Photonics of biopolymers discusses the processes of energy transformation in photoexcited proteins, nucleic acids, membranes and model systems. The author addresses, among other topics: Light absorption, screening and reabsorption; photometric studies of protein; energy transfer mechanics; fluorescent probes; photomodulation of enzymes, and photoactiviation. Much of the information stems from the authors own wide experience in the field.

1 Introduction to Photonics.- 2 Light Absorption in Ordered Structures.- 3 Screening Hypochromism.- 4 Photometric Estimation of Protein Content in Biological Suspensions.- 5 Screening and Reabsorption of Light.- 6 Multipass Cuvettes for Luminescence Spectroscopy.- 7 Division of Tyrosine and Tryptophan Fluorescence Components.- 8 Spectral Heterogeneity of Tryptophan Emission.- 9 Discrete Emission States in Photoexcited Tryptophan Complexes.- 10 Mechanisms of Exciplex Formation.- 11 Mechanisms of Energy Transfer.- 12 Energy Transfer in Nucleic Acids.- 13 Energy Transfer in Native Proteins.- 14 Energy Transfer in Biomembranes.- 15 Fluorescence Probes.- 16 Pyrene Monomers and Excimers in Membranes.- 17 Photomodulation of Enzyme Activity.- 18 Photoactivation of Animal Membranes and their Chromophores.- 19 Light-Dependent Phosphorylation in Mitochondria.- References.