Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel, Roland K.O. Sigel (Eds.): “The Alkali Metal Ions : Their Role for Life”

Abstract

Honestly, first I did not feel too enthusiastic about writing this review. Alkali metal ions, filled shells, no unpaired electrons, no d-d-transitions, hardly exciting for someone used to work with iron, copper, or molybdenum enzymes! However, when being active in Bioinorganic Chemistry, you will stumble across the Classification of Cations in Biological Systems (R.J.P. Williams, Q. Rev. Chem. Soc. 1970, 24, 331). Clearly, the biological significance of Na+ and K+ is very different from that of the transition metal ions. Whereas the transition metal ions are strongly bound and involved in redox catalysis, the Group I metal ions are very mobile, thus can act as charge carriers in energy transfer and cell signaling. To make a long story short, volume 16 of the Sigel Series Metal Ions in Life Sciences is a great book, it provides an excellent up-to-date review of the impact of alkali metal ions on life. The sixteen chapters are well-written while concise, they are carefully referenced, and the quality of the schemes, figures and tables is excellent. Relevant bioinorganic chemistry and analytical techniques are critically discussed, and interesting background and bigger picture information is well illustrated.