ABSTRACT

Proteins are the workhorses of cells, performing most of the important functions which allow cells to use nutrients and grow, communicate among each other, and importantly, die if aberrant behavior is detected. How were proteins discovered? What is their role in cells? How do dysfunctional proteins give rise to cancers? Landmark Experiments in Protein Science explores the manner in which the inner workings of cells were elucidated, with a special emphasis on the role of proteins. Experiments are discussed in a manner as to understand what questions were being asked that prompted the experiments and what technical challenges were faced in the process; and results are presented and discussed using primary data and graphs.

Key Features

  • Describes landmark experiments in cell biology and biochemistry.
  • Discusses the "How" and "Why" of historically important experiments.
  • Includes primary, original data and graphs.
  • Emphasizes biological techniques, that help understand how many of the experiments performed were possible.
  • Documents, chronologically, how each result fed into the next experiments.

chapter 1|16 pages

Prelude to Biology

A History of Chemistry

chapter 2|14 pages

The Cell and Heredity

chapter 3|8 pages

Discovery of Proteins and Enzymes

chapter 4|10 pages

Protein and DNA Subunits

chapter 5|18 pages

The Energy of Cells Part I

Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle

chapter 6|16 pages

Protein and DNA Structure

chapter 7|10 pages

Protein Synthesis Part I

Localization of Protein Translation

chapter 8|16 pages

Protein Synthesis Part II

The Mechanism of Protein Translation

chapter 9|10 pages

The Energy of Cells Part II

Oxidative Phosphorylation

chapter 10|12 pages

The Energy of Cells Part III

The Mechanism of ATP Synthesis

chapter 11|22 pages

Techniques

chapter 12|12 pages

Cell Signaling Part I

The Role of Phosphorylation

chapter 13|14 pages

Cell Signaling Part II

G-protein-coupled Receptors

chapter 14|26 pages

The Secretory Pathway

chapter 15|18 pages

The Mechanism of Cell Death

chapter 16|12 pages

The Biology of Cancer