Introduction to Protein Structure [Paperback]

Carl Branden (Author), John Tooze (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0815323050 | ISBN-13: 978-0815323051 | Publication Date: January 3, 1999 | Edition: 2

Introduction to Protein Structure provides an account of the principles of protein structure, with examples of key proteins in their biological context generously illustrated in full-color to illuminate the structural principles described in the text. The first few chapters introduce the general principles of protein structure both for novices and for non-specialists needing a primer. Subsequent chapters use specific examples of proteins to show how they fulfill a wide variety of biological functions. The book ends with chapters on the experimental approach to determining and predicting protein structure, as well as engineering new proteins to modify their functions.

Editorial Reviews

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About the Author

Carl Branden was educated at Uppsala University (PhD) and the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Cambridge, where he was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of J.C. Kendrew. He has pursued a career in basic research, science administration (as science advisor to the Swedish Government), and biotechnology. Formerly Research Director of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France, he is now at the Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. A protein crystallographer with a distinguished academic career in research and teaching, he has made major contributions to the understanding of many biological structures, and is an editor of Structure.

John Tooze was educated at Cambridge University (MA), London University (PhD) and Harvard University (where he was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of J.D. Watson). After several years in basic research, he moved principally into science administration and science publishing, notably as the executive secretary of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, Heidelberg, Germany. He is currently Director of Support Services at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, London, and editor of EMBO Journal. A molecular biologist, his previous books include Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses, The DNA Story (with J.D. Watson) and the very successful first edition of Recombinant DNA: A Short Course (with J.D. Watson and D.T. Kurtz).

Product Details

• Paperback: 410 pages
• Publisher: Garland Science; 2 edition (January 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815323050
• ISBN-13: 978-0815323051
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Cell Biology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro, February 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Protein Structure (Paperback)

This book does a great job in introducing all the various nuances of protein structure. Throughout the book specific examples of proteins are given that exhibit features described in the text. One thing that makes the book especially instructive is the large number of illustrations used to explain key points. Usually a motif or domain was illustrated in ribbon schematics as well as with topology diagrams, making it easy to see connectivity within protein structures. I have been working as a protein biochemist for the past several years and recommend this book highly.It is appropriate both for experienced scientists who might want a refresher, or for a beginner who needs a firm foundation in protein structure.

One small thing I encountered several times in the book was redundant sentences, as if the editors missed some things periodically. This is hardly worth mentioning, and did not detract from the overall usefulness of the book.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best science books ever, September 21, 2003

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Introduction to Protein Structure (Paperback)

This book was a pleasant surprise in almost every respect. I found it a gentle, clear exposition of material that can be hugely complicated. The text works upwards from amino acids, the building blocks, through the interactions of shape and chemical affinity, to views of proteins in action. By the time they appear, muscle fibers and virus capsules follow naturally from the discussion. This gives simple, concise descriptions of how proteins' shape emerge from its sequence. It goes on to describe protein control of DNA, to explain virus and muscle structure, and to hint at modern drug design.

'Protein Structure' requires some background in organic chemistry and in the ideas of molecular genetics. For example, you should already be familiar with steric hindrance and with the idea of regulatory regions in DNA. Branden and Tooze reward the prepared reader with a well-considered series of discussions. These include enzyme action, photosynthesis, virus self-assembly, muscle fibers, DNA binding, and more. I had never seen an actual chain of chemical events that turn light into usable chemical energy. This book stepped through it (for a bacterium, at least) in just few paragraphs and drawings. But the whole book is like that - it sustains a remarkable density of information, always in a very readable style.

The text is laid out in a simple and appealing way, and is profusely illustrated. The illustration is one of this book's wonderful strengths. Almost all of the discussion is carried in diagrams as well as in words, and the authors freely use as many different diagrams as needed to make each idea understandable. The illustration style is simple and consistent; most drawings use one of three or four conventions for describing proteins. Almost all of the illustrations seem to be hand-drawn with colored pencil. Still, the corpus of illsutrations is among the most communicative I have seen in any book. Artists aspiring to illustrate science (or to communicate any idea) should read Tufte, then treat this book as a uniquely successful case study.

My only complaint about this book had to do with the quality of its printing. A few pages in my copy have bad register, colors are not consistent from page to page, and the one major photograph is weirdly over-sharpened. I must also admit that I do not need a deep knowledge of protein structure and function - I scanned the book quickly, and read only parts with care. The book repaid that effort richly, and I expect that it will reward more careful readers even more. I'm not a biochemist, but I strongly recommend 'Protein Structure' to anyone at all interested in the topic.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best intro/review text on the market, July 8, 2003

By 

Emmeliana Huxley (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Protein Structure (Paperback)

If you are looking for a basic introduction to proteins and their form and function--or if you are looking for a good text to review protein chemistry--there is none better than Branden and Tooze. I have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and routinely reccommend this book to everyone from undergraduate students taking biochemistry to graduate students and professors looking to review knowledge they've forgotten. This book has the perfect combination of clear explanations in ordinary english (rather than in complicated jargon) and full-color, easy to interpret diagrams. I fully intend to buy a second copy, since my current copy is perpetually on loan to friends/students. Buy two for yourself!