Physics of bio-molecules and cells = Physique des biomolécules et des cellules : Les Houches, Session LXXV, 2-27 July 2001

Aimed at those working to enter this rapidly developing field, this volume on biological physics is written in a pe- dagogical style by leading scientists giving explanations that take their starting point where any physicist can fol- low and end at the frontier of research in biological phy- sics. These lectures describe the state-of-the-art physics of biomolecules and cells. In biological systems ranging from single biomolecules to entire cells and larger biological systems, it focuses on aspects that require concepts and methods from physics for their analysis and understanding, such as the mechanics of motor proteins; how the genetic code is physically read and managed; the machinery of protein--DNA interactions; force spectroscopy of biomolecules'velopes, cytoskeletons, and cytoplasms; polymerization forces; literia propulsion; cell motility; lab-on-a-chip nanotechnology for single-molecule analysis of biomolecules; bioinforma- tics; and coding and computational strategies of the brain. Aimed at those working to enter this rapidly developing field, this volume on biological physics is written in a pedagogical style by leading scientists giving explanations that take their starting point where any physicist can follow and end at the frontier of research in biological physics. These lectures describe the state-of-the-art physics of biomolecules and cells. In biological systems ranging from single biomolecules to entire cells and larger biological systems, it focuses on aspects that require concepts and methods from physics for their analysis and understanding, such as the mechanics of motor proteins; how the genetic code is physically read and managed; the machinery of protein--DNA interactions; force spectroscopy of biomolecules' velopes, cytoskeletons, and cytoplasms; polymerization forces; listeria propulsion; cell motility; lab-on-a-chip nanotechnology for single-molecule analysis of biomolecules; bioinformatics; and coding and computational strategies of the brain. Front Matter....Pages i-xxxiv Physics of Protein-DNA Interaction....Pages 1-68 Mechanics of motor proteins....Pages 69-94 Modelling motor protein systems....Pages 95-143 Dynamic Force Spectroscopy....Pages 145-204 Polymerization Forces....Pages 205-214 The Physics of Listeria Propulsion....Pages 215-236 Physics of Composite Cell Membrane and Actin Based Cytoskeleton....Pages 237-284 Cell Adhesion as Wetting Transition?....Pages 285-309 Biological Physics in Silico....Pages 311-419 Some Physical Problems in Bioinformatics....Pages 421-434 Three Lectures on Biological Networks....Pages 435-483 Thinking About The Brain....Pages 485-578 Back Matter....Pages 579-580 Aimed at those working to enter this rapidly developing field, this volume on biological physics is written in a pedagogical style directing physicists towards the frontier of research in biological physics. These lectures describe the state-of-the-art physics of biomolecules and cells.