The World of Nano-Biomechanics: Mechanical Imaging and Measurement by Atomic Force Microscopy - Hardcover

Ikai

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 044452777X ISBN 13: 9780444527776

Publisher: Elsevier Science, 2007

Synopsis

By using nanotechnological methods, we can now poke around protein molecules, genes, membranes, cells and more. Observation of such entities through optical and electron microscopes tempt us to touch and manipulate them. It is now possible to do so, and scientists around the world have started pulling, pushing and cutting small structures at the base of life processes to understand the effect of our hand work.The book describes the physical properties of such life supporting structures from the molecular level with a special emphasis on their designs based on the mechanical strength and flexibility, membrane and other biological nanostructures.

- Describes the basic mechanical features of proteins, DNA, cell membrane and other biological nanostructures - Explains the basic concepts and mathematics of elementary mechanics needed to understand and perform experimental work

About this title

About the Author

Professor Atsushi Ikai graduated from the University of Tokyo with a BS in Biophysics and Biochemistry in 1965. He obtained his PhD in Physical Biochemistry from Duke University in 1971. He worked in protein denaturation and renaturation and then returned to the University of Tokyo to continue his work on protein science. He was appointed Professor of Biodynamics at Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1989. He has published 300 articles in international scientific journals.

From the Back Cover

Mechanics in biology at the nanometer scaled world is an exciting recent development where biology meets physics and engineering. Surrounded by the thermal agitation of solvent molecules, proteins, DNAs, polysaccharides, lipid membranes, and the functional structures based on their interactions must keep their integrity as information processing machineries for their biological functions. The requirement for their mechanical rigidity and flexibility for this purpose is now being studied at the single molecular level using the state-of-the-art technologies of recent development. This book introduces elementary mechanics necessary to understand the biology at the nano-world. Breathtaking experiments such as single molecule stretching of DNA, RNA and proteins are now revealing the internal mechanics of their molecular structure. Just looking into the response of protein molecules against the tensile stretching exposing their interior under the physiological conditions is phenomenal. Written by an author with biochemical and biophysical background, this book is an ideal guidance to bio-nanomechanics for those who are not familiar with mechanical concepts.

Edition details

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 044452777X
• ISBN 13: 9780444527776
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 300