Product Description

Macromolecules are the proteins and nucleic acids upon which life depends. Understanding the action of biological macromolecules (giant molecules) requires detailed knowledge of their structures. Most of the more than ten thousand known structures of protein and nucleic acids were obtained by x-ray crystallography, the standard mechanism for determining protein structure. Essentially, proteins are frozen into rigid crystals, which can be stacked up in a repeating pattern--like supermarket displays. The structure of each individual crystal can be determined by the way x-rays are bent when they pass through the composite crystal. Protein structure is essential when investigating protein interactions and planning drug development.
Crystallography Made Crystal Clear, Second Edition explains how scientists discover the structures of the macromolecules. Scientists do not see these molecules directly. Instead, they build models as a means of interpreting data from x-ray diffraction by crystals, or by irradiation by other forms of energy. Users of these models need to know how they are obtained in order to know what they are seeing when they study a model of a macromolecule. They also need to know how to judge whether conclusions they draw from the molecular models are really supported by the models. This book uses visual and geometric models to help readers understand the mathematics that forms the basis of x-ray crystallography.
The field of protein crystallography is growing every day and has been instrumental in discovering the molecular principles of biology and in discovering new drugs, such as the recent protease inhibitors for AIDS. The field includes the largest percentage of Nobel prizes than any other scientific discipline. Every major university and drug company has a protein crystallography laboratory and this book is an invaluable aid to those wishing to practice protein crystallography
or just learn more about how it is actually done.

Key Features
* Provides clear, understandable descriptions of principles of X-ray crystallography
* Leads reader through unintimidating and thorough explanations of the underlying mathematics
* Provides abundant illustrations, including diagrams, charts, photographs, and color stereo
* images
* Explains how to read crystallography papers in research journals
* Includes brief descriptions of other diffraction methods (neutron, electron, Laue) and the kinds
* of structural information they can provide
* Introduces other methods of macromolecular structure determination (NMR spectroscopy and
* homology modeling), and provides guidance in judging the quality of these models

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #925526 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 286 pages

Review
"Had [this book] appeared ten years ago, learning the tools of this trade would have been easier."
-TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
"This terse, well-written book lives up to its title in great measure, and, in my opinion is now the best reference for noncrystallographers who want to know more about X-ray diffraction and the data that result from it."
-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
"Crystallography is not an easy subject to teach or to learn, and Rhodes provides a comprehensive, yet less intimidating, treatment of the theoretical background, which should be understandable to a novice. The author assumes little mathematical knowledge and explains the physical significance of all equations."
-CHOICE

Biophysical Journal
"Crystallography Made Crystal Clear bridges the gap between brief chapters and textbooks in biochemistry and proteins and complete treatments aimed at the professional crystallographer...All of the problems one encounters, from recognizing twinned crystals and visualizing the geometry of a precession camera, through identifying heavy atom binding sites from Patterson maps, to fitting electron density maps and refining the structure are dealt with patiently and creatively...the text has a light touch which both novices and noncrystallographers will appreciate...The thirteen color plates are excellent...Given the brevity of the text, it is remarkably complete...This book will be useful in many contexts - in elementary courses in crystallography, in biochemistry courses as an auxiliary text, in crystallographic laboratories as a handbook for novices, and in molecular biology laboratories as an introduction to the Protein Data Base and molecular graphics. It can be perused in an afternoon which will be well spent."

Biochemical Education
"... I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in macromolecules and how their structures are solved. The material is well presented and easy to read and would provide a good starting point for an undergraduate considering going into the field. It also provides sufficient information to be used as a text in a course on biophysical techniques."