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Many basic life processes such as oxygen transport, electron transport, photosynthesis and plant development, are mediated by tetrapyrroles. It has long been recognized that optical and other physicochemical properties of tetrapyrroles are highly important not only for characterization of the various relevant systems but also to provide a key role in the understanding of their structural and functional aspects. The symposium described below was devoted mainly to recent advances in the optical and molecular properties of biologically important systems, involving both cyclic and open‐chain tetrapyrroles. The topics presented and discussed ranged from physics and chemistry to plant biology and medicine. This interdisciplinary character of the meeting conforms with previous symposia also held in Konstanz: Protein‐Ligand Interactions (1974) and Transport by Proteins (1978) [see FEBS Lett. (1975) 54, 1‐4, and FEBS Lett. (1979) 103, 1‐4]. In order to stimulate exchange of ideas, new experimental approaches and techniques, emphasis was placed on the discussions following each presentation, reports of which are also included in the book published. Preprints of the papers presented were distributed some time prior to the symposium. The symposium was mainly supported by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk and the University of Konstanz. The meeting was based on 29 invited lectures which were divided into four sections.

Many basic life processes such as oxygen transport, electron transport, photosynthesis and plant development, are mediated by tetrapyrroles. It has long been recognized that optical and other physicochemical properties of tetrapyrroles are highly important not only for characterization of the various relevant systems but also to provide a key role in the understanding of their structural and functional aspects. The symposium described below was devoted mainly to recent advances in the optical and molecular properties of biologically important systems, involving both cyclic and open-chain tetrapyrroles. The topics presented and discussed ranged from physics and chemistry to plant biology and medicine. This interdisciplinary character of the meeting conforms with previous symposia also held in Konstanz: Protein-Ligand Interactions (1974) and Transport by Proteins (1978) [see FEBS Lett. (1975) 54, 1-4, and FEBS Lett. (1979) 103, 1-4]. In order to stimulate exchange of ideas, new experimental approaches and techniques, emphasis was placed on the discussions following each presentation, reports of which are also included in the book published. Preprints of the papers presented were distributed some time prior to the symposium. The symposium was mainly supported by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk and the University of Konstanz. The meeting was based on 29 invited lectures which were divided into four sections.