Biosignal Transduction Mechanisms

This book presents current results obtained from research activities on biosignal transduction. The mechanism of how an external signal is processed inside the cell or cell membrane is treated, mainly the transmission by ion channels via the regulation of ion currents and the involved second messengers such as G-proteins and inositolphosphates. Following a theoretical approach the latest techniques for the investigation of receptor-coupled ion channels such as microinjection of m-RNA molecules into oocytes or immunological methods are described. A chapter on transduction mechanisms in chemoreception completes this volume.