From Book News, Inc.

Smith (plant sciences, U. of Cambridge, UK) and Witty (biochemistry, U. of Cambridge, UK) present 14 contributions from an interdisciplinary group of researchers who discuss step-by-step protocols and methodologies for studying chlorophyll, heme, and related molecules in chemical, biophysical, or molecular biological settings. Attempting to make the protocols accessible to novices, chapters cover such topics as two-dimensional crystallization of chlorophyll proteins, structural study of heme proteins by electron microscopy of two-dimensional crystals, analysis of intermediates and end products of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway, and general laboratory methods for tetrapyrroles.Book News, Inc.

Abstract:

In Heme, Chlorophyll, and Bilins: Methods and Protocols, an interdisciplinary panel of hands-on investigators describe in detail how to work successfully with chlorophyll, heme, and bilins in biological, medical, chemical, and biochemical research. Each method is presented by a researcher who actually uses it on a daily basis and includes step-by-step instructions and pertinent tricks-of-the-trade that often make the difference between laboratory success and failure. Topics range from methods for the analysis of tetrapyrroles,heme, and hemoproteins, to the biosynthesis and analysis of chlorophyll and bilins.

Preface
Contributors
1 Laboratory Methods for the Study of Tetrapyrroles 1
2 Syntheses of Tetrapyrroles 13
3 General Laboratory Methods for Tetrapyrroles 39
4 Enzymatic Preparation of Tetrapyrrole Intermediates 69
5 Analysis of Biosynthetic Intermediates, 5-Aminolevulinic Acid to Heme 95
6 Analysis of Intermediates and End Products of the Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Pathway 111
7 Analysis of Heme and Hemoproteins 157
8 Hemoproteins Purification and Characterization by Using Aqueous Two-Phase Systems 185
9 Structural Study of Heme Proteins by Electron Microscopy of 2-Dimensional Crystals 209
10 Analysis and Reconstitution of Chlorophyll-Proteins 235
11 Two-Dimensional Crystallization of Chlorophyll Proteins 255
12 Biosynthesis and Analysis of Bilins 273
13 Analysis and Reconstitution of Phytochromes 293
14 Analysis and Reconstitution of Phycobiliproteins: Methods for the Characterization of Bilin Attachment Reactions 311
Index 335