Uniquely integrates the theory and practice of key experimental techniques for bioscience undergraduates. Now includes drug discovery and clinical biochemistry.
This volume brings together the lectures given during the 1999 session of the School of Pure and Applied Biophysics. It concerns a number of spectroscopic tools, both experimental and computational, frequently encountered in biophysical research. The chapters of the book have been compiled from the lecture notes distributed among the participants at the school. The authors are specialists in their respective fields.
This book describes the state of the art across the broad range of spectroscopic techniques used in the study of biological systems. It reviews some of the latest advances achieved in the application of these techniques in the analysis and characterization of small and large biological compounds, covering topics such as VUV/UV and UV-visible spectroscopies, fluorescence spectroscopy, IR and Raman techniques, dynamic light scattering (DLS), circular dichroism (CD/SR-CD), pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance techniques, Mössbauer spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray methods and electron and ion impact spectroscopies. The second part of the book focuses on modelling methods and illustrates how these tools have been used and integrated with other experimental and theoretical techniques including also electron transfer processes and fast kinetics methods. The book will benefit students, researchers and professionals working with these techniques to understand the fundamental mechanisms of biological systems.
The first of its kind, Introduction to Biophysical Methods for Protein and Nucleic Acid Research serves as a text for the experienced researcher and student requiring an introduction to the field. Each chapter presents a description of the physical basis of the method, the type of information that may be obtained with the method, how data should be analyzed and interpreted and, where appropriate, practical tips about procedures and equipment.Key Features* Modern Use of Mass Spectroscopy* NMR Spectroscopy* Molecular Modeling and Graphics* Macintosh and DOS/Windows 3.x disks
Starting from a comprehensive quantum mechanical description, this book introduces the optical (IR, Raman, UV/Vis, CD, fluorescence and laser spectroscopy) and magnetic resonance (1D and 2D-NMR, ESR) techniques. The book offers a timely review of the increasing interest in using spin-label ESR as an alternative structural technique for NMR or X-ray diffraction. Future aspects are treated as well, but only as an illustration of the progress of ESR in this field.
The first systematic summary of biophysical mass spectrometrytechniques Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS) have pushed the frontiersof analytical chemistry into the biophysical laboratory. As aresult, the biophysical community's acceptance of MS-based methods,used to study protein higher-order structure and dynamics, hasaccelerated the expansion of biophysical MS. Despite this growing trend, until now no single text has presentedthe full array of MS-based experimental techniques and strategiesfor biophysics. Mass Spectrometry in Biophysics expertly closesthis gap in the literature. Covering the theoretical background and technical aspects of eachmethod, this much-needed reference offers an unparalleled overviewof the current state of biophysical MS. Mass Spectrometry inBiophysics begins with a helpful discussion of general biophysicalconcepts and MS-related techniques. Subsequent chaptersaddress: * Modern spectrometric hardware * High-order structure and dynamics as probed by various MS-basedmethods * Techniques used to study structure and behavior of non-nativeprotein states that become populated under denaturingconditions * Kinetic aspects of protein folding and enzyme catalysis * MS-based methods used to extract quantitative information onprotein-ligand interactions * Relation of MS-based techniques to other experimental tools * Biomolecular properties in the gas phase Fully referenced and containing a helpful appendix on the physicsof electrospray mass spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry in Biophysicsalso offers a compelling look at the current challenges facingbiomolecular MS and the potential applications that will likelyshape its future.
Incorporating dramatic recent advances, "Methods in Modern Biophysics" presents a fresh and timely introduction to modern biophysical methods. This innovative text surveys and explains the ten key biophysical methods, including those related to biophysical nanotechnology, scanning probe microscopy, X-ray crystallography, ion mobility spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and proteomics. Containing much information previously unavailable in tutorial form, "Methods in Modern Biophysics" employs worked examples and more than 260 illustrations to fully detail the techniques and their underlying mechanisms. The book was written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, researchers, lecturers and professors in biophysics, biochemistry, general biology and related fields.
Current techniques for studying biological macromolecules and their interactions are based on the application of physical methods, ranging from classical thermodynamics to more recently developed techniques for the detection and manipulation of single molecules. Reflecting the advances made in biophysics research over the past decade, and now including a new section on medical imaging, this new edition describes the physical methods used in modern biology. All key techniques are covered, including mass spectrometry, hydrodynamics, microscopy and imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy, electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance. Each method is explained in detail using examples of real-world applications. Short asides are provided throughout to ensure that explanations are accessible to life scientists, physicists and those with medical backgrounds. The book remains an unparalleled and comprehensive resource for graduate students of biophysics and medical physics in science and medical schools, as well as for research scientists looking for an introduction to techniques from across this interdisciplinary field.
Fluorescence spectroscopy has traditionally found wide application in bio chemistry and cell biology. Since there are relatively few naturally occurring fluorescent biomolecules, fluorescence spectroscopy offers a combination of great specificity and sensitivity. Historically, these features have been ex ploited with great success utilizing both intrinsic and extrinsic probes. Re cent applications have built upon these traditional strengths and have re sulted in the development of new instrumental techniques, novel and convenient fluorescent probes, and a deeper, theoretical understanding of fundamental processes. Frequently, fluorescence techniques are tailored to attack a specific biological problem. These new methods in turn produce new physical situations and phenomena which are often of interest to the physical chemist. Thus, progress in one area stimulates renewed interest in other areas. The goal of this book is to provide detailed monographs on the use of fluorescence to investigate problems at the forefront of biochemistry and cell biology. This book is not meant to be a comprehensive survey but rather to highlight areas of recent developments. It is designed to be readable to the novice and yet provide sufficient detail for the expert to keep abreast of recent developments. The book is organized so that it proceeds from simple biochemical sys tems to more complex cell biological ones. Chapter I on fluorescence quenching of biological structures is a good introductory chapter. It intro duces a number of elementary concepts and discusses applications to pro teins and biomembranes.
Biophysical Techniques explains in a readily-accessible way the basics of the various biophysical methods available so students can understand the principles behind the different methods used, and begin to appreciate which tools can be used to probe different biological questions, and the pros and cons of each.