Macromolecular Crystallography Protocols, now in two volumes, examines major developments that have occurred since publication of the acclaimed first edition nearly a decade ago. Volume 1 is composed of detailed protocols for the preparation and optimization of crystals. Volume 2 complements the first volume by addressing laboratory techniques for crystal handling and structural characterization. The volume concludes with a survey of available crystallographic software.

In the decade since the publication of the first edition of "Crystallographic Methods and Protocols", the field has seen several major developments that have both accelerated the pace of structure determination and made crystallography accessible to a broader range of investigators. "Volume I, Preparation and Crystallization of Macromolecules" is dedicated to the crystallization and ways to increase the odds of obtaining crystals in macromolecules, while "Volume 2, Structure Determination" covers both computational methods for characterizing crystals and solving structures.

Macromolecular Crystallography Protocols, now in two volumes, examines major developments that have occurred since publication of the acclaimed first edition nearly a decade ago. Volume 1, Preparation and Crystallization of Macromolecules and Volume 2, Structure Determination, explore recent advances that have accelerated the pace of structural determination and made crystallography accessible to a broader range of investigators. Volume 1 is composed of detailed protocols for the preparation and optimization of crystals, including tips from the experts on the best methods for inducing proteins to adopt their crystalline form. Volume 2 complements the first volume by addressing laboratory techniques for crystal handling and structural characterization, as well as computational techniques for data collection, phasing, and refinement. The volume concludes with a detailed and insightful survey of available crystallographic software. These volumes will be an indispensable reference for obtaining macromolecular crystals and determining their three-dimensional structure.

In the decade since publication of the first edition this book, the field has seen several major developments. These developments have both accelerated the pace of structure determination and made crystallography accessible to a broader range of investigators. Volume I is dedicated to crystallization and ways to increase the odds of obtaining crystals in macromolecules. Volume 2 covers both computational methods for characterizing crystals and solving structures.

Protein engineering is a fascinating mixture of molecular biology, protein structure analysis, computation, and biochemistry, with the goal of developing useful or valuable proteins. Protein Engineering Protocols will consider the two general, but not mutually exclusive, strategies for protein engineering. The first is known as rational design, in which the scientist uses detailed knowledge of the structure and function of the protein to make desired changes. The s- ond strategy is known as directed evolution. In this case, random mutagenesis is applied to a protein, and selection or screening is used to pick out variants that have the desired qualities. By several rounds of mutation and selection, this method mimics natural evolution. An additional technique known as DNA shuffling mixes and matches pieces of successful variants to produce better results. This process mimics recombination that occurs naturally during sexual reproduction. The first section of Protein Engineering Protocols describes rational p- tein design strategies, including computational methods, the use of non-natural amino acids to expand the biological alphabet, as well as impressive examples for the generation of proteins with novel characteristics. Although procedures for the introduction of mutations have become routine, predicting and und- standing the effects of these mutations can be very challenging and requires profound knowledge of the system as well as protein structures in general.

Protein Phosphatase Protocols presents a broad range of protocols for the study of protein phosphatases, all written by experts and innovators from phosphatase laboratories around the world. This volume is a compendium of resources for the study of protein phosphatases and their potential as drug targets. Experimental methodologies are taken from proteomics, bioinformatics, genomics, biochemistry, RNAi, and genetics.

Covering experiment and theory, bioinformatics approaches, and state-of-the-art simulation protocols for better sampling of the conformational space, this volume describes a broad range of techniques to study, predict, and analyze the protein folding process. Protein Folding Protocols also provides sample approaches toward the prediction of protein structure starting from the amino acid sequence, in the absence of overall homologous sequences.