Alkali Metal Ions: Their Role for Life

“There is no doubt that this book will satisfy those more familiar with the alkali metal ions and their manifold functions as well as novices alike. Experts will find countless pieces of information that they might not have been aware of and students new to field will appreciate this volume as a great introduction to an interdisciplinary field that continues to grow and provides future challenges for basic research and the applied sciences.” (Martin Egli, Transition Metal Chemistry, Vol. 41, 2016)

• Bioinorganic Chemistry of the Alkali Metal Ions.- Determination of Alkali Ions in Biological and Environmental Samples.- Solid State Structures of Alkali Metal Ion Complexes Formed by Low-Molecular-Weight Ligands of Biological Relevance.- Discriminating Properties of Alkali Metal Ions towards the Constituents of Proteins and Nucleic Acids. Conclusions from Gas-Phase and Theoretical Studies.- Alkali Metal Ion Complexes with Phosphates, Nucleotides, Amino Acids, and Related Ligands of Biological Relevance. Their Properties in Solution.- Sodium and Potassium Interactions with Nucleic Acids.- Role of Alkali Metal Ions in G-Quadruplex Nucleic Acid Structure and Stability.- Sodium and Potassium Ions in Proteins and Enzyme Catalysis.- Roles and Transport of Sodium and Potassium in Plants.- Potassium versus Sodium Selectivity in Monovalent Ion Channel Selectivity Filters.- Sodium as Coupling Cation in Respiratory Energy Conversion.- Sodium-Proton (Na+/H+)Antiporters: Properties and Roles in Health and Disease.- Proton-Potassium (H+/K+) ATPases: Properties and Roles in Health and Diseases.- Bioinspired Artificial Sodium and Potassium Ion Channels.- Lithium in Medicine: Mechanisms of Action.- Sodium and Potassium Relating to Parkinson's Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury.