Protein Crystallography: A Concise Guide

by Lattman, Eaton E.

• ISBN13: 9780801888069
• ISBN10: 0801888069
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-03-01
• Publisher: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV PRESS

Summary

The proteome remains a mysterious realm. Researchers have determined the structures of only a small fraction of the proteins encoded by the human genome. Crystallography continues to be the primary method used to determine the structures of the remaining unknown proteins. This imaging technique uses the diffraction of X-rays to determine a protein's three-dimensional molecular structure. Drawing on years of research and teaching experience, Eaton E. Lattman and Patrick J. Loll use clear examples and abundant illustrations to provide a concise and accessible primer on protein crystallography. Discussing the basics of diffraction, the behavior of two- and three-dimensional crystals, phase determination (including MIR and MAD phasing and molecular replacement), the Patterson function, and refinement, Lattman and Loll provide a complete overview of this important technique, illuminated by physical insights. The crisp writing style and simple illustrations will provide beginner crystallographers with a guide to the process of unraveling protein structure.

Author Biography

Eaton E. Lattman is chair of the Department of Biophysics at the Johns Hopkins University and editor-in-chief of the journal Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics. Patrick J. Loll is the director of the Biochemistry Graduate Program at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
What Is X-ray Crystallography?	p. 1
A Quick Look at Protein Crystals	p. 12
Noncrystalline Specimens	p. 15
Summary	p. 17
Further Reading	p. 17
A Physical Understanding of Diffraction	p. 19
What Is Diffraction?	p. 19
Diffraction from One-Dimensional Crystals	p. 25
Reconstructing Images from Diffraction Patterns	p. 29
Summary	p. 35
Further Reading	p. 36
Diffraction from Three-Dimensional Crystals	p. 37
The Electron Density Function in Three Dimensions	p. 37
Calculating the Diffraction Pattern from a Known Structure	p. 49
Summary	p. 53
Further Reading	p. 54
Phase Determination by Isomorphous Replacement	p. 55
Measuring the Phases	p. 55
MAD Phasing	p. 61
Fitting Models to Experimental Electron Density Maps	p. 68
Summary	p. 70
Further Reading	p. 70
The Patterson Function	p. 72
Definition of the Patterson Function	p. 72
Using the Patterson Function to Locate Atoms	p. 76
Summary	p. 81
Further Reading	p. 82
Phasing with Partially Known Structures	p. 83
Difference Fourier Maps	p. 83
Molecular Replacement	p. 87
Summary	p. 101
Further Reading	p. 101
Crystallographic Refinement	p. 102
Refinement Improves the Model	p. 102
Least-Squares Refinement	p. 103
Summary	p. 111
Further Reading	p. 112
Glossary	p. 113
Index	p. 131
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