E-grāmata: Macromolecular Crystallography: conventional and high-throughput methods

Graduate students, researchers and specialists will be the audience for this resource which describes conventional and high-throughput methods in 17 chapters written or co-written by an international group of specialists. The first two chapters describe the theory and practice that governs classical and high-throughput cloning, expression and purification with discussion of problems of protein expression and folding. Subsequent chapters discuss automation of non-conventional crystallization techniques, in-house macromolecular data collection, and high-throughput crystallographic data collection at synchrotrons. Later chapters consider more specialized issues, including RNA crystallogenesis, virus crystallography, and applications in drug design. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Macromolecular Crystallography is the study of macromolecules (proteins and nucleic acids) using X-ray crystallographic techniques in order to determine their molecular structure. The knowledge of accurate molecular structures is a pre-requisite for rational drug design, and for structure-based function studies to aid the development of effective therapeutic agents and drugs. The successful determination of the complete genome (genetic sequence) of several species (including humans) has recently directed scientific attention towards identifying the structure and function of the complete complement of proteins that make up that species; a new and rapidly growing field of study called 'structural genomics'. There are now several important and well-funded global initiatives in operation to identify all of the proteins of key model species. One of the main requirements for these initiatives is a high-throughput crystallization facility to speed-up the protein identification process. The extent to which these technologies have advanced, calls for an updated review of current crystallographic theory and practice. This practical reference book features the latest conventional and high-throughput methods, and includes contributions from a team of internationally recognized leaders and experts. It will be of relevance and use to graduate students, research scientists and professionals currently working in the field of conventional and high-throughput macromolecular crystallography.