Bioinorganic Chemistry [antikvár]

PREFACE During the last decade significant attention has been focused on the role of metál atoms in biology, giving rise to a very active research field of Bioinorganic Chemistry. Many crucial questions arising from the interference of metál ions in our life still remain unanswered. Even though very important structures of metalloenzymes as MoFeco of nitrogenase, copper or manganese superoxide dismutase or plastocyanin are known, the synthetic routes of modelling these centers are of great interest. Besides, other metalloenzymes, like the manganese center of Oxygen Evolving Complex(OEC) of PSII, are still in the centre of structural and spectroscopic in-depth examination. The drug-metal interaction and the metál ions antagonism are alsó an essential area of investigation. The understanding of the chemistry of metál ions in biological systems will be most beneficial to the scientific community because it will make possible the attack on certain diffícult problems. Such problems may include biomineralization and the fiiture production of advanced materials by micro-organisms. The NATO ASI, on which this book is based, was organised to promote interactions across these fields, to expose young researchers at an early stage of their careers to the several conceptual frameworks that currently contribute to the area. Therefore, in June, 1994, about ninety scientists gathered at the Olympic Palace, on the Ixia coast near the City of Rhodes, Rhodes Island of Aegean Sea, Greece, for a two-week Advanced Study Institute dedicated to the theme of Bioinorganic Chemistry. This volume contains most of the invited lectures presented at the NATO ASI on "Bioinorganic Chemistry: An Inorganic Perspective of Life". It was decided not to 'referee' the submitted manuscripts, and therefor the entire responsibility of the content of the lectures rests with the authors. It was my pleasure to act as the Director of the NATO ASI and I am most grateful to my esteemed colleagues on the Organising committee, Prof. Dimitri Coucouvanis, University of Michigan, USA, Prof. Mercouri Kanatzidis, Michigan State University USA, Dr. Bemard Meunier, CNRS, Toulouse, FRANCÉ and Prof. Athanassios Coutsolelos, University of Crete, GREECE and the invited lecturers for their enthusiastic support and valuable advice on various matters relating to the ASI. My special heartfelt thanks go to the students without whose interest and participation the ASI would not have been possible. I sincerely thank Dr. L.V. da Cunha, Director, NATO Advanced Study Institute Programme and his Staff, who helped me throughout the various Stages of the ASI. Of course the ASI would not have been possible without the financial aid of NATO. We are alsó grateful for the very important financial support and technical assistance provided by the Greek Secretariat of Research and Technology, the Greek Ministry of Industry, the Greek National Tourist Organisation, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Municipality of City of Rhodes, the University of Thessaloniki, the University of Crete, the Center of Solid Fuels Technology & Applications(C.S.F.T.A.), DOW Hellas and Petrola Hellas. The local arrangements were handled with the cheerful aid of Dr. Catherine Dendrinou-Samara, Ms. Dora Maiamatari and Mr. Nasos Papadopoulos. I alsó express my thanks to Prof. Evangelos Bakalbassis, who has handled many manuscript for this book, reformatting most of the chapters, and skilfully catching slips of the authors' word processors. I cannot fully express my appreciation for the unfailing support and understanding given to me by my wife Mary and my sons Philip and John during my Directorship of the Advanced Study Institute.