Introduction to Biomolecular Structure and Biophysics ― Basics of Biophysics

This comprehensive book presents a modern concept in biophysics based on recently published research. It highlights various aspects of the biophysical fundamentals and techniques that are currently used to study different physical properties of biomolecules, and relates the biological phenomenon with the underlying physical concepts. The content is divided into nine chapters summarizing the structural details of proteins, including recently discovered novel folds, higher order structures of nucleic acids, as well as lipids and the physical forces governing the macromolecular interactions which are essential for the various biological processes. It also provides insights into the recent advances in biophysical techniques including Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange with Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS), Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Cryo Electron Microscopy (cryo EM), supplemented with interesting experimental data.

It is a valuable reference resource for anyone with a desire to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of biophysical concepts and techniques of important biomolecules.

Dr. Gauri Misra is currently working as Assistant Professor at Amity University, Noida (U.P.) India. Before joining Amity University, she has worked as Assistant Professor at HYGIA Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Lucknow (U.P.) India. From 2010 to 2011, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at CHUL Research Centre, Quebec, Canada. As a postdoctoral fellow, she focused towards understanding the role of androgen receptor towards the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells using structural biology approaches. She also contributed successfully in various collaborative projects. During her doctoral studies at Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow (U.P.) India she made an innovative contribution towards understanding the structural and functional characterization of proteins that are involved in transit peptide-mediated pathway from Plasmodium falciparum. She has been the recipient of many awards including, Eli-Lilly Asia Outstanding Thesis Award (first prize) in 2009, and best oral presentation award at the “National seminar on Crystallography-37” Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 6-8th Feb. 2008. She has been an outstanding performer receiving gold medal and honors at various stages of her academic journey. Previously, she had been selected as visiting scientist under INSA-Bilateral Exchange program to visit Israel Structural Proteomics Center situated at Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel in 2014.

She is serving as reviewer for various prestigious international journals. Furthermore, she is member of many scientific societies including, Indian Biophysical Society and Indian Science Congress Association. She has also delivered invited talks at various prestigious platforms. Till date, she has authored and co-authored 12 articles in peer-reviewed journals. During the past 6 years, she has been actively involved in both research and teaching graduate and postgraduate students from diversified background of biological sciences, engineering and pharma programs.