Biomedical research will be revolutionised by the current efforts to sequence the human genome and the genomes of model organisms. Of the newly sequenced genes, 50% code for proteins of unknown functions, while as little as 5% of sequences in mammalian genomes code for proteins. New, genome-wide approaches are needed to draw together the knowledge that is emerging simultaneously in a number of fields of genome research. This volume is a high-level survey of the newly emerging concepts of structural biology and functional genomics for biologists, biochemists and medical researchers interested in genome research. Topics included are chromosome and chromatin organisation, novel DNA and RNA structures, DNA flexibility, supercoiling, prediction of protein functions, strategies for large scale structural analysis, and computer modelling.
Researchers in structural genomics continue to search for biochemical and cellular functions of proteins as well as the ways in which proteins assemble into functional pathways and networks using either experimental or computational approaches. Based on the experience of leading international experts, Structural Genomics and High Throughput Stru
One of the holy grails in biology is the ability to predict functional characteristics from an organism's genetic sequence. Despite decades of research since the first sequencing of an organism in 1995, scientists still do not understand exactly how the information in genes is converted into an organism's phenotype, its physical characteristics. Functional genomics attempts to make use of the vast wealth of data from "-omics" screens and projects to describe gene and protein functions and interactions. A February 2020 workshop was held to determine research needs to advance the field of functional genomics over the next 10-20 years. Speakers and participants discussed goals, strategies, and technical needs to allow functional genomics to contribute to the advancement of basic knowledge and its applications that would benefit society. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.
A wealth of information has accumulated over the last few years on the human genome. The new insights have completely changed the focus of protein analysis. It is no longer time-consuming analysis of unknown products, but rather selective identifications of individual forms, modifications and processings, and overall analysis of global protein outputs from cells and tissues in health and disease. This book gears to the rising need of sensitive, accurate, and fast separation and identification techniques in proteomics. It discusses current methodologies of modern protein analysis, from isolation and sample preparation, over analysis and identification, to final characterization. Several evaluations concentrate on the now productive approaches of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, but alternative methods and further perspectives are also outlined. The book includes an overlook over current databases to connect protein analysis data with all available information,...
Structural Genomics and Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols focuses on high throughput structure determination methods and how they can be applied to lay the groundwork for structure aided drug discovery. The methods and protocols that are described can be applied in any laboratory interested in using detailed structural information to advance the initial stages of drug discovery. 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 key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Structural Genomics and Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further study into structural genomics approach as an efficient initial step toward drug discovery and the methods described will be useful to anyone interested in moving in this direction.
Structural genomics is the systematic determination of 3-D structures of proteins representative of the range of protein structure and function found in nature. The goal is to build a body of structural information that will predict the structure and potential function for almost any protein from knowledge of its coding sequence. This is essential information for understanding the functioning of the human proteome, the ensemble of tens of thousands of proteins specified by the human genome. While most structural biologists pursue structures of individual proteins or protein groups, specialists in structural genomics pursue structures of proteins on a genome wide scale. This implies large-scale cloning, expression and purification. One main advantage of this approach is economy of scale. Examines the three dimensional structure of all proteins of a given organism, by experimental methods such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy Looks at structural genomics as a foundation of drug discovery as discovering new medicines is becoming more challenging and the pharmaceutical industry is looking to new technologies to help in this mission
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
Sequence - Evolution - Function is an introduction to the computational approaches that play a critical role in the emerging new branch of biology known as functional genomics. The book provides the reader with an understanding of the principles and approaches of functional genomics and of the potential and limitations of computational and experimental approaches to genome analysis. Sequence - Evolution - Function should help bridge the "digital divide" between biologists and computer scientists, allowing biologists to better grasp the peculiarities of the emerging field of Genome Biology and to learn how to benefit from the enormous amount of sequence data available in the public databases. The book is non-technical with respect to the computer methods for genome analysis and discusses these methods from the user's viewpoint, without addressing mathematical and algorithmic details. Prior practical familiarity with the basic methods for sequence analysis is a major advantage, but a reader without such experience will be able to use the book as an introduction to these methods. This book is perfect for introductory level courses in computational methods for comparative and functional genomics.
