Specific biomolecular interactions occur in practically every bio logical process, usually involving macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, it is not surprising that great attention has been devoted by biologists, chemists, and physical chemists to the general phenomenon of macromolecular recognition in order to gain a better understanding of the principles, forces, and energetics that de termine the often remarkable specificities of such interactions as those of enzymes and their substrates and inhibitors, antibodies with anti gens, hormones with their receptors, and DNA with drugs. These studies have allowed the unraveling of some basic principles of mol ecular recognition, such as complementarity, specificity, and dynam ics of the interacting species, and at the same time have led to development of analytical and separation techniques based on bio logical specificity (e. g. , affinity chromatography and other bioaffinity methods). This volume was assembled to address current research and developing ideas in biomolecular recognition through the contribu tions presented at the Conference on "Mechanisms of Recognition in Biological Macromolecules" held in Siena, Italy, September 4-6,1986. The Conference was cosponsored by the National Research Council of Italy, the Italian Biochemical Society, the University of Siena, and the International Interest Group in Biorecognition Technology.

Klappentext

Specific biomolecular interactions occur in practically every bio­ logical process, usually involving macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, it is not surprising that great attention has been devoted by biologists, chemists, and physical chemists to the general phenomenon of macromolecular recognition in order to gain a better understanding of the principles, forces, and energetics that de­ termine the often remarkable specificities of such interactions as those of enzymes and their substrates and inhibitors, antibodies with anti­ gens, hormones with their receptors, and DNA with drugs. These studies have allowed the unraveling of some basic principles of mol­ ecular recognition, such as complementarity, specificity, and dynam­ ics of the interacting species, and at the same time have led to development of analytical and separation techniques based on bio­ logical specificity (e. g. , affinity chromatography and other bioaffinity methods). This volume was assembled to address current research and developing ideas in biomolecular recognition through the contribu­ tions presented at the Conference on "Mechanisms of Recognition in Biological Macromolecules" held in Siena, Italy, September 4-6,1986. The Conference was cosponsored by the National Research Council of Italy, the Italian Biochemical Society, the University of Siena, and the International Interest Group in Biorecognition Technology.

Inhalt
I. Specific Interactions in Proteins: Molecular Aspects and Functional Regulation.- Computer Graphics as an Aid in Protein Structure-Function Analysis and Design.- Computational Approaches to the Study of Protein-Ligand Interactions.- Synthetic Peptides and the Design of Peptide and Protein Recognition Surfaces.- Limited Proteolysis of Globular Proteins: Molecular Aspects Deduced from Studies on Thermolysin.- Crystallographic Studies on Retinol-Binding Protein and Beta-Lactoglobulin.- Structural Bases for the Recognition of Inhibitors by Serine Proteinases and Their Zymogens.- Role of the Primary Specificity Subsite on the Interaction Between Serine Proteinases and Low Molecular Weight Substrates and Inhibitors.- Interaction Between Serine (pro)Enzymes and Macro-molecular Inhibitors. Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects.- Subunit Interactions in Cytochrome Oxidase: The Role of Subunit III.- Myosin Subfragment 1 Catalyzes the Polymerization of Actin at Low Ionic Strength.- Structural Effects in the Self-Association of ?II-Crystallin.- The Role of Lysine-7 in Ribonuclease A.- II. Interaction of Nucleic Acids with Proteins and Drugs.- Transition of Chromatin from the 10 nm Lower Order Structure to the 30 nm Higher Order Structure, as Followed by Small Angle X-Ray Scattering.- Topology of DNA in its Interaction with Actinomycin D and with the Histone Octamer.- Thermodynamics and Stereochemistry of the Interaction Between Anthraquinone Drugs and DNA.- Interaction of cis-Ru(DMSO)4Cl2 with DNA in Aqueous Solution.- Studies on the Interaction Between Ribosome and Elongation Factor 2 by Fluorescent Labeling of the Diphthamide Residue.- III. Immunological Recognition and Development of Synthetic Vaccines.- Fine Specificity of Monoclonal Anti-Lysozyme Antibodies and theThree-Dimensional Structure of a Lysozyme-Antibody Complex.- Predicting Antigenicity in Proteins and Future of Synthetic Peptides.- Folding and Antigenicity of Thermolysin Fragments.- Synthesis and Biological Activity of the Immunomodulatory Site of Interleukin 1.- The 208222 Region of the Peplomer Glycoprotein as a Putative Binding Site of Rabies Virus with the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor.- Heterogeneity and Specificity of Murine Cell Response to Synthetic Peptide (NANP)n of P. falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein.- Mapping of Antigen Epitopes Interacting with Class II MHC Products and with the Antigen Receptor of T Lymphocytes.- IV. Analytical and Preparative Bioaffinity Methods.- Analytical Use of Antibodies Based on Specific Molecular Binding.- Modified Avidins in Detection Systems.- New Biospecific Chromatographies of ?-Hexosaminidases.- Preparative Applications of Subunit Exchange Chromatography.- Use of Monospecific Antibodies for the Purification of D-Amino Acid Oxidases From Various Sources.- Adsorption of Aromatic Molecules on Hydrophilic Gel Chromatography Media: Effect of Various Salts.- Author Index.