Introduction to Protein Structure, Second Edition gives an up-to-date 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 range of biological functions. The book ends with chapters on the experimental approaches to determining and predicting protein structure, as well as engineering new proteins to modify their functions.

• Generously illustrated in full-color.
• End of chapter conclusions.
• New chapter on protein folding and flexibility. Covers the principles of protein folding and folding pathways, including the effect of molecular chaperones such as GroE and folding catalysts such as protein disulphide isomerase, conformational flexibility in protein function - for example how conformational changes in cyclin-dependent protein kinases drive the cell division cycle - and allostery.
• New chapter on fibrous proteins. Covers a helical fibers (including collagen and intermediate filaments such as spectrin and keratin) ©¬ sheet fibers (including spiders silk and amyloid fibrils) and muscle proteins (actin and myosin).
• Extensively updated coverage of eucaryotic DNA-binding proteins, a rapidly advancing field that has shed much light on the initiation and regulation of gene transcription. With emphasis on the principles of DNA binding by different families of DNA-binding proteins, two new chapters illuminate how proteins bind to highly specific DNA sequences and how the conformation of DNA can be dramatically altered by the binding of a protein.
• Completely rewritten chapter on receptor proteins to reflect dramatic advances in the understanding of molecular interactions in intracellular signaling pathways, with new sections on SH2 and SH3 domains and the structural basis of the G protein switch.
• Recent advances in the structures and functions of membrane proteins, including the ground-breaking structure of a bacterial potassium ion channel, revealing for the first time the structural basis of ion selectivity in membrane channels. Rapid advances in the use of combinatorial approaches to protein engineering and design.
• New classes of structures such as the ¥á/©¬ horse-shoe and ©¬ helices.
• New section on structure determination by fiber diffraction.