The aim of the book is to introduce the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level. It is intended to show that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps in enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception and ligand binding receptors that trigger other physiological processes. Attention is also given to methods for characterizing these steps in chemical terms. Although the treatment is mainly theoretical, a wide range of examples and experimental techniques are also introduced and an historical approach is used to demonstrate the development of the theory and experimental techniques of kinetic analysis in biology.

Biochemical kinetics refers to the rate at which a reaction takes place. Kinetic mechanisms have played a major role in defining the metabolic pathways, the mechanistic action of enzymes, and even the processing of genetic material. The Handbook of Biochemical Kinetics provides the "underlying scaffolding" of logic for kinetic approaches to distinguish rival models or mechanisms. The handbook also comments on techniques and their likely limitations and pitfalls, as well as derivations of fundamental rate equations that characterize biochemical processes. Key Features* Over 750 pages devoted to theory and techniques for studying enzymic and metabolic processes* Over 1,500 definitions of kinetic and mechanistic terminology, with key references* Practical advice on experimental design of kinetic experiments* Extended step-by-step methods for deriving rate equations* Over 1,000 enzymes, complete with EC numbers, reactions catalyzed, and references to reviews and/or assay methods* Over 5,000 selected references to kinetic methods appearing in the Methods in Enzymology series* 72-page Wordfinder that allows the reader to search by keywords* Summaries of mechanistic studies on key enzymes and protein systems* Over 250 diagrams, figures, tables, and structures

Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula offer a fully integrated approach to the study of physical chemistry and biology.

This book introduces the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level. It shows that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps for a wide range of systems including enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception, and ligand binding. The author discusses the methods for characterizing these steps in chemical terms. Firmly rooted in theory, a wide range of examples and experimental techniques are introduced as well. A historical approach is used to demonstrate the development of the theory and experimental techniques of kinetic analysis in biology.

An accessible overview of the most popular and cutting-edge methods for studying the properties of molecules and their interactions.

"a gem of a textbook which manages to produce a genuinely fresh, concise yet comprehensive guide" –Mark Leake, University of York "destined to become a standard reference.... Not just a ‘how to’ handbook but also an accessible primer in the essentials of kinetic theory and practice." –Michael Geeves, University of Kent "covers the entire spectrum of approaches, from the traditional steady state methods to a thorough account of transient kinetics and rapid reaction techniques, and then on to the new single molecule techniques" –Stephen Halford, University of Bristol This illustrated treatment explains the methods used for measuring how much a reaction gets speeded up, as well as the framework for solving problems such as ligand binding and macromolecular folding, using the step-by-step approach of numerical integration. It is a thoroughly modern text, reflecting the recent ability to observe reactions at the single-molecule level, as well as advances in microfluidics which have given rise to femtoscale studies. Kinetics is more important now than ever, and this book is a vibrant and approachable entry for anyone who wants to understand mechanism using transient or single molecule kinetics without getting bogged down in advanced mathematics. Clive R. Bagshaw is Emeritus Professor at the University of Leicester, U.K., and Research Associate at the University of California at Santa Cruz, U.S.A.