Protein Protein Recognition

The purpose of Protein-Protein Recognition is to bring together concepts and systems pertaining to protein-protein interactions in a single unifying volume. In the light of the information from the genome sequencing projects and the increase in structural information it is an opportune time totry to make generalizations about how and why proteins form complexes with each other. The emphasis of the book is on heteromeric complexes (complexes in which each of the components can exist in an unbound state) and will use well-studied model systems to explain the processes of formingcomplexes. After an introductory section on the kinetics, thermodynamics, analysis, and classification of protein-protein interactions, weak, intermediate, and high affinity complexes are dealt with in turn. Weak affinity complexes are represented by electron transfer proteins and integrincomplexes. Anti-lysozyme antibodies, the MHC proteins and their interactions with T-cell receptors, and the protein interactions of eukaryotic signal transduction are the systems used to explain complexes with intermediate affinities. Finally, tight binding complexes are represented by theinteraction of protein inhibitors with serine proteases and by nuclease inhibitor complexes. Throughout the chapters common themes are the technologies which have had the greatest impact, how specificity is determined, how complexes are stabilized, and medical and industrial applications.

The lock-and-key principle formulated by Emil Fischer as early as the end of the 19th century has still not lost any of its significance for the life sciences. The basic aspects of ligand-protein interaction may be summarized under the term 'molecular recognition' and concern the specificity as well as stability of ligand binding. Molecular recognition is thus a central topic in the development of active substances, since stability and specificity determine whether a substance can be used as a drug. Nowadays, computer-aided prediction and intelligent molecular design make a large contribution to the constant search for, e. g., improved enzyme inhibitors, and new concepts such as that of pharmacophores are being developed. An up-to-date presentation of an eternally young topic, this book is an indispensable information source for chemists, biochemists and pharmacologists dealing with the binding of ligands to proteins.

A new perspective on the design of molecular therapeutics is emerging. This new strategy emphasizes the rational complementation of functionality along extended patches of a protein surface with the aim of inhibiting protein/protein interactions. The successful development of compounds able to inhibit these interactions offers a unique chance to selectively intervene in a large number of key cellular processes related to human disease. Protein Surface Recognition presents a detailed treatment of this strategy, with topics including: an extended survey of protein-protein interactions that are key players in human disease and biology and the potential for therapeutics derived from this new perspective the fundamental physical issues that surround protein-protein interactions that must be considered when designing ligands for protein surfaces examples of protein surface-small molecule interactions, including treatments of protein-natural product interactions, protein-interface peptides, and rational approaches to protein surface recognition from model to biological systems a survey of techniques that will be integral to the discovery of new small molecule protein surface binders, from high throughput synthesis and screening techniques to in silico and in vitro methods for the discovery of novel protein ligands. Protein Surface Recognition provides an intellectual “tool-kit” for investigators in medicinal and bioorganic chemistry looking to exploit this emerging paradigm in drug discovery.

Building on decades of “host-guest” research, recent years have seen a surge of activity in water-soluble supramolecular receptors for protein recognition and assembly. Progress has been particularly rich in the area of calixarenes, cucurbiturils and molecular tweezers. Emerging applications include controlled protein assembly in solution, crystal engineering, supramolecular control of catalysis (both in vitro and in vivo), as well as novel mechanisms of protein-interaction inhibition with relevance to amyloids and disease. One challenge at the interface of supramolecular chemistry and protein science is to increase interaction and collaboration between chemists and biochemists/structural biologists.This book addresses the exciting interface of supramolecular chemistry and protein science. Chapters cover supramolecular approaches to protein recognition, assembly and regulation. Principles outlined will highlight the opportunities that are readily accessible to collaborating chemists and biochemists, enriching the breadth and scope of this multidisciplinary field. Supramolecular Protein Chemistry will be of particular interest to graduate students and researchers working in supramolecular chemistry, protein science, self-assembly, biomaterials, biomedicine and biotechnology.

Synthetic receptor molecules, molecules that mimic antibody recognition, are widely used for developing drug leads; drug delivery vehicles; imaging agents; sensing agents; capture agents and separation systems. Synthetic Receptors for Biomolecules covers the most effective synthetic receptors for each major class of biomolecules within the context of specific applications. The book starts with an introduction to the applications of synthetic receptors for biomolecules and their design and synthesis for biomolecule recognition. Dedicated chapters then cover synthetic receptors for the key biomolecules including inorganic cations; small organic and inorganic anions; carbohydrates; nucleosides/nucleotides; oligonucleotides; amino acids and peptides; protein surfaces as well as non-polar and polar lipids; Each chapter follows the same systematic format of (a) chemical structures and physical properties of the biomolecule, (b) biological recognition of the biomolecule, (c) synthetic receptors for the biomolecule, (d) future directions and challenges. Edited by a leader in the field, the book is written in an accessible style for readers new to supramolecular chemistry or for those looking for synthetic receptors.

Nucleic Acid-Protein Recognition covers the proceedings of a symposium on ""Nucleic Acid-Protein Recognition"", held at Arden House, Harriman Campus of Columbia University on May 30-June 1, 1976. The symposium inaugurated the ""P & S Biomedical Sciences Symposia"" under the sponsorship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. This book is organized into nine part encompassing 31 chapters. The opening parts describe the principles of DNA replication and the unique chromatin structure. These parts also examine the physical chemistry of the interactions of melting proteins with nucleic acids. The third part presents the different types of approaches that can be used to study the function of RNA polymerases and the development of a cell-free system that favors Pol II-catalyzed transcription from type 2 adenovirus DNA. Parts IV and V deal with the sequence determination of wild-type and mutant repressor and the restriction and modification of DNA endonucleases, while parts VI and VII focus of the recognition of tRNA. Part VIII discusses some significant studies on the assembly of ribosomes and the principles of ribosomal interactions. Lastly, Part IX considers the role of small RNA template in the reaction mechanism of RNA replicases and ribonucleases. This part also surveys the so-called RNase III cleavage of different types of RNA and the structure of nucleic acid-protein complexes.

Given the immense progress achieved in elucidating protein-protein complex structures and in the field of protein interaction modeling, there is great demand for a book that gives interested researchers/students a comprehensive overview of the field. This book does just that. It focuses on what can be learned about protein-protein interactions from the analysis of protein-protein complex structures and interfaces. What are the driving forces for protein-protein association? How can we extract the mechanism of specific recognition from studying protein-protein interfaces? How can this knowledge be used to predict and design protein-protein interactions (interaction regions and complex structures)? What methods are currently employed to design protein-protein interactions, and how can we influence protein-protein interactions by mutagenesis and small-molecule drugs or peptide mimetics?The book consists of about 15 review chapters, written by experts, on the characterization of protein-protein interfaces, structure determination of protein complexes (by NMR and X-ray), theory of protein-protein binding, dynamics of protein interfaces, bioinformatics methods to predict interaction regions, and prediction of protein-protein complex structures (docking and homology modeling of complexes, etc.) and design of protein-protein interactions. It serves as a bridge between studying/analyzing protein-protein complex structures (interfaces), predicting interactions, and influencing/designing interactions.