Macromolecular Crystallography with Synchrotron Radiation

Book excerpt: This highly illustrated monograph provides a comprehensive treatment of the study of the structure and function of the molecules of life--proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses--using synchrotron radiation and crystallography. Beginning with chapters on the fundamentals of macromolecular crystallography and macromolecular structure, the book goes on to review the sources and properties of synchrotron radiation, instrumentation, and monochromatic data collection. There are also chapters on the Laue method, on diffuse X-ray scattering, and on variable wavelength anomalous dispersion methods. The book concludes with a description and survey of applications including studies at high resolution, the use of small crystals, the study of large unit cells, and time-resolved crystallography (particularly of enzymes). Appendices are provided that present essential information for the synchrotron user as well as information about synchrotron facilities currently available.