Molecular Biophysics for the Life Sciences [Hardcover]

This volume provides an overview of the development and scope of molecular biophysics and in-depth discussions of the major experimental methods that enable biological macromolecules to be studied at atomic resolution.? ?It also reviews the physical chemical concepts that are needed to interpret the experimental results and to understand how the structure, dynamics, and physical properties of biological macromolecules enable them to perform their biological functions.? Reviews of research on three disparate biomolecular machinesDNA helicases, ATP synthases, and myosin--illustrate how the combination of theory and experiment leads to new insights and new questions.?This book covers research themes and strategies in molecular biophysics. It explains the goals of biophysical research as well as details investigative tools, the relevance of biological research to other fields, and future opportunities in the field.

Introduction: Molecular Biophysics and the Life Sciences.-?Structural, Physical, and Chemical Principles.-?Part I. The Experimental Tools of Molecular Biophysics.-?Optical Spectroscopic Methods for the Analysis of Biological Macromolecules.-?Diffraction and Scattering of X-Rays and Neutrons.-?Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.-?Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.-?Mass Spectrometry.-?Single Molecule Methods.-?Part II. Biological Macromolecules as Molecular Machines: Three Examples.-?Helicase Unwinding at the Replication Fork.-?Rotary Motor ATPases.-?Biophysical approaches to understanding the action of myosin as a molecular machine.-?Part III. Future Prospects.-?Future Prospects.

From the reviews: