Photophysiology

Photophysiology: Current Topics, Volume IV focuses on various topics in photophysiology, including photochemistry, pyridine nucleotide-linked systems, and bioluminescence. The selection first elaborates on photochemistry and vision, photoperiodism in insects, and response of human skin to ultraviolet light. Discussions focus on clinical photopathology, chronic effects of ultraviolet radiation on human skin, optics of the skin, spectral sensitivity, interaction of photoperiod with other environmental variables, effects of high-intensity radiation, human cone pigments, and effect of light. The text then ponders on cellular recovery from photochemical damage and a physical approach to bioluminescence. Concerns cover theoretical background for excited states, results and interpretation of mechanism, biological consequences of photochemical events, reconstruction of damaged DNA, and physiological and environmental effects on repair and recovery. The book takes a look at the enzymic aspects of bioluminescence, including pyridine nucleotide-linked systems, peroxidation systems, and simple enzyme-substrate systems. The selection is a dependable reference for researchers wanting to study photophysiology.

Photophysiology, Volume I: General Principles: Action of Light on Plants focuses on the fundamental mechanisms by which non-ionizing radiations affect the living cell at the molecular level when such analysis is possible. The selection first offers information on the development of photochemistry, including photosynthesis, photoaxis, vision, phototropism, diurnal rhythms and visible light, and medical uses of ultraviolet light. The text then takes a look at the principles of photochemistry and photochemical methods and electron spin resonance and its application to photophysiology. The publication examines the photochemical action of light on macromolecules, absorption spectra, spectrophotometry, and action spectra, and photochemical reactions of photosynthesis. Discussions focus on photosynthetic phosphorylation, measurement and interpretation of action spectra, instrumentation for absorption spectra, and inactivation of viruses by visible and ultraviolet light. The selection is a valuable source of information for readers interested in photophysiology.