PREFACE
points out, even more likely that the control is exerted by modifying the
access of substrate to enzyme system. Membrane permeability is coming even more strongly to the fore than in earlier physiology, and already the biochemist is beginning to talk about "permeases," which
may or may not be themselves enzymatic.
George G. Laties* survey deals with another aspect of regulation:
the control of cellular work, including growth and development, by oxidative phosphorylation; the dependence of oxidative phosphorylation
on the respiratory rate; and, most interestingly, the regulation of respiratory rate itself by a sort of feedback mechanism, through the availability
of phosphate acceptors in the cell. Thus, by regulating the supply of
phosphate acceptors suoh as adenosine diphosphate, the energy-consuming processes of growth and maturation may to a certain degree adaptively regulate the rate of respiration, analogously to the regulation of
the respiratory rate by the piling up of an oxygen debt, and ultimate
production of carbon dioxide, through muscle contraction. It would
be extremely interesting to examine a similar review relating to animal
instead of plant metabolism.
From a mountain top one cannot look in every direction at once. It
is enough that this third volume of the SURVEY OF BIOLOGICAL PROGRESS
can offer six reviews of such insight and stimulating quality. The succeeding volumes will endeavor to maintain their level of excellence and
to fill in the remainder of the biological panorama.
BENTLEY GLASS
Johns Hopkins
University
May, 1957
points out, even more likely that the control is exerted by modifying the
access of substrate to enzyme system. Membrane permeability is coming even more strongly to the fore than in earlier physiology, and already the biochemist is beginning to talk about "permeases," which
may or may not be themselves enzymatic.
George G. Laties* survey deals with another aspect of regulation:
the control of cellular work, including growth and development, by oxidative phosphorylation; the dependence of oxidative phosphorylation
on the respiratory rate; and, most interestingly, the regulation of respiratory rate itself by a sort of feedback mechanism, through the availability
of phosphate acceptors in the cell. Thus, by regulating the supply of
phosphate acceptors suoh as adenosine diphosphate, the energy-consuming processes of growth and maturation may to a certain degree adaptively regulate the rate of respiration, analogously to the regulation of
the respiratory rate by the piling up of an oxygen debt, and ultimate
production of carbon dioxide, through muscle contraction. It would
be extremely interesting to examine a similar review relating to animal
instead of plant metabolism.
From a mountain top one cannot look in every direction at once. It
is enough that this third volume of the SURVEY OF BIOLOGICAL PROGRESS
can offer six reviews of such insight and stimulating quality. The succeeding volumes will endeavor to maintain their level of excellence and
to fill in the remainder of the biological panorama.
BENTLEY GLASS
Johns Hopkins
University
May, 1957