Lectures On Statistical Physics And Protein Folding [Hardcover]

Kerson Huang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2005 | ISBN-10: 9812561439 | ISBN-13: 978-9812561435

This book introduces an approach to protein folding from the point of view of kinetic theory. There is an abundance of data on protein folding, but few proposals are available on the mechanism driving the process. Here, presented for the first time, are suggestions on possible research directions, as developed by the author in collaboration with C C Lin. The first half of this invaluable book contains a concise but relatively complete review of relevant topics in statistical mechanics and kinetic theory. It includes standard topics such as thermodynamics, the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, and ensemble theory. Special discussions include the dynamics of phase transitions, and Brownian motion as an illustration of stochastic processes. The second half develops topics in molecular biology and protein structure, with a view to discovering mechanisms underlying protein folding. Attention is focused on the energy flow through the protein in its folded state. A mathematical model, based on the Brownian motion of coupled harmonic oscillators, is worked out in the appendix.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kerson Huang, born in 1928 in Nanning, China, is Professor Emeritus of Physics at MIT. He received his SB degree in physics in 1950, and PhD in physics in 1953, both at MIT. After a stint at the Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, he joined the physics faculty at MIT in 1957, and retired from teaching in 1999, but still engages in research. He has worked on the theory of interacting bosonic particles, particularly phase diagrams, and superfluid pinning in a random potential. He also worked in quantum field theory, and found asymptotically free scalar fields in 4D, which were generally thought to be impossible. Currently his interest centers on protein structure, especially the dynamics of protein folding. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Inc (August 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812561439
• ISBN-13: 978-9812561435
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,797,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reflects Research as of June 2004, October 27, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lectures on Statistical Physics and Protein Folding (Paperback)

This book is from a series of lectures given by the author at the Zhou Pei-Yuan Center for Applied Mathematics at Tsinghua University to introduce research in biology to individuals in other sciences.

The first ten chapters are an introduction to statistical physics, but somewhat tilted towards biological applications. The last six chapters cover specific biophysical topics based on the general mathematical/physical principles.

The book introduces an approach to protein folding from the point of view of kinetic theory. This is presented as the driving force of the process. A series of possible research directions is suggested to further investigate these theories.

The book was published in June, 2004 and was up to date with current theories as of that time.