can be distributed at various times of the day, their amount possibly peaking at particular times. In fact, circadian rhythms may affect amounts of scavengers, amounts of foreseeable free radicals or the effects the latter can exert on a system. Free radicals are produced by some chains of normal metabolism. They are also produced by a variety of environmental stresses, UV light, chemicals, drugs, etc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792364538
• ISBN 13: 9780792364535
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296
• Editor: Vanden Driessche Thérèse, Guisset J.L., Petiau-de Vries G.M.