About Book

Biophysical chemistry is a physical science that uses the concepts of physics and physical chemistry for the study of biological systems. This field overlaps with nanotechnology, systems biology, biochemistry, bioengineering and computational biology. Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary science that systematically integrates principles of mathematics, physics and chemistry to explain distinctive features of life processes in terms of structure-function correlations. Combination of biochemistry, cell biology and microbiology, in the recent past, to form molecular biology has led to great advances in understanding and control biological processes in medicine, agriculture and pharmacology and food industries. Biophysical and biochemical techniques emphasizes the study of structural and functional aspects of specific biomolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and sugars. This book outlines the processes and applications of this subject in detail. It deals with biochemical analyses, reproductive inhibitor, biochemical responses, biochemical phenotyping and immunological characterization. It also focuses on histopathological toxicity, molecular genetic testing, halophilic dehydrogenases and electrochemical perspectives. Such selected concepts that redefine this field have been presented in it. It is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex theories and principles in the field of biophysics. Coherent flow of topics, students-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.

Preface ..................................................................................................................... v

1. Biochemical and Electrochemical Perspectives of the Anode of a

Microbial Fuel Cell ............................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 1

2. Biochemical and electrochemical pheno-mena that occur at the

electrodes of MFCs ......................................................................................... 5

3. Factors that affect performance of micro-bial fuel cells and potential

remedies ........................................................................................................ 11

4. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 17

2. Biochemical Analysis of Halophilic Dehydrogenases Altered by

Site-Directed Mutagenesis ................................................................................ 23

1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 23

2. Materials and methods ............................................................................... 27

3. Results ........................................................................................................... 31

4. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 51

5. Acknowledgment ........................................................................................ 52

3. Biochemical and Molecular Genetic Testing Used in the Diagnosis and

Assessment of Cystic Fibrosis .......................................................................... 57

1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 57

2. Analysis of CFTR gene mutations for diagnostic purposes .................. 60

3. Diagnosis of CF using sweat test ............................................................... 66

4. Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) in CF neonatal screening ............. 70

5. The use of the nasal potential difference (NPD) in aiding the

diagnosis of CF ............................................................................................. 74

6. The value of pancreatic associated protein (PAP) as a screening

test for CF ...................................................................................................... 76

7. Intestinal current measurement (ICM) as a diagnostic tool for CF ..... 77

8. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 78

4. Biochemical and Histopathological Toxicity by Multiple

Drug Administration .......................................................................................... 94

1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 94

2. Biochemical testing and histopathological examination of liver

toxicities ........................................................................................................ 98

3. Biochemical testing and histopathological examination of renal

toxicities ...................................................................................................... 103

4. Biochemical testing and histopathological examination of cardiac

toxicities ...................................................................................................... 106

5. Biochemical testing of lipid profile ......................................................... 109

6. Biochemical testing of glucose ................................................................. 110

7. Biochemical testing of electrolytes .......................................................... 112

8. Hematological testing ............................................................................... 114

9. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 115

5. Biochemical and Immunological Characterization of the Mycobacterium

tuberculosis 28 kD Protein .............................................................................. 124

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 124

2. Materials and methods ............................................................................. 125

3. Results ......................................................................................................... 131

4. Conclusions ................................................................................................ 137

5. Acknowledgment ...................................................................................... 138

6. New Opportunities in Metabolomics and Biochemical Phenotyping for

Plant Systems Biology ...................................................................................... 140

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 140

2. Technological trends in plant metabolomics ........................................ 143

3. Key challenges for plant metabolomics ................................................. 154

4. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 158

5. Acknowledgment ...................................................................................... 160

7. Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Semiarid Plants Subjected to

Water Stress ........................................................................................................ 176

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 176

2. Specific examples for semiarid plants under water stress ................. 179

3. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 189

4. Acknowledgment ...................................................................................... 189

8. Biochemical Analyses of Action of Chlorfluazuron as Reproductive

Inhibitor in Spodoptera litura ......................................................................... 198

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 198

2. Experimental procedures ......................................................................... 199

3. Results ......................................................................................................... 205

4. Discussion ................................................................................................... 223

5. Summary .................................................................................................... 235

9. Application of Radioisotopes in Biochemical Analyses:

Metal Binding Proteins and Metal Transporters ........................................ 244

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 244

2. Advantages of radioisotopes as tracers ................................................. 245

3. Typical radioisotopes used in biochemical and molecular biological

studies .......................................................................................................... 246

4. Analyses of Ca-binding proteins with 45Ca ......................................... 248

5. Measurement of membrane transport of zinc and calcium ............... 251

6. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 256

Citation ................................................................................................................ 259

Index .................................................................................................................... 261

About Author

Garrett O'Brein obtained his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biophysics from Community College, Wrexham. His books and research papers in the areas of the protein dynamics, quantum biology and molecular biophysics have been published worldwide. He is a Guest Lecturer at Open Public Research University, Palencia. He has authored and edited more than 50 articles, journal papers and book chapters in the field of biophysics. O'Brein holds prominent memberships of international associations and has been an active participant at international conferences and forums.