Synopses & Reviews
Offering a comprehensive introduction to the molecular physics of biological systems, this book seeks to explain how the laws and concepts of physics apply to the living world at the molecular and subecellular level, with an emphasis on electrical and dynamical behavior. It is organized into five parts: conformation of biopolymers; dynamics of biopolymers; hydration of biopolmers; biopolymers as polyelectrolytes; and association between molecules.
About the Author
Michel Daune is Honorary Professor, University of Strasbourg, France, and was formerly Director of the Centre for Molecular Biophysics, Orleans
Table of Contents
Part I: Conformation of polymers
Introduction
1. Geometry of a polymer chain
2. Intermolecular forces
3. Calculation of nucleic acids
4. Conformation of proteins
Conclusion to Part I
References and further reading
Part 11: Dynamics of biopolymers
Introduction
6. Fluctuations around an equilibrium conformation
7. Brownian motion
8. Conformational changes
9. Experimental methods
10. Methods of modelling intramolecular dynamics
Conclusions to Part II
References and further reading
Part III: Hydration of biopolmers
11. Properties of water
12
13. Hydration of proteins
14. Hydration of nucleic acids
Conclusions to Part III
References and further reading
Part IV: Biopolmers as polyelectrolytes
15. Charge distributions: general laws
16. Electrolytic solutions and the Debye-Huckel theory
17. Polyelectrolyte solutions
18. Continuum model
19. Mixed models
20. Molecular models
21. Cellular permeability and ion transport
Conclusions to Part IV
References and further reading
Part V: Association between molecules
Introduction
22. Equilibrium studies
23. Kinetic study and facilitated diffusion
24. Mechanisms and specificity of recognition
25. Formation of subcellear structures
Conclusion to Part V
References and further reading