The need for a vaccine against HIV is obvious, but the development of an effective vaccine has met with frustrations. The HIV envelope glycoproteins, residing in the viral membrane, are the sole viral proteins exposed on the outside of virus particles and.

Viral Fusion Mechanisms presents the first comprehensive review on this exciting topic. The book focuses on molecular mechanisms rather than phenomonology and examines a wide range of viruses, including influenza, HIV, Sendai, SFV, Vaccinia, VSV, and RSV. Recent theoretical work on dissecting protein-mediated membrane fusion is discussed, and the most promising new technologies for elucidating mechanisms are highlighted. Viral Fusion Mechanisms is an essential reference for biophysicists, cell biologists, colloid chemists, immunologists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and virologists.

The second edition of Structure in Protein Chemistry showcases the latest developments and innovations in the field of protein structure analysis and prediction. The book begins by explaining how proteins are purified and describes methods for elucidating their sequences of amino acids and defining their posttranslational modifications. Comprehensive explanations of crystallography and of noncovalent forces-ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and the hydrophobic effect-act as a prelude to an exhaustive description of the atomic details of the structures of proteins. The resulting understanding of protein molecular structure forms the basis for discussions of the evolution of proteins, the symmetry of the oligomeric associations that produce them, and the chemical, mathematical, and physical basis of the techniques used to study their structures. The latter include image reconstruction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, proton exchange, optical spectroscopy, electrophoresis, covalent cross-linking, chemical modification, immunochemistry, hydrodynamics, and the scattering of light, X-radiation, and neutrons. These procedures are applied to study the folding of polypeptides and the assembly of oligomers. Biological membranes and their proteins are also discussed. Structure in Protein Chemistry, Second Edition, bridges the gap between introductory biophysical chemistry courses and research literature. It serves as a comprehensive textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in biochemistry, biophysics, and structural and molecular biology. Professionals engaged in chemical, biochemical, and molecular biological research will find it a useful reference.

Current Topics in Membranes is targeted toward scientists and researchers in biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology, providing the necessary membrane research to assist them in discovering the current state of a particular field and in learning where that field is heading. This volume offers an up to date presentation of current knowledge in the field of Lipid Domains. Written by leading experts Contains original material, both textual and illustrative, that should become a very relevant reference material The material is presented in a very comprehensive manner Both researchers in the field and general readers should find relevant and up-to-date information