The major goal of 'Expanding Frontiers in Polypeptide and Protein Structural Research' has been to bring the various avenues for the exploration of protein structures to a single forum. The idea of organizing the symposiwn was conceived by one of the editors, V. Renugopalakrislman, during the 9th International Biophysics Congress satellite symposium at Kibbutz Nof-Ginosar, Israel in 1987. It was originally supposed to dwell on 2D NMR and molecular dynamics of polypeptides and proteins. During the earlier part of the last decade, these two approaches began to emerge as powerful tools to probe protein structures at the atomic level in solution. The developments in molecular biology ushered in the capability to design polypeptides and proteins for specific application in science and technology. The emergence of 2D NMR and molecular dynamics was greatly facilitated by contemporary developments in molecular biology and protein engineering. Therefore an international symposiwn devoted exclusively to 2D NMR and molecular dynamics studies of proteins was felt necessary to bring two major approaches in a single forum. In addition to emphasis on 2D NMR and molecular dynamics simulation, the scope of the symposiwn included optical spectroscopy, protein design, and new horizons in protein structure. The symposiwn consisted of five plenary sessions devoted to NMR and optical spectroscopy as probes for protein structure, protein dynamics, computational methods in protein design, and new horizons in protein structure. In addition, five workshops in related areas, viz.

Bionanotechnology is the key integrative technology of the 21st century and aims to use the knowledge, gathered from the natural construction of cellular systems, for the advancement of science and engineering. Investigating the topology and communication processes of cell parts can lead to invention of novel biological devices with exciting applications. Though microscale to nanoscale research offers an excellent space for the development of futuristic technologies, a number of challenges must be overcome. Due to paucity of a dedicated literature on the protein based nanodevices we bring you this monograph that combines collective research works of scientists probing into this fascinating universe of bionanotechnology. The monograph has been written with an aim of surveying engineering design principles of biomolecular nanodevices, prototype nanodevices based on redox proteins, bacteriorhodopsins and natural fibers, and touching upon the future developments in the field.