In the past few years, the scientific community has witnessed significant progress in the study of ion channels. Technological advancement in biophysics, molecular biology, and immunology has been greatly ac- celerated, making it possible to conduct experiments which were deemed very difficult if not impossible in the past. For example, patch-clamp techniques can now be used to measure ionic currents generated by almost every type of cell, thereby allowing us to analyze whole-cell and single- channel events. It is now possible to incorporate purified ion channel components into lipid bilayers...

'Further establishes the reputation of the series...an invaluable resource.' -Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, from a review of Volume 3 Volume 4 explores such emergent topics as: three-dimensional conceptions of ion channel proteins based on the available structural and functional data; the structure, pharmacology, and regulation of the GABA_A receptors; and the Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in adrenal chromatic cell membranes.

Substantial progress has been made during the past three decades in the development of a variety of chemical means to control insect pests. A large number of highly effective insecticides have been developed, and many of them have contributed to a great extent to increasing agricultural productivity and eradicating diseases transmitted by vectors. However, contamination of our environment caused by various pesticides has become a serious problem, and various attempts have been made to develop newer methods of con trolling insect pests. One of the approaches is to develop newer insecticides...

Knowledge of the mechanism of action of drugs at cellular, subcellular, or molecular levels is of vital importance not only in giving the basis of inter pretation of the systemic action of drugs but also in improving existing drugs; in designing new forms of drugs; and in giving the basis of therapeutic applications. Classical pharmacology, concerning the action of drugs at integrated levels, does not necessarily give sufficient information as to the mechanism of action of drugs. A variety of sophisticated concepts utilizing the methods of physics, chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, and...