As stated by its first editor, Dr. D. B. Roodyn, the primary goal of the series Subcellular Biochemistry is to achieve an integrated view of the cell by bringing together results from a wide range of different techniques and disciplines. This volume deals with the applications of fluorescence spectroscopy to membrane research. It seeks to present complementary biochemical and bio physical data on both the structure and the dynamics of biological membranes. Biophysics and biochemistry are improving more and more in their ability to study biomembranes, overlapping somewhat in this area and explaining the functioning of the whole cell in terms of the properties of its individual com ponents. Therefore, we have brought together an international group of experts in order to report on and review advances in fluorescence studies on biological membranes, thereby highlighting subcellular aspects. The first chapters present a critical evaluation of the current applications of dynamic and steady-state fluorescence techniques. Subsequent chapters dis cuss more specific applications in cells, biological membranes, and their con stituents (lipids, proteins).

Biological membranes play a central role in cell structure, shape and functions. However, investigating the membrane bilayer has proved to be difficult due to its highly dynamic and anisotropic structure, which generates steep gradients at the nanometer scale. Due to the decisive impact of recently developed fluorescence-based techniques, tremendous advances have been made in the last few years in our understanding of membrane characteristics and functions. In this context, the present book illustrates some of these major advances by collecting review articles written by highly respected experts. The book is organized in three parts, the first of which deals with membrane probes and model membranes. The second part describes the use of advanced quantitative and high-resolution techniques to explore the properties of biological membranes, illustrating the key progress made regarding membrane organization, dynamics and interactions. The third part is focused on the investigation of membrane proteins using the same techniques, and notably on the membrane receptors that play a central role in signaling pathways and therapeutic strategies. All chapters provide comprehensive information on membranes and their exploration for beginners in the field and advanced researchers alike.

Volume 3 of this new series focuses on brandnew research and applications in biology, biophysics and other fields of life sciences. Many frontline researcher have contributed to this highly attractive and interdisciplinary volume which spans the entire field of present fluorescence spectroscopy including nanotechnology, membrane and DNA studies and fluorescence imaging in cancer research.

This book provides the reader with an updated comprehensive view of the rapidly developing and fascinating field of fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. In recent years, fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy have experienced rapid technological development, which has enabled the detection and monitoring of single molecules with high spatial and temporal resolution. Thanks to these developments, fluorescence has become an even more popular method in physical, biological and related fields. This book guides the reader through both basic and advanced fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy approaches with a focus on their applications in membrane and protein biophysics. Each of the four parts: A - Fluorescence Spectroscopy, B - Fluorescence Microscopy, C - Applications of Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy to biological membranes and D - Applications of Fluorescence Spectroscopy to protein studies are written by experts within the field. The book is intended for both complete beginners who want to quickly orient themselves in the large number of existing fluorescent methods, as well as for advanced readers who are interested in particular methods and their proper use.

This collection of 11 chapters is devoted to a survey of artificial and reconsti tuted membrane systems. These are fundamental themes and areas of great current importance in membrane biochemistry. They also relate well to the founding concept of this series, namely, to present studies that progressively work toward and provide us with an "integrated view of the cell. " In this volume, it is the application of a wide range of physiochemical and biochemi cal techniques to the study of membrane lipids and proteins which serves to demonstrate the significant progress that has been made in this field over the past 25 years. From the understanding of simplified artificial systems, it is hoped that it will ultimately be possible to gain a more accurate understanding of natural biological membranes, in all their diversity. This book is an appropriate successor to Volume 13 of the series, which deals with fluorescence studies on biological membranes. Indeed, the present chapter by Lesley Davenport and colleagues was originally due for inclusion in Volume 13, but has been held over for inclusion in this volume, where it integrates remarkably well with the other topics. The extremely varied and interesting contents of this volume are now briefly outlined. In Chapter I, Jacqueline A. Reynolds and Darrell R. McCaslin pres ent a pertinent survey of the interaction of detergents with membrane lipids and proteins, together with an assessment of the reconstitution process.

· Measuring membrane protein distributions using single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) · Measuring membrane protein dynamics and diffusion using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) · Mapping membrane lipid backing using environmentally sensitive fluorescence probes · Mapping membrane thickness and rigidity using atomic force microscopy · Mapping membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton using electron microscopy

At the time that the editors conceived the idea of trying to organize the meeting on which the contents of this volume are based and which became, in March 1980, a NATO Advanced Study Institute, the techniques of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, in both the nanosecond and sub-nanosecond time-domains, might reasonably have been said to be coming of age, both in their execution and in the analysis and interpretation of the results obtained. These techniques, then as now, comprised mainly a number of pulse methods using laser, flash-lamp or, most recently, synchrotron radiation. In addition, significant developments in the more classical phase approach had also rendered that method popular, utilizing either modulation of an otherwise continuous source or, again recently, the ultra-rapid pulse rate attainable with a synchrotron source. In general terms, time-resolved fluorescence studies are capable, under appropriate conditions, of supplying direct kinetic information on both photophysics and various aspects of molecular, macromolecular and supramolecular structure and dynamics. The nanosecond and sub-nanosecond time-scales directly probed render these techniques particularly appropriate in studying relaxation and fluctuation processes in macromolecules, particularly biopolymers (e. g. proteins, nucleic acids), in supramolecular assemblies such as cell membranes, and in a variety of relatively simpler model systems.