The Molecular Switch

A signature feature of living organisms is their ability to carry out purposeful actions by taking stock of the world around them. To that end, cells have an arsenal of signaling molecules linked together in signaling pathways, which switch between inactive and active conformations. The Molecular Switch articulates a biophysical perspective on signaling, showing how allostery—a powerful explanation of how molecules function across all biological domains—can be reformulated using equilibrium statistical mechanics, applied to diverse biological systems exhibiting switching behaviors, and successfully unify seemingly unrelated phenomena. Rob Phillips weaves together allostery and statistical mechanics via a series of biological vignettes, each of which showcases an important biological question and accompanying physical analysis. Beginning with the study of ligand-gated ion channels and their role in problems ranging from muscle action to vision, Phillips then undertakes increasingly sophisticated case studies, from bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing to hemoglobin and its role in mammalian physiology. He looks at G-protein coupled receptors as well as the role of allosteric molecules in gene regulation. Phillips concludes by surveying problems in biological fidelity and offering a speculative chapter on the relationship between allostery and biological Maxwell demons. Appropriate for graduate students and researchers in biophysics, physics, engineering, biology, and neuroscience, The Molecular Switch presents a unified, quantitative model for describing biological signaling phenomena.

A signature feature of living organisms is their ability to carry out purposeful actions by taking stock of the world around them. To that end, cells have an arsenal of signaling molecules linked together in signaling pathways, which switch between inactive and active conformations. The Molecular Switch articulates a biophysical perspective on signaling, showing how allostery—a powerful explanation of how molecules function across all biological domains—can be reformulated using equilibrium statistical mechanics, applied to diverse biological systems exhibiting switching behaviors, and successfully unify seemingly unrelated phenomena. Rob Phillips weaves together allostery and statistical mechanics via a series of biological vignettes, each of which showcases an important biological question and accompanying physical analysis. Beginning with the study of ligand-gated ion channels and their role in problems ranging from muscle action to vision, Phillips then undertakes increasingly sophisticated case studies, from bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing to hemoglobin and its role in mammalian physiology. He looks at G-protein coupled receptors as well as the role of allosteric molecules in gene regulation. Phillips concludes by surveying problems in biological fidelity and offering a speculative chapter on the relationship between allostery and biological Maxwell demons. Appropriate for graduate students and researchers in biophysics, physics, engineering, biology, and neuroscience, The Molecular Switch presents a unified, quantitative model for describing biological signaling phenomena.

The long-awaited second edition of the successful book covering molecular switches now in two volumes! Providing principles and applications this book brings you everything you need to know about molecular switches - a hot topic in the nanoworld. The major classes of molecular switches including catenanes, rotaxanes, azobenzenes together with polymer and biomolecular switching systems and DNA based switches are covered. Chemists and material scientists interested in one of the most innovative areas of their science will benefit greatly from reading this book. "This book will appeal most to organic chemists, because of the way new structures are introduced through their synthesis, but it will also provide a useful introduction for other scientists, provided they are conversant with molecular structures." (Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry) "... a comprehensive and up-to-date insight ..." (Chemistry & Industry)

Edited by a renowned and much cited chemist, this book covers the whole span of molecular computers that are based on non-biological systems. The contributions by all the major scientists in the field provide an excellent overview of the latest developments in this rapidly expanding area. A must-have for all researchers working on this very hot topic. Perfectly complements Biomolecular Information Processing, also by Prof. Katz, and available as a two-volume set.

The first edition of Mark Ptashne's 1986 book describing the principles of gene regulation in phage lambda became a classic in both content and form, setting a standard of clarity and precise prose that has rarely been bettered. This newly updated third edition focuses once again solely on phage, incorporating the most recent insights into gene expression in prokaryotes while retaining all the special qualities of the original edition