DNA-Protein Interactions - Softcover

Travers, A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0412259907 ISBN 13: 9780412259906

Publisher: Springer, 1993

Synopsis

Our understanding of the mechanisms regulating gene expression, which determine the patterns of growth and development in all living organisms, ultimately involves the elucidation of the detailed and dy­ namic interactions of proteins with nucleic acids -both DNA and RNA. Until recently the commonly presented view of the DNA double helix­ as visualized on the covers of many textbooks and journals - was as a monotonous static straight rod incapable in its own right of directing the processes necessary for the conservation and selective reading of genetic information. This view, although perhaps extreme, was reinforced by the necessary linearity of genetic maps. The reality is that the biological functions of both DNA and RNA are dependent on complex, and sometimes transient, three-dimensional nucleoprotein structures in which genetically distant elements are brought into close spatial proximity. It is in such structures that the enzymatic manipulation of DNA in the essential biological processes as DNA replication, transcription and recombination are effected - the complexes are the mediators of the 'DNA transactions' of Hatch Echols.

About this title

Review

The value of this analysis is found in the insight it provides into the mechanism of complex systems.... the text is generally well-written and flows smoothly. [this work] is full of insights and stimulating in its unification of structure and function, a perspective that is increasingly inmportant in molecular biology. Trends in Genetics; Andrew Travers has done an excellent job of selecting examples illustrating the central theme of the book...the figures are instructive, well designed and selected...I wholeheartedly recommend this book for all structural and molecular biologists who are interested in the biological role of DNA - Trends in Biochemical Sciences; ...the book does bring together areas in a juxtaposition unique to its author...explained with the authority one would expect from Travers. - Nature; ...the book quickly takes us beyond the straightforward undergraduate texts, to provide a helpful source of information and discussion material for advanced undergraduate or Masters'courses. Journal of Biological Education; The value of this analysis is found in the insight it provides into the mechanism of complex systems.... the text is generally well-written and flows smoothly. [this work] is full of insights and stimulating in its unification of structure and function, a perspective that is increasingly r portant in molecular biology. Trends in Genetics; Overall, this is a densely detailed text and worth its place on the shelf of practitioners in the field who wish to maintain an overall view...gathers together current knowledge in a useful way - Current Biology

Synopsis

The binding of proteins to DNA and the manipulation of DNA by proteins in such processes as recombination, transcription and topoisomerization are crucial aspects of the biological role of DNA in the living cell. This book provides a comprehensive and lucid discussion of the molecular interactions involved, with the emphasis on our current understanding of the structural and mechanistic basis of these phenomena in both bacteria and higher organisms. Among the questions addressed are: how do proteins recognize specific DNA sequences and structures; how do they melt short regions of DNA prior to transcription and DNA replication; how do DNA binding proteins cooperate to regulate transcription; how is DNA packaged in chromatin, and what is the relevance of DNA structure and topology to these processes? The text assumes a knowledge of basic molecular biology and is suitable for research students and final year undergraduates. This book should be of interest to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students and research workers in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0412259907
• ISBN 13: 9780412259906
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192