During undergraduate courses in biochemistry you learned what proteins do as
enzymes, receptors, hormones, motors or structural components. The more interesting
question, how proteins can achieve all these functions, is usually asked only
in graduate courses, and in many cases it is a topic of ongoing research.
Here I want to present an overviewof the methods used in such research projects,
their possible applications, and their limitations. I have limited the presentation to
a level where a general background in chemistry, physics, and mathematics is sufficient
to follow the discussion. Quantum mechanics, where required, is treated in a
purely qualitative manner. A good understanding of protein structure and enzymology
is required, but these topics I have covered in a separate volume [44].
Apart from graduate training in protein science this book should also be useful
as a reference for people who work with proteins.
After studying this book you should be able to collaboratewith workerswho have
the required instruments and use these methods routinely. You should also be able
to understand papers which make use of such methods. However, before embarking
on independent research using these methods you are directed to the literature cited
for a more in-depth, more quantitative coverage.
This book focuses on the biophysical chemistry of proteins. The use of nucleic
acid-based methods [360], although in many cases very relevant and informative, is
outside the scope of this text. Also only hinted at are modern approaches to computational
biochemistry [20, 180, 231]. In the end, the models derived from such
techniques have to be verified by experiments. If this book stimulates such studies,
it has served its purpose. |