Protein-Ligand Interactions: Methods and Applications

Molecular recognition and binding of ligands (atoms, ions, and molecules) by proteins with high sensitivity and selectivity is of central importance to essentially all biomolecular processes and of key importance for the basic and applied sciences. In Protein-Ligand Interactions: Methods and Applications, leading experts with hands-on experience describe in detail a broad selection of established and emerging techniques for studying the interaction between proteins and ligands, including bulk biochemical techniques, structure analysis, spectroscopy, single-molecule studies, and theoretical/computational tools. Among the highlights are surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and reflectometric biosensor approaches, high-throughput screening with confocal optics microscopy, single molecule fluorescence and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), crystallography of reaction intermediates, and time-resolved X-ray crystallography. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and highly practical, Protein-Ligand Interactions: Methods and Applications offers novice and expert researchers alike a broad selection of powerful and widely applicable techniques that can be used to efficiently and successfully solve the task of characterizing protein-ligand interactions.