ESR Spectroscopy in Membrane Biophysics

Starting from a comprehensive quantum mechanical description, this book introduces the optical (IR, Raman, UV/Vis, CD, fluorescence and laser spectroscopy) and magnetic resonance (1D and 2D-NMR, ESR) techniques. The book offers a timely review of the increasing interest in using spin-label ESR as an alternative structural technique for NMR or X-ray diffraction. Future aspects are treated as well, but only as an illustration of the progress of ESR in this field.ESR Spectroscopy in Membrane Biophysics§Dr. Marcus A. Hemminga, Wageningen University§Dr. Lawrence J. Berliner, University of Denver§Membrane proteins offer the greatest challenge in structural biology, and there is an urgent need to develop and apply new biophysical methodologies that are able to generate detailed structural information. Among modern biophysical techniques, site-directed spin-labeling electron spin resonance (SDSL-ESR) appears to show the highest potential to further develop the field. The objective of this book is to provide in-depth information about new advances of SDSL-ESR in membrane biophysics, emphasizing recent developments in the application to membrane proteins. §The contributions in this volume illustrate the current state of the art of SDSL-ESR and highlight new advances in high-field ESR and pulsed ESR. Together with this book, a CD-ROM is bundled that contains background material not suitable for inclusion within the book and software to simulate and analyze ESR spectra.§Key features:§Introduction and future of site-directed spin labeling of membrane proteins§Instrumentation and experimental setup§Advanced ESR spectroscopy in membrane biophysics§Practical pulsed dipolar ESR (DEER)§Membrane protein structure and dynamics studied by site-directed spin labeling ESR§High-field ESR spectroscopy in membrane and protein biophysics§Appendices with background material and software descriptions; related software packages are bundled on the enclosed CD-ROM §About the Editors:§Dr. Marcus A. Hemminga is an Associate Professor in Molecular Biophysics at Wageningen University. He has extensive experience in ESR spin labeling and related spectroscopic techniques.§Dr. Lawrence J. Berliner is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Denver after retiring from Ohio State University, where he spent a 32-year career in the area of biological magnetic resonance (ESR and NMR). He is the Series Editor for Biological Magnetic Resonance, which he launched in 1979.