Main description:

ADVANCES IN COMPARATIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY helps
biologists, physiologists, and biochemists keep track of the
extensive literature in thefield. Providing comprehensive,
integrated reviews and sound, critical, and provocative
summaries, this series is a must for all active researchers
in environmental and comparative physiology.
The present volume contains six reviews on: - Motile
Activities of Fish Chromatophores. - Epithelial Transport of
Heavy Metals. - Heavy Metal Cytotoxicity in Marine
Organisms. - Comparative Pulmonary Morphology and
Morphometry. - Molecular Adaptations in Resistance to
Penicillins. - Molecular Adaptations of Enzymes From
Thermophilic and Psychrophilic Organisms.

Contents:

1 Factors Influencing Motile Activities of Fish Chromatophores.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Chromatophores.- 3 Effects of Light on Chromatophores.- 4 Effects of Other Physical Factors on Chromatophores.- 5 Effects of Chemical Substances on Chromatophores.- 6 Effects of Lesions in the Nervous System.- 7 Ecological and Ethological Factors Influencing Chromatophores.- 8 Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- 2 Epithelial Transport of Heavy Metals.- 1 Introduction.- 2 General Problems.- 3 Metal Transport in Intestine.- 4 Metal Transport by Renal Epithelium.- 5 Metal Transport by Pulmonary Epithelium.- 6 Activity of Some Other Epithelial Tissues.- References.- 3 Heavy Metal Cytotoxicity in Marine Organisms: Effects of Ca2+ Homeostasis and Possible Alteration of Signal Transduction Pathways.- Summary.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Effects on Plasma Membranes.- 3 Effects on the Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Stores.- 4 Effects on Mitochondria.- 5 GSH and Metallothioneins in Preventing or Reducing Heavy Metal Cytotoxicity.- 6 Effects on Cytosolic Free Ca2+.- 7 Heavy Metal Effects on Signal Transduction.- References.- 4 Comparative Pulmonary Morphology and Morphometry: The Functional Design of Respiratory Systems.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Metabolic Determinants.- 3 Symmorphosis.- 4 Water versus Air as Respiratory Media.- 5 Evolution of Aerial Breathing.- 6 Transition from Aquatic to Terrestrial Life.- 7 Endothermy.- 8 Design Characteristics of Respiratory Organs.- 9 Gas Exchange Models.- 10 General Respiratory Sites.- 11 Bimodal Breathers.- 12 Invertebrate Air-Breathers.- 13 Vertebrate Air-Breathers.- 14 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Molecular Adaptations in Resistance to Penicillins and Other ?-Lactam Antibiotics.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Peptidoglycan Structure and Biosynthesis.- 3 The Targets: Transpeptidases and Penicillin-Binding Proteins.- 4 Resistance Mechanisms.- 5 Permeability.- 6 Target Sensitivity.- 7 ?-Lactamases.- 8 Integrated Models.- 9 Glycopeptide Antibiotic Resistance.- 10 Conclusions.- References.- 6 Molecular Adaptations of Enzymes from Thermophilic and Psychrophilic Organisms.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Temperature and Protein Stability.- 3 Enzymes from Thermophilic Organisms.- 4 Enzymes from Psychrophilic Organisms.- 5 Conclusions.- References.