1st Edition

Fibrous Proteins

By Thomas Scheibel Copyright 2008
    152 Pages 53 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Fibrous Proteins will give an overview over some of the most important fibrous proteins including amyloids, collagens, fibrin, flagella, intermediate filaments, microtubules, silks concerning structure and function and possible applications as biomaterials. While our knowledge on globular proteins has been increasing over the past decades, fibrillar proteins have not entered center stage until recently. In general, research of fibrillar proteins has developed in recent years into a very exciting one. New technologies have drastically increased the accessibility and analysis of fibrillar proteins in the past years. With this book we draw attention to this highly fascinating topic of protein science. The book is aimed for an audience of graduate students and scientists and will provide the opportunity to highlight the field of fibrous proteins.

    Preface 1. Amyloid Fibrils Abnormal Protein Assembly 2. Vertebrate Collagens—Structures, Functions and Biomedical Applications 3. Short-Order Tendons: Liquid Crystal Mesophases, Metal- Complexation and Protein Gradients in the Externalized Collagens of Mussel Byssal Threads 4. The Formation of Fibrin Clots 5. Structure, Function and Assembly of Flagellar Axial Proteins 6. Keratin Intermediate Filaments: Similarities and Differences with Other Members of the IF Family 7. Tubulin and the Dynamic, Multifunctional Microtubules It Forms 8. Silks Produced by Insect Labial Glands 9. The Elaborate Structure of Spider Silk: Structure and Function of a Natural High Performance Fiber

    Biography

    Thomas Scheibel is Professor for Biomaterials at the Faculty of Applied Science at the Universität Bayreuth, Germany. Main research interests include fibrous proteins such as spider silks and mussel collagens. He gained several prestigious awards including an “Innovation by Nature” award of the German M inistry of Science and Education in 2007. He is further one of 10 recipients of the 2006 innovation tribute of the Bavarian prime minister. He received his Diploma of biochemistry, Dr. rer. nat. from the Universität Regensburg, Germany and his Habilitation from the Technische Universität München, Germany.