The Physical Chemistry of Biopolymer Solutions

The book is concerned with the application of physical techniques to the study of the structure and interactions of biopolymers. The treatment is confined to those procedures applicable to solutions. The material has been tested on students in actual classes, thereby permitting the elimination of ambiguities and potential points of difficulty. Stress has been placed upon lucidity of treatment, and difficult steps in derivations have been explained. The mathematical exposition has been made as clear and simple as feasible. Examples of actual data are given. Contents:Basic Thermodynamics:Thermodynamics of SolutionsMembrane EquilibriaSignificance of the Second Virial CoefficientThermodynamics and Statistical MechanicsThe Helix → Coil Transition of a PolypeptideThe Interaction of Biopolymers with Small Molecules:Non-Cooperative BindingTheoretical Models for AllosterismThe Transport Methods:DiffusionUltracentrifugationOptical SystemsZonal CentrifugationElectrophoresisViscosityGel FiltrationThe Scattering of Radiation by Biopolymers in Solution:Technique of Light ScatteringLow Angle X-Ray ScatteringQuasi-Elastic Light ScatteringRaman ScatteringMethods Involving the Absorption or Emission of Radiation:Polarization of Fluorescent RadiationThe Use of Fluorescence to Measure Intramolecular DistancesThe Interaction of Biopolymers with Polarized Radiation:Optical Activity and the Structure of Biopolymersand other papers Readership: Postgraduate students and lecturers in chemistry and biochemistry. keywords: