X-Ray Crystallography of Biomacromolecules

Written by one of the most significant contributors to the progress of protein crystallography, this practical guide contains case studies, a troubleshooting section and pointers on data interpretation. Clearly structured, Part A covers relevant experimental techniques for crystallization, generation of X-rays and data collection, the principles of X-ray diffraction, solutions for the phase problem and further steps for structure determination, time-resolved X-ray crystallography and structural genomics. Part B includes case studies for different stages in determining X-ray crystal structure, such as diffraction data evaluation, MIRAS and MAD techniques, molecular replacement, phase improvement by electron density averaging, non-crystallographic symmetries and model building. With its coverage of the theory, practice and latest achievements in x-ray crystallography, this book will benefit any researcher in structural biology. Albrecht Messerschmidt is head of a research group at Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, department of proteomics and signal transduction headed by Matthias Mann. He gained his PhD in Crystallography at the Humboldt University in Berlin under Bill Kleber. After working on the X-ray crystallography of small biological molecules he moved to the field of X-ray crystallography of biomacromolecules, working in the department of structural research under Nobel laureate Robert Huber. He gained his lecturing qualification in the field of physical biochemistry at the faculty of biology of the University of Constance in 1996, where he was appointed extraordinary professor in 2002. The author has published great number of scientific papers and is one of the editors of the three volume Handbook of Metalloproteins, published by Wiley.