Protein Physics: A Course of Lectures (Soft Condensed Matter, Complex Fluids and Biomaterials)

Protein science is at the forefront of the biotechnology revolution. Vast amounts of experimental data on protein structure, folding and action have been accumulated during the past decades and at an accelerated rate in the post-genome era. There is a large and growing number of students and young researchers entering the field and we need to ensure that their research is not impeded by their lack of understanding of the basic physics and physical chemistry behind protein structure and function, in particular behind protein engineering and design. Protein Physics: A Course of Lectures covers the most general problems of protein structure, folding and function and introduces the concepts and theories. It deals with fibrous, membrane and water-soluble globular proteins, in both their native and denatured states. The book summarizes and presents in a systematic way the results of several decades of worldwide fundamental research on protein physics, structure and folding. Protein Physics is aimed at a broad audience of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as being a reference for researchers in academia and industry. For those with a physics, chemistry or materials science background, the book provides details of protein structure, folding, action and design. For the biophysicists, biochemists, biologists and medical students it is an invaluable resource on the principles of protein physics and spontaneous self-organization. To ensure a complete understanding of the course by those with a biological background, the book includes simple short-cut material on thermodynamics, statistical physics, and quantum mechanics. This course is based on lectures now read by Professor A.V.Finkelstein at Moscow State University. Many of the lectures from this course have been read at international schools and conferences on protein physics. The book will appeal to those on a wide-range of courses, including advanced courses on biophysics, biochemistry and soft matter physics and undergraduate courses on chemical physics, chemistry, chemical biology and physics. "The lectures are unique... anticipating questions from the students, and answering them, with an interspersion of simple examples...a good introduction to protein physics for students, ...will help chemists, physicists, and biologists acquire a widespread knowledge of current issues in protein structure, properties, and reactions." Harold A. Scheraga, Todd Professor of Chemistry, Cornell University, USA "Protein Physics provides all the essential information. ...concise, reliable and very well written" Israel M. Gelfand, Distinguished Professor Rutgers University, USA. "Rigorous and thorough analysis of physical basis of protein structure...unique in its profound professionalism ... free, colloquial style." Alexander S. Spirin, Professor of Biochemistry, Moscow University, RussiaAlexei V. Finkelstein is the author of 'Protein Physics: A Course of Lectures (Soft Condensed Matter, Complex Fluids and Biomaterials)', published 2002 under ISBN 9780122567810 and ISBN 0122567811.