Derek Marsh is a member of the research staff of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen. Dr. Marsh obtained his B.A. degree in physics from the University in Oxford in 1967 and his D.Phil. degree from the same institution in 1971. He worked subsequently at the Astbury Department of Biophysics, University of Leeds; at the Biology Division of the National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa; at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen; and at the Biochemistry Department of the University of Oxford, before moving permanently to Göttingen in 1975.Dr. Marsh's research interests centre on studies of the structure and dynamics of biological membranes and of lipid bilayer model membranes, using different biophysical techniques, the principal being spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

• INTRODUCTION: Lipid Classification. Nomenclature of Lipids. Fatty Acids. PHOSPHOLIPIDS: Phospholipid Classification and Molecular Weights. Fatty Acid Composition of Naturally Occurring Phospholipids and of Membrane Lipids from the Yeast Lipidome. Physicochemical Properties of Phospholipids. Phospholipid pKas. Crystal Structures of Phospholipids. Phase Behavior and Hydration. Calorimetric Data. X-Ray Diffraction Data. Densitometric Data. Elastic Constants. Dynamic Properties. Phase Transition Temperatures. Phase Diagrams: Binary and Ternary Mixtures. Non-Lamellar Phases (Hexagonal and Cubic). Critical Micelle Concentrations and Lipid Transfer. Bilayer-Bilayer Interactions. Ion-Binding Constants. GLYCOLIPIDS: Glycolipid Classification and Molecular Weights. Fatty Acid Composition of Naturally Occurring Glycolipids. Physicochemical Properties of Glycolipids. Glycolipid pKas. Crystal Structures. Phase Behavior and Hydration. Calorimetric Data. X-Ray Diffraction Data. Densitometric Data. Elastic Constants. Dynamic Properties. Phase Transition Temperatures. Phase Diagrams: Binary Mixtures. Non-Lamellar Phases (Hexagonal and Cubic). Critical Micelle Concentrations and Lipid Transfer. Bilayer-Bilayer Interactions. Ion-Binding Constants.

"It is no wonder that the book was published by CRC Press, with the vast amount and superior quality of the information contained therein. The work has been dramatically expanded and updated from the first edition, and is fortunately now in print once again."—Matthew D. Metcalf, Pharm.D, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Worcester, USA, from HerbalGram