Basics of Molecular Recognition explores fundamental recognition principles between monomers or macromolecules that lead to diverse biological functions. Based on the author’s longtime courses, the book helps readers understand the structural aspects of macromolecular recognition and stimulates further research on whether molecules similar to DNA or protein can be synthesized chemically.
The book begins with the types of bonds that participate in the recognition and the functional groups that are capable of forming these bonds. It then explains how smaller molecules select their partners in the overall recognition scheme, offering examples of specific recognition patterns involving molecules other than nucleic acids. The core of the book focuses on macromolecular recognition—the central dogma of molecular biology. The author discusses various methods for studying molecular recognition. He also describes how molecules without biological functions can be arrayed or folded following certain rules and examines the nature of interactions among them.
Molecular recognition is a vast area encompassing every aspect of biology. This book highlights all aspects of non-covalent macromolecular recognition processes, including DNA–protein recognition and sugar–protein recognition.
Features of Interacting Monomers with Different Functionalities: What Drives the Binding?
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS IN RECOGNITION BETWEEN SMALL MOLECULES
MOLECULES WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITIES
CONFIGURATION AND CHIRALITY
LOCK-AND-KEY AND INDUCED FIT MODEL
NONCOVALENT INTERACTIONS
Molecular Recognition among Various Monomers
CROWN ETHER–METAL ION RECOGNITION
PEPTIDE–ANTIBIOTIC RECOGNITION
DRUG–RECEPTOR INTERACTION
SUGAR–PROTEIN RECOGNITION
CELL WALL COMPOSITION AND SUGARS
CELL–CELL COMMUNICATION AND SMALL MOLECULE–RECEPTOR RECOGNITION
LECTIN–SUGAR RECOGNITION
Macromolecular Recognition
STATIC AND DYNAMIC MOLECULAR RECOGNITION
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
POLYMERIZATION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS
MOLECULAR RECOGNITION AT THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL DOGMA OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
POLYMERIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL MONOMERS
HORMONES AND RECEPTORS
ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY RECOGNITION
BLOOD GROUPING
Methods to Follow Molecular Recognition
SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY
SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE
AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY
ION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROPHOBICITY
SPECTROSCOPIC TOOLS THAT UTILIZE MOLECULAR RECOGNITION
ISOTHERMAL TITRATION CALORIMETRY
Macromolecular Assembly and Recognition with Chemical Entities
FOLDING AND MOLECULAR RECOGNITION
HOST–GUEST RECOGNITION AND SUPRAMOLECULAR ASSEMBLY
MOLECULAR INFORMATION PROCESSING AND SELF-ORGANIZATION
RECOGNITION BETWEEN METAL IONS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS
Suggested Readings
Index
Biography
Dipankar Chatterji is a professor in the Molecular Biophysics Unit at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Dr. Chatterji was the president of the Indian Academy of Sciences from 2013 to 2015. His major area of research focuses on the regulation of gene expression in bacteria under stress, including important pathways such as stringent response and quorum sensing.
