Microscopy, Optical Spectroscopy, and Macroscopic Techniques: 22 (Methods in Molecular Biology, 22) - Hardcover

Jones, Christopher; Mulloy, Barbara; Thomas, Adrian H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0896032329 ISBN 13: 9780896032323

Publisher: Humana, 1993

Synopsis

This is the second of three volumes of Methods in Molecular Biology that deal with Physical Methods of Analysis. The first of these, Spectroscopic Methods and Analyses dealt with NMR spec­ troscopy, mass spectrometry, and metalloprotein techniques, and the third will cover X-ray crystallographic methods. As with the first volume. Microscopy, Optical Spectroscopy, and Macroscopic Techniques is intended to provide a basic understand­ ing for the biochemist or biologist who needs to collaborate with spe­ cialists in applying the techniques of modern physical chemistry to biological macromolecules. The methods treated in this book fall into four groups. Part One covers microscopy, which aims to visualize individual molecules or complexes of several molecules. Electron microscopy is the more familiar of these, while scanning tunneling microscopy is a new and rapidly developing tool. Methods for determining the shapes and sizes of molecules in solution are described in Part Two, which includes chapters on X-ray and neutron scattering, light scattering, and ult- centrifugation. Calorimetry, described in Part Three, provides the means to monitor processes involving thermodynamic changes, whether these are intramolecular, such as conformational transition, or the interactions between solutes or between a solute and its sol­ vent. Part Four is concerned with optical and infrared spectroscopy and describes applications ranging from the measurement of protein concentration by UV absorbance to the analysis of secondary struc­ ture using circular dichroism and Fourier-transform infrared spec­ troscopy.

About this title

Review

...a quite fascinating book. It describes a range of techniques with which I am familiar in the literature, but have never actually used and explains the practicalities behind the instrumentation and its use...very readable and informative.-Dave Roberts, Natural History Museum-Society for General Microbiology Quarterly

Synopsis

This superb survey of the possible applications of physiochemical techniques to the analysis of biological macromolecules is designed for the practicing biochemist or biologist who wants to use the technique but lacks the experience. The contributors emphasize practical aspects, such as constraints on sample quantity, purity, and presentation; the problems of time and expense involved; the problems a technique is best suited to solve; and how the results may be interpreted. Among the methods examined are optical and infrared spectroscopy, microscopy, ultracentrifugation, calorimetry, X-ray and neutron scattering, and light scattering. This book will enable the reader to confidently collaborate with specialists in applying these techniques.

Edition details

• Publisher: Humana
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0896032329
• ISBN 13: 9780896032323
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 262