Principles of Protein X-ray Crystallography


Book Description

New textbooks at all levels of chemistry appear with great regularity. Some fields such as basic biochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and chemical thermodynamics are well represented by many excellent texts, and new or revised editions are published sufficiently often to keep up with progress in research. However, some areas of chemistry, especially many of those taught at the graduate level, suffer from a real lack of up to-date textbooks. The most serious needs occur in fields that are rapidly changing. Textbooks in these subjects usually have to be written by scientists actually involved in the research that is advancing the field. It is not often easy to persuade such individuals to set time aside to help spread the knowledge they have accumulated. Our goal, in this series, is to pinpoint areas of chemistry where recent progress has outpaced what is covered in any available textbooks, and then seek out and persuade experts in these fields to produce relatively concise but instructive intro ductions to their fields. These should serve the needs of one-semester or one-quarter graduate courses in chemistry and biochemistry. In some cases, the availability of texts in active research areas should help stimulate the creation of new courses. Charles R. Cantor v Preface to the Second Edition Since the publication of the previous edition in 1994, X-ray crystallography of proteins has advanced by improvements in existing techniques and by addition of new techniques.




Phasing in Crystallography


Book Description

The book describes phasing techniques in modern crystallography. The main text is dedicated to their simple description, and further mathematical details are contained in the appendices. Practical aspects are described for each specific method, making it a useful tool for the daily work of practising crystallographers.




Protein Crystallography


Book Description

This volume provides methods for modern macromolecular crystallography, including all steps leading to crystal structure determination and analysis. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Protein Crystallography aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.




Serpin Structure and Evolution


Book Description

Serpins are a group of proteins with similar structures that were first identified as a set of proteins able to inhibit proteases. This volume in the Methods in Enzymology series comprehensively covers this topic. With an international board of authors, this volume covers subjects such as Crystallography of serpins and serpin complexes, Serpins as hormone transporters, and Production of serpins using cell free systems. This volume in the Methods in Enzymology series comprehensively covers the topic of serpins With an international board of authors, this volume covers subjects such as Crystallography of serpins and serpin complexes, Serpins as hormone transporters, and Production of serpins using cell free systems




Protein Structure, Stability, and Folding


Book Description

In Protein Structure, Stability, and Folding, Kenneth P. Murphy and a panel of internationally recognized investigators describe some of the newest experimental and theoretical methods for investigating these critical events and processes. Among the techniques discussed are the many methods for calculating many of protein stability and dynamics from knowledge of the structure, and for performing molecular dynamics simulations of protein unfolding. New experimental approaches presented include the use of co-solvents, novel applications of hydrogen exchange techniques, temperature-jump methods for looking at folding events, and new strategies for mutagenesis experiments. Unique in its powerful combination of theory and practice, Protein Structure, Stability, and Folding offers protein and biophysical chemists the means to gain a more comprehensive understanding of some of this complex area by detailing many of the major techniques in use today.




Molecular Embryology


Book Description

Most people have some interest in embryos; this probably results, in part, from their interest in understanding the biological origins of themselves and their offspring and, increasingly, concerns about how environmental change such as pollution might affect human development. Obviously, et- cal considerations preclude experimental studies of human embryos and, c- sequently, the developmental biologist has turned to other species to examine this process. Fortunately, the most significant conclusion to be drawn from the experimental embryology of the last two decades is the manner in which orthologous or closely related molecules are deployed to mediate similar - velopmental processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The molecular mechanisms regulating processes fundamental to most animals, such as axial patterning or axon guidance, are frequently conserved during evolution. (It is now widely believed that the differences between phyla and classes are the result of new genes, arising mostly by duplication and divergence of extant sequences, regulating the appearance of derived characters. ) Other vertebrates are obviously most likely to use the same devel- mental mechanisms as humans and, within the vertebrate subphylum, the - parent degree of conservation of developmental mechanism is considerable. It has long been recognized that particular vertebrate species offer either d- tinct advantages in investigating particular stages of development or are - pecially amenable to particular manipulations. No single animal can provide all the answers because not all types of experiments can be carried out on a single species.




Computational Structural Biology


Book Description

This is a comprehensive introduction to Landau-Lifshitz equations and Landau-Lifshitz-Maxwell equations, beginning with the work by Yulin Zhou and Boling Guo in the early 1980s and including most of the work done by this Chinese group led by Zhou and Guo since. The book focuses on aspects such as the existence of weak solutions in multi dimensions, existence and uniqueness of smooth solutions in one dimension, relations with harmonic map heat flows, partial regularity and long time behaviors. The book is a valuable reference book for those who are interested in partial differential equations, geometric analysis and mathematical physics. It may also be used as an advanced textbook by graduate students in these fields.




Structural Bioinformatics


Book Description

Structural Bioinformatics was the first major effort to show the application of the principles and basic knowledge of the larger field of bioinformatics to questions focusing on macromolecular structure, such as the prediction of protein structure and how proteins carry out cellular functions, and how the application of bioinformatics to these life science issues can improve healthcare by accelerating drug discovery and development. Designed primarily as a reference, the first edition nevertheless saw widespread use as a textbook in graduate and undergraduate university courses dealing with the theories and associated algorithms, resources, and tools used in the analysis, prediction, and theoretical underpinnings of DNA, RNA, and proteins. This new edition contains not only thorough updates of the advances in structural bioinformatics since publication of the first edition, but also features eleven new chapters dealing with frontier areas of high scientific impact, including: sampling and search techniques; use of mass spectrometry; genome functional annotation; and much more. Offering detailed coverage for practitioners while remaining accessible to the novice, Structural Bioinformatics, Second Edition is a valuable resource and an excellent textbook for a range of readers in the bioinformatics and advanced biology fields. Praise for the previous edition: "This book is a gold mine of fundamental and practical information in an area not previously well represented in book form." —Biochemistry and Molecular Education "... destined to become a classic reference work for workers at all levels in structural bioinformatics...recommended with great enthusiasm for educators, researchers, and graduate students." —BAMBED "...a useful and timely summary of a rapidly expanding field." —Nature Structural Biology "...a terrific job in this timely creation of a compilation of articles that appropriately addresses this issue." —Briefings in Bioinformatics




Biomolecular Crystallography


Book Description

Synthesizing over thirty years of advances into a comprehensive textbook, Biomolecular Crystallography describes the fundamentals, practices, and applications of protein crystallography. Illustrated in full-color by the author, the text describes mathematical and physical concepts in accessible and accurate language. Biomolecular Crystallography will be a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and practitioners in structural biology, crystallography, and structural bioinformatics.