Cellular And Biomolecular Recognition

With its exploration of the scientific and technological characteristics of systems exploiting molecular recognition between synthetic materials, such as polymers and nanoparticles, and biological entities, this is a truly multidisciplinary book bridging chemistry, life sciences, pharmacology and medicine. The authors introduce innovative biomimetic chemical assemblies which constitute platforms for recruitment of cellular components or biological molecules, while also focusing on physical, chemical, and biological aspects of biomolecular recognition. The diverse applications covered include biosensors, cell adhesion, synthetic receptors, cell patterning, bioactive nanoparticles, and drug design.

Molecular recognition, also known as biorecognition, is the heart of all biological interactions. Originating from protein stretching experiments, dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) allows for the extraction of detailed information on the unbinding process of biomolecular complexes. It is becoming progressively more important in biochemical studies a

Contributors to this volume explore the role of carbohydrates in communication between cells of multicellular organisms. Topics covered include the thermodynamics and spatial restrictions of oligosaccharide-protein interactions, the role of carbohydrates in recognition and as components of cell adhesion molecules, and abnormal glycosylation in several disease states.

Molecular recognition, also known as biorecognition, is the heart of all biological interactions. Originating from protein stretching experiments, dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) allows for the extraction of detailed information on the unbinding process of biomolecular complexes. It is becoming progressively more important in biochemical studies and is finding wider applications in areas such as biophysics and polymer science. In six chapters, Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition covers the most recent ideas and advances in the field of DFS applied to biorecognition: Chapter 1: Reviews the basic and novel aspects of biorecognition and discusses the emerging capabilities of single-molecule techniques to disclose kinetic properties and molecular mechanisms usually hidden in bulk measurements Chapter 2: Describes the basic principle of atomic force microsocopy (AFM) and DFS, with particular attention to instrumental and theoretical aspects more strictly related to the study of biomolecules Chapter 3: Overviews the theoretical background in which experimental data taken in nonequilibrum measurements of biomolecular unbinding forces are extrapolated to equilibrium conditions Chapter 4: Reviews the most common and efficient strategies adopted in DFS experiments to immobilize the interacting biomolecules to the AFM tip and to the substrate Chapter 5: Presents and discusses the most representative aspects related to the analysis of DFS data and the challenges of integrating well-defined criteria to calibrate data in automatic routinary procedures Chapter 6: Overviews the most relevant DFS applications to study biorecognition processes, including the biotin/avidin pair, and selected results on various biological complexes, including antigen/antibody, proteins/DNA, and complexes involved in adhesion processes Chapter 7: Summarizes the main results obtained by DFS applied to study biorecognition processes with forthcoming theoretical and experimental advances Although DFS is a widespread, worldwide technique, no books focused on this subject have been available until now. Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition provides the state of the art of experimental data analysis and theoretical procedures, making it a useful tool for researchers applying DFS to study biorecognition processes.

Basics of Molecular Recognition explores fundamental recognition principles between monomers or macromolecules that lead to diverse biological functions. Based on the author’s longtime courses, the book helps readers understand the structural aspects of macromolecular recognition and stimulates further research on whether molecules similar to DNA or protein can be synthesized chemically. The book begins with the types of bonds that participate in the recognition and the functional groups that are capable of forming these bonds. It then explains how smaller molecules select their partners in the overall recognition scheme, offering examples of specific recognition patterns involving molecules other than nucleic acids. The core of the book focuses on macromolecular recognition—the central dogma of molecular biology. The author discusses various methods for studying molecular recognition. He also describes how molecules without biological functions can be arrayed or folded following certain rules and examines the nature of interactions among them. Molecular recognition is a vast area encompassing every aspect of biology. This book highlights all aspects of non-covalent macromolecular recognition processes, including DNA–protein recognition and sugar–protein recognition.

The book addresses new achievements in AFM instruments – e.g. higher speed and higher resolution – and how AFM is being combined with other new methods like NSOM, STED, STORM, PALM, and Raman. This book explores the latest advances in atomic force microscopy and related techniques in molecular and cell biology. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to detect the superstructures of the cell membrane, cell morphology, cell skeletons and their mechanical properties. Opening up new fields of in-situ dynamic study for living cells, enzymatic reactions, fibril growth and biomedical research, these combined techniques will yield valuable new insights into molecule and cell biology. This book offers a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of biochemistry, cell research and chemistry etc.

This book deals with a subject of high interest and importance in all sectors, including biomedical, food, agriculture, energy, and environment. Biological systems are essential in nanotechnology, and many new applications are being developed by mimicking the natural systems. Approaching these topics from an engineering perspective, the book offers insight on the details of nanoscale fabrication processes as well as cell biology. The basics of biology and chemistry, with a focus on how to engineer the behavior of molecules at the nanoscale, are also explored and analyzed. The aim of the text is to provide the reader with broader knowledge of biological methods for signal transduction and molecular recognitions systems and how they can be replicated in bio-sensing applications. The reader will learn the basic structures and interactions of biomacromolecules for developing biocompatible and eco-friendly devices.