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CHAPTER 1 DNA STRUCTURE<br> 1.1 Chemical composition and primary structure<br> 1.2 Spatial geometry and secondary structure <br> 1.3 Forces stabilizing secondary structure<br> 1.4 Polymorphism <br> 1.5 Tertiary structure <br> 1.6 Approximate models of DNA structure <br> 1.7 Experimental methods of studying DNA structure<br> CHAPTER 2 DNA DYNAMICS <br> 2.1 General picture of the internal mobility<br> 2.2 Twisting and bending motions <br> 2.3 Dynamics of bases<br> 2.4 Dynamics of sugar-phosphate backbone<br> 2.5 Conformational transitions <br> 2.6 Motions associated with local strand separation <br> 2.7 Approximate models of DNA dynamics <br> 2.8 Experimental methods of studying DNA dynamics <br> CHAPTER 3 DNA FUNCTIONING<br> 3.1 Physical aspects of DNA functioning <br> 3.2 Intercalation <br> 3.3 DNA-protein recognition <br> 3.4 Gene expression <br> 3.5 Regulation of gene expression <br> 3.6 Replication <br> CHAPTER 4 LINEAR THEORY OF DNA <br> 4.1 The main mathematical models <br> 4.2 Statistics of linear excitations <br> 4.3 Scattering problem <br> 4.4 Linear theory and experiment <br> CHAPTER 5 NONLINEAR THEORY OF DNA: IDEAL DYNAMICAL MODELS <br> 5.1 Nonlinear mathematical modeling: general principles and restrictions<br> 5.2 Nonlinear rod-like models <br> 5.3 Nonlinear double rod-like models <br> 5.4 Nonlinear models of higher levels <br> CHAPTER 6 NONLINEAR THEORY OF DNA: NON-IDEAL MODELS <br> 6.1 Effects of environment <br> 6.2 Effects of inhomogeneity <br>

BioTec, Heft 11-12, November/Dezember 2004

<b>Ludmila V. Yakushevich</b> is a Doctor of Science and leading research worker of the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Mechanisms of Gene Expression, which is part of the Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The main research field is the dynamics of biopolymers, especially the nonlinear dynamics of DNA. The principal methods of investigations include theoretical physics and mathematical modeling.

The study of DNA is one of the most important areas of research in modern biochemistry and biology. Since the first edition of this book researchers have found that the inclusion of nonlinear effects leads to a significantly improved interpretation of experimental data. This new edition naturally retains this approach, but has been completely revised, updated and expanded to cover recent developments. Beginning with introductory chapters on DNA structure and dynamics, the book also includes a comparison between linear and nonlinear approaches to the DNA molecule, a chapter devoted to the statistics of nonlinear excitations of DNA, and examples for the interpretation of experimental data on the dynamics of DNA in terms of nonlinear theory. Essential reading for researchers in biophysics and nonlinear physics, allowing biologists, chemists and physicists to continue developing new and improved techniques of investigating the DNA molecule.

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