Introduction to Biophysical Chemistry

Looking for a text to help familiarize students, from a variety of backgrounds, with the tools and theories of physical chemistry and help introduce them to the extensive range of applications in biochemistry and cell biology?

Biophysical chemistry is an interdisciplinary field which applies the principles of physical chemistry to biochemical systems. Students entering the field of biochemistry generally have diverse backgrounds, either coming from predominantly chemical training with extensive exposure to quantitative descriptions of chemical structure and reactivity, but with limited application to biological systems, or they come from predominantly biological training where their exposure to biological systems is more complete, but they are often intimidated by the mathematical descriptions of these systems. This book works for both audiences by showing how quantitative descriptions can enhance the understanding of biological systems. This is done with examples from current applications to ongoing biochemical problems such as protein mis-folding, diseased states and their possible remedies.

Written by an author with extensive experience in teaching biophysical chemistry and first-hand knowledge of how students approach their course work, this text provides extensive supplementary material, interactive activities and thought-provoking questions to encourage discussion. This exposure provides the student with opportunities to envision how they might contribute to research in these areas, and even launch a career in the field of biophysical chemistry.

John R. Jefferson is a professor of Chemistry at Luther College in Decorah IA, USA. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA degree in Chemistry in 1979 and completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry from The Catholic University of American in Washington DC in 1987. His PhD thesis was supported by the American Red Cross and involved the synthesis and use of novel nucleotide probes to study the mechanism of blood platelet activation. After graduation, he spent two years at the NIH studying zinc-enzymes, followed by two years at the University of Cincinnati studying cellular cholesterol metabolism. Since coming to Luther in 1991, he has had three sabbatical appointments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN studying glycolipid transport and extracellular-vesicle trafficking. John has published over 25 peer reviewed research articles and has directed numerous undergraduate research projects. His hobbies include sailing and leather-craft.