Exploring Proteins. a Student's Guide to Experimental Skills and Methods

ABOUT THIS BOOK

• A unique blend of background theory, experimental details, and data handling guidance help students to develop vital biomolecular research skills.
• Encourages learning by doing throughout: worked examples and self-test questions are accompanied by an extensive bank of questions at the end of each chapter, to stimulate hands-on learning.
• Marginal comments give guidance on best practice, and point out common pitfalls and problems, to support the reader as they master the subject.
• Includes specimen data to enable the reader to develop their data-handling and analysis skills even if they are unable to collect data for themselves.
• Carefully balanced coverage includes guidance on recording and presenting data, helping the reader view the content in the context of the broader process of experimental research.
• Online Resource Centre features additional materials for both lecturers and students.

Exploring Proteins offers a complete course in developing the skills - and self-confidence - to be able to understand the way proteins behave and the basis of the methods used to separate, identify and characterise them.

Finding out about biological molecules and systems is a hands-on, experimental task: Exploring Proteins equips the reader with the skills they need to plan and carry out this experimental work, and to understand, analyse, and present the data their work generates.

With a focus throughout on active learning, the book blends background information on proteins and protein biochemistry, with the methods used to study them, featuring extensive worked examples and questions throughout to help the reader check their understanding, and develop critical data-handling skills for themselves.

It also offers complete flexibility - with sample data sets for readers without access to a lab, and suggested protocols for use where students can be given the opportunity to collect data for themselves.

With the emphasis of research shifting from genomics to proteomics, there has never been a more important time for students to master key biomolecular research skills. Exploring Proteins is the ideal companion and guide to ensure students develop the skills they need.

Online Resource Centre
The Online Resource Centre to accompany Exploring Proteins features the following resources for registered adopters of the book:

· Figures from the book in electronic format
· Suggested protocols for the carrying out of experiments included in the book

For students:

· Detailed solutions to the end-of-chapter problems

Readership: Intermediate and advanced biomolecular science undergraduates following a degree programme in biochemistry or molecular biology. Also of interest to postgraduates who are encountering experimental biochemistry for the first time.

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Nicholas Price, Professor of Protein Science, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, and Jacqueline Nairn, Lecturer in Biochemistry, School of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Stirling

REVIEWS

"It is a lot clearer that many other textbooks that I have used as the page layout is very well arranged, highlighting examples so that they are easy to follow and the written text is easy to digest and understand." - Aimee Procter, Student, Liverpool John Moores University

"This book very cogently and comprehensively draws together an immense amount of information of everyday value to researchers interested in understanding protein structure and function. I highly recommend this book to laboratory workers and institutional libraries." - Microbiology Today

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section A - The basic concepts and tools
1: Conceptual toolkit: The molecular principles for understanding proteins
2: The key mathematical tools
3: Calculations in the molecular biosciences; Part 1. Characterisation of molecular components
4: Calculations in the molecular biosciences: Part 2. Characterisation of processes

Section B - Goals and methods
5: The important properties of proteins and how to explore them

Section C - Data analysis in practice
6: Analytical methods
7: Purification of proteins
8: Determination of protein structure
9: Enzyme activity and mechanism
10: Binding of ligands to proteins
11: How to report experimental work