Alexander Tzagoloff – författare

In writing this book, I found the choice of a suitable title to be a most vexing problem. Lehninger''s excellent earlier monograph The Mitochondrion had already appropriated in the domain of library cards what appeared to be the most fitting description of the subject matter. Once the text was completed, however, it became obvious that pluralization was the simplest solution to this dilemma. Variations in the structure and function of this organelle and recent discoveries of the phylogenetic diversity in the organization and genetic con­ tent of its DNA all seemed to justify the idea that there are as many different mitochondria as there are mitochondriologists. Even though my initial intention was to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students of cell biology with supplemental reading material on topics usually dealt with in a cursory manner by most standard texts, inevitably the scope was broadened to attract the interest of more seasoned readers who might be familiar with some but not other areas of mitochondrial studies. Con­ sistent with the original aim, literature citations have been kept to a minimum and are avoided in the main body of the text for purposes of readability.

In writing this book, I found the choice of a suitable title to be a most vexing problem. Lehninger's excellent earlier monograph The Mitochondrion had already appropriated in the domain of library cards what appeared to be the most fitting description of the subject matter. Once the text was completed, however, it became obvious that pluralization was the simplest solution to this dilemma. Variations in the structure and function of this organelle and recent discoveries of the phylogenetic diversity in the organization and genetic con­ tent of its DNA all seemed to justify the idea that there are as many different mitochondria as there are mitochondriologists. Even though my initial intention was to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students of cell biology with supplemental reading material on topics usually dealt with in a cursory manner by most standard texts, inevitably the scope was broadened to attract the interest of more seasoned readers who might be familiar with some but not other areas of mitochondrial studies. Con­ sistent with the original aim, literature citations have been kept to a minimum and are avoided in the main body of the text for purposes of readability.

In writing this book, I found the choice of a suitable title to be a most vexing problem. Lehninger's excellent earlier monograph The Mitochondrion had already appropriated in the domain of library cards what appeared to be the most fitting description of the subject matter. Once the text was completed, however, it became obvious that pluralization was the simplest solution to this dilemma. Variations in the structure and function of this organelle and recent discoveries of the phylogenetic diversity in the organization and genetic con­ tent of its DNA all seemed to justify the idea that there are as many different mitochondria as there are mitochondriologists. Even though my initial intention was to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students of cell biology with supplemental reading material on topics usually dealt with in a cursory manner by most standard texts, inevitably the scope was broadened to attract the interest of more seasoned readers who might be familiar with some but not other areas of mitochondrial studies. Con­ sistent with the original aim, literature citations have been kept to a minimum and are avoided in the main body of the text for purposes of readability.

There are currently a growing number of laboratories actively studying the mechanism by which various biological membranes are assembled. This area of research is still relatively new to biochemists and molecular biologists, but in view of the rapid progress being made, a review of the field at this time is justified. The present volume focuses on the biogenesis of three related membranes. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are semiautonomous organelles whose biogenesis is carried out partly in the external cytoplasm and partly by the organelles themselves. Both membranes are principally concerned with the energy metabolism of the cell, and this commonality of function is reflected in a considerable degree of similarity in their ul­ trastructure and enzymatic composition. Although the bacterial cell membrane is a much more diversified structure, it also fulfills the basic energy requirements of the cell, and depending on the organism, this can take the form of photosynthesis or oxidative phosphorylation. The addi­ tional consideration that prokaryotic organisms may, in fact, be the evolu­ tionary ancestors of mitochondria and chloroplasts, makes it all the more compelling that those interested in biogenesis be aware of new develop­ ments in each of these three areas. In organizing this book, I felt that the contributors should summarize and bring up to date their own research and review the literature only in­ sofar as would be necessary to provide the proper perspective for their work.