Crystallography Made Crystal Clear: A Guide for Users of Macromolecular Models

ANNOTATION

Audience: Biophysicists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and structural chemists.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Macromolecules are the proteins and nucleic acids upon which life depends. Understanding the action of biological macromolecules (giant molecules) requires detailed knowledge of their structures. Most of the more than ten thousand known structures of protein and nucleic acids were obtained by x-ray crystallography, the standard mechanism for determining protein structure. Essentially, proteins are frozen into rigid crystals, which can be stacked up in a repeating pattern—like supermarket displays. The structure of each individual crystal can be determined by the way x-rays are bent when they pass through the composite crystal. Protein structure is essential when investigating protein interactions and planning drug development.
Crystallography Made Crystal Clear, Second Edition explains how scientists discover the structures of the macromolecules. Scientists do not see these molecules directly. Instead, they build models as a means of interpreting data from x-ray diffraction by crystals, or by irradiation by other forms of energy. Users of these models need to know how they are obtained in order to know what they are seeing when they study a model of a macromolecule. They also need to know how to judge whether conclusions they draw from the molecular models are really supported by the models. This book uses visual and geometric models to help readers understand the mathematics that forms the basis of x-ray crystallography.
The field of protein crystallography is growing every day and has been instrumental in discovering the molecular principles of biology and in discovering new drugs, such as the recent protease inhibitors for AIDS. The field includes the largestpercentage of Nobel prizes than any other scientific discipline. Every major university and drug company has a protein crystallography laboratory and this book is an invaluable aid to those wishing to practice protein crystallography
or just learn more about how it is actually done.

Key Features
* Provides clear, understandable descriptions of principles of X-ray crystallography
* Leads reader through unintimidating and thorough explanations of the underlying mathematics
* Provides abundant illustrations, including diagrams, charts, photographs, and color stereo
* images
* Explains how to read crystallography papers in research journals
* Includes brief descriptions of other diffraction methods (neutron, electron, Laue) and the kinds
* of structural information they can provide
* Introduces other methods of macromolecular structure determination (NMR spectroscopy and
* homology modeling), and provides guidance in judging the quality of these models

SYNOPSIS

Macromolecules are the proteins and nucleic acids upon which life depends. Understanding the action of biological macromolecules (giant molecules) requires detailed knowledge of their structures. Most of the more than ten thousand known structures of protein and nucleic acids were obtained by x-ray crystallography, the standard mechanism for determining protein structure. Essentially, proteins are frozen into rigid crystals, which can be stacked up in a repeating pattern—like supermarket displays. The structure of each individual crystal can be determined by the way x-rays are bent when they pass through the composite crystal. Protein structure is essential when investigating protein interactions and planning drug development.
Crystallography Made Crystal Clear, Second Edition explains how scientists discover the structures of the macromolecules. Scientists do not see these molecules directly. Instead, they build models as a means of interpreting data from x-ray diffraction by crystals, or by irradiation by other forms of energy. Users of these models
need to know how they are obtained in order to know what they are seeing
when they study a model of a macromolecule. They also need to know how to judge whether conclusions they draw from the molecular models are really supported by the models. This book uses visual and geometric models to help readers understand the mathematics that forms the basis of x-ray crystallography.
"Crystallography is not an easy subject to teach or to learn, and Rhodes provides a comprehensive, yet less intimidating, treatment of the theoretical background, which should be understandable to a novice. The author assumes little mathematical knowledge and explains the physical significance of all equations. A most helpful feature is the use of a published structure report as an example of understanding and interpreting a macromolecular crystal structure determination, frequently the most difficult part for noncrystallographers. Highly recommended as a supplement to standard biochemistry works and as an introduction to the field for students learning crystallography."
—Choice
"Crystallography Made Crystal Clear bridges the gap between brief chapters and textbooks in biochemistry and proteins and complete treatments aimed at the professional crystallographer...Much of the book reads like a transcript of discussions between a wise and tolerant old crystallographer walking a novice through his/her first structure determination. All of the problems one encounters, from recognizing twinned crystals and visualizing the geometry of a precession camera, through identifying heavy atom binding sites from Patterson maps, to fitting electron density maps and refining the structure are dealt with patiently and creatively. Although all of the standard derivations are here, the text has a light touch which both novices and noncrystallographers will appreciate...The thirteen color plates are excellent...Given the brevity of the text, it is remarkably complete...This book will be useful in many contexts - in elementary
courses in crystallography, in biochemistry courses as an auxiliary text, in crystallographic laboratories as a handbook for novices, and in
molecular biology laboratories as an introduction to the Protein Data Base and molecular graphics. It can be perused in an afternoon which will be well spent."
—Biophysical Journal
"... I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in
macromolecules and how their structures are solved. The material is well presented and easy to read and would provide a good starting point for an undergraduate considering going into the field. It also provides sufficient information to be used as a text in a course on biophysical techniques."
—Biochemical Education
"Anyone interested in how protein structures are determined should find
reading it an enjoyable and satisfying experience...Crystallography Made
Crystal Clear is clearly written, accurate, and easy to read. The author
Chose one of the most interesting topics in x-ray crystallography to examine, namely, the structure determination of proteins. Consequently the book can be recommended not only to the biochemists and biologists for whom it was written, but to all those who are curious."
—Applied Optics
"[A] successful introduction for those who try to understand and explore
biological macromolecular structures....The text is loaded with many
excellent didactic concepts and approaches."
—Acta Cryst

FROM THE CRITICS

Eugene A. Davidson

The first volume of this work was a useful addition to the field of crystallography, and this second edition is a worthy successor. "The intent is to provide a basic introduction to x-ray crystallography of proteins. "The author of this volume provides students and researchers with a general interest a convenient pathway to understanding the technology and how it is applied. "He offers up-to-date, ancillary information on X-ray sources (synchrotron radiation) and NMR, the only other method for obtaining tertiary structural information. In an introductory chapter he provides an overview of x-ray analysis and follows this with a discussion of crystallization techniques, data acquisition, the phase problem, and modeling. Brief discussions of other structural methods are also of value. "The crystallographic structure of myoglobin and hemoglobin provides an enormous impetus to this strategy since only this x-ray approach offers a close three-dimensional look at proteins. Much of the methodology involved has remained difficult to assimilate, largely because of the intense mathematical requirements and complex data gathering involved. Scientists wishing to understand x-ray methods without having to tackle the mathematics will be well rewarded by reading this volume.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Eugene A Davidson, PhD (Georgetown University School of Medicine)Description: The first volume of this work was a useful addition to the field of crystallography, and this second edition is a worthy successor. Purpose: The intent is to provide a basic introduction to x-ray crystallography of proteins. Audience: The author of this volume provides students and researchers with a general interest a convenient pathway to understanding the technology and how it is applied. Features: He offers up-to-date, ancillary information on X-ray sources (synchrotron radiation) and NMR, the only other method for obtaining tertiary structural information. In an introductory chapter he provides an overview of x-ray analysis and follows this with a discussion of crystallization techniques, data acquisition, the phase problem, and modeling. Brief discussions of other structural methods are also of value. Assessment: The crystallographic structure of myoglobin and hemoglobin provides an enormous impetus to this strategy since only this x-ray approach offers a close three-dimensional look at proteins. Much of the methodology involved has remained difficult to assimilate, largely because of the intense mathematical requirements and complex data gathering involved. Scientists wishing to understand x-ray methods without having to tackle the mathematics will be well rewarded by reading this volume.

Booknews

Describes the logical threads that connect diffraction patterns to the molecular models displayed on personal computers. Focusing on proteins, Rhodes (chemistry, University of Southern Maine) overviews how researchers use the technique of X-ray crystallography to learn macromolecular structures. The second edition adds two chapters on other diffraction methods, and other types of models. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

RATING

3 Stars from Doody

ACCREDITATION