IS THE BRAIN READY FOR PHYSICAL ORGANIC-CHEMISTRY

Efforts to developed detailed insights into the structure and function of the molecules of memory, thought and sensory perception - physical organic chemistry on the brain - are described. By combining more con ventional chemical tools with a number of techniques adapted from mode m biology, it is now possible to perform systematic structure-function studies on the integral membrane proteins that play a central role in molecular neurobiology. There are substantial challenges associated w ith such studies, but we believe the potential payoff is considerable. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.