ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ELUCIDATION OF PROTEIN FUNCTION An essential aid for scientists seeking alternative techniques for investigating proteins Proteins are the building blocks of living organisms, and they play an enormous range of fundamental roles in sustaining and shaping life. The critical determinant of a protein's function is its structure, and the analysis of protein structures has therefore become a significant component of biological research. In recent years, longstanding analytical techniques such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy have been supplemented by a number of new methods which promise to revolutionize the study of proteins and their functions. Analytical Techniques for the Elucidation of Protein Function serves as an introduction to these techniques, which are especially crucial for analyzing intrinsically disordered regions and post-translational modifications. These have revolutionized the study of proteins in recent years, and conventional methods for analyzing protein structures are no longer sufficient to work through their ramifications. This book therefore brings greater awareness of techniques which promise to produce the very cutting edge of protein research. Analytical Techniques for the Elucidation of Protein Function readers will find: • A discussion of techniques including electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, neutron scattering, Raman imaging, and more • Both theoretical background and practical applications for each technique • Contributions from leading international researchers into protein structure and function This practically focused text is a valuable reference for protein and peptide analysis and synthesis researchers, as well as for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in the life sciences.
