A wealth of information has accumulated over the last few years on the human genome. The new insights have completely changed the focus of protein analysis. It is no longer time-consuming analysis of unknown products, but rather selective identifications of individual forms, modifications and processings, and overall analysis of global protein outputs from cells and tissues in health and disease. This book gears to the rising need of sensitive, accurate, and fast separation and identification techniques in proteomics. It discusses current methodologies of modern protein analysis, from isolation and sample preparation, over analysis and identification, to final characterization. Several evaluations concentrate on the now productive approaches of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, but alternative methods and further perspectives are also outlined. The book includes an overlook over current databases to connect protein analysis data with all available information, ...

Methods in protein sequence analysis constitute important fields in rapid progress. We have experienced a continuous increase in analytical sensitivity coupled with decreases in time necessary for purification and analysis. Several generations of sequencers, liquid/solid/gas-phase, have passed by and returned in other shapes during just over two decades. Similarly, the introduction of HPLC permitted an enormous leap forward in this as in other fields of biochemistry, and we now start to see new major advances in purification/analysis through capillary electrophoresis. Furthermore, progress in the field of mass spectrometry has matched that in chemical analysis and we witness continuous development, now emphasizing ion spray and other mass spectrometric approaches. In short, protein analysis has progressed in line with other developments in modern science and constitutes an indispensable, integral part of present-day molecular biology. Even the available molecular tools, in the form of proteases with different specificities, have increased in number, although we still have far to go to reach an array of "restriction proteases" like the sets of nucleases available to the molecular geneticist. Of course, conferences have been devoted to protein sequence analysis, in particular the MPSA (Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis) series, of which the 8th conference took place in Kiruna, Sweden, July 1-6 1990. Again, we witnessed much progress, saw new instruments, and experienced further interpretational insights into protein mechanisms and functions.

The 39 chapters in this volume consider subjects ranging from genetics, markers, and molecular biology of alcoholism, to clinical observations and treatment. The aim is to integrate pertinent information from the fields of molecular and cell biology with view to establishing a molecular basis of alcohol use and abuse. An initial preview summarizes historical aspects of alcohol use, and subsequent chapters concern novel drugs, pharmacological aspects, gene structures, cloning, and enzymatic properties. Also contributions by "non-traditional" alcohol scientists have been included in this collection, in order to highlight possible interaction and parallels between different fields. Novel results of particular interest include up-dated summaries on receptors, enzymes, and other proteins, as well as corresponding gene structures and regulation, setting the basis for distinguishing markers and pinpointing further possible pharmacological treatments.

A wealth of information has accumulated over the last few years on the human genome. The new insights have completely changed the focus of protein analysis. It is no longer time-consuming analysis of unknown products, but rather selective identifications of individual forms, modifications and processings, and overall analysis of global protein outputs from cells and tissues in health and disease. This book gears to the rising need of sensitive, accurate, and fast separation and identification techniques in proteomics. It discusses current methodologies of modern protein analysis, from isolation and sample preparation, over analysis and identification, to final characterization. Several evaluations concentrate on the now productive approaches of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, but alternative methods and further perspectives are also outlined. The book includes an overlook over current databases to connect protein analysis data with all available information, ...