Synchrotron Radiation Applied to Biophysical and Biochemical Research: (25 NATO Science Series A:)

The study of the interaction between light and matter has played a fundamental role in the development of natural sciences. Synchrotron radiation has characteristics of intensity, width and continuity of \Jave length range, time structure, tunability and polarization which are far superior to those of most other sources. It is possible with synchrotron radiation to perform experiments ~Jhich could previously be only thought about and to routinely carry out measureEents ~Jhich were once made only with great dif- ficulties. The study of the enormously complicated but imF-ensely interesting biological structures seems to be particularly suited to this new approach. The above considerations lead us to consider the opportunity of critically discussing the achievements and perspectives of the use of synchrotron radiation in biology and presenting them to a selected audience within the framework of an advanced school. From the very beginning we were encouraged in our initiative by many discussions with colleagues in the Rome area, who were later to become r.:.embers of the Scientific Committee of this Course. \oie were fully aware that ~y of the results obtained so far were of a pre- liminary nature; we feIt, however, that they were sufficiently promising to justify this venture, which seemed particularly im- portant in consideration of the increasing nur.:.ber of centers, where synchrotron radiation is becoming available.

Table of Contents:
Basic Properties of Synchrotron Radiation.- Some Considerations on UV Optics for Synchrotron Radiation.- VUV Monochromators at Synchrotron Radiation Sources.- Biophysical Spectroscopy in the Visible and Ultraviolet Using Synchrotron Radiation.- Spectroscopy and Photophysics: I. Radiative and Non-Radiative Decay Processes.- Spectroscopy and Photophysics: II. Bimolecular Processes.- Physical-Organic Photochemistry: I. Introduction and ? ? ?*, ? ? ?* Excitations.- Physical-Organic Photochemistry: II. n ? ?* Excitations.- Physical-Organic Photochemistry: III. Photooxidations.- Physical-Organic Photochemistry: IV. Complex Formation.- Time-Resolved Fluorescence Studies on Drug Binding Sites.- The Use of Synchrotron Radiation in Fluorescence Studies on Biochemical Systems.- Excited States of Proteins.- Excited States and Photochemical Reactions in Nucleic Acids.- Excited State Interactions and Photochemical Reactions in Protein-Nucleic Acid Complexes.- Primary Processes in Radiation Chemistry.- XRay Radiolysis of Condensed Systems: Solid DNA and DNA Solutions.- UV Photobiology: DNA Damage and Repair.- UV Photobiology: Postreplication Repair.- UV Photobiology: Excision Repair.- Far and Near Ultraviolet Radiation Products and Their Repair.- Structure Determination by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Including Applications from the Study of Molybdenum Proteins.- The Layout of X-Ray Optics and Instruments for the Use of Synchrotron Radiation at the Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Hamburg.- Small Angle Scattering of Solutions.- Two Forthcoming Methods for the Determination of Macromolecular Structures in Solution: Mössbauer Scattering and Spatial Correlation of Scattering Fluctuations.- Protein Crystallography with Synchrotron Radiation: I.General Discussion and High Resolution Data Collection.- Protein Crystallography with Synchrotron Radiation: II. Anomalous Scattering and the Phase Problem.- X-Ray Lithography and Microscopy.