Single Molecule Biology

Alexander E. Knight

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9780123742278
• eBook ISBN: 9780080921235
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Pharmacology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Single molecule techniques, including single molecule fluorescence, optical tweezers, and scanning probe microscopy, allow for the manipulation and measurement of single biological molecules within a live cell or in culture. These approaches, amongst the most exciting tools available in biology today, offer powerful new ways to elucidate biological function, both in terms of revealing mechanisms of action on a molecular level as well as tracking the behaviour of molecules in living cells. This book provides the first complete and authoritative treatment of this rapidly emerging field, explicitly from a biological perspective.The contents are organized by biological system or molecule. Each chapter discusses insights that have been revealed about their mechanism, structure or function by single molecule techniques. Among the topics covered are enzymes, motor proteins, membrane channels, DNA, ribozymes, cytoskeletal proteins, and other key molecules of current interest. An introduction by the editor provides a concise review of key principles and an historical overview. The last section discusses applications in molecular diagnostics and drug discovery. - Organized by biological system or molecule - Each chapter discusses insights into mechanism of action, structure, and function - Covers enzymes, motor proteins, membrane channels, DNA, ribozymes, etc - Includes an introduction to key principles and an historical overview - Discusses applications in molecular diagnostics and drug discovery - Provides an expert's perspective on future development

Table of contents

• Brief Table of Contents
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• List of Contributors
• Introduction: The “Single Molecule” Paradigm
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 1. Single Molecule Studies of Myosins
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 2. Single Molecule Experiments and the Kinesin Motor Protein Superfamily
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 3. Force-Generating Mechanisms of Dynein Revealed through Single Molecule Studies
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 4. The Bacterial Flagellar Motor
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 5. Single Molecule Studies of Chromatin Structure and Dynamics
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 6. Single Molecule Studies of Nucleic Acid Enzymes
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 7. Single Molecule Studies of Prokaryotic Translation
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 8. Single Ion Channels
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 9. Single Molecule Fluorescence in Membrane Biology
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 10. Single Molecule Microarray Analysis
• BibliographyReferences
• Appendix Appendix