Author Description

Life as we know it would not exist if proteins did not fold into functional three-dimensional structures, where α-helices, loops, and β-sheets act together to form active sites that drive a myriad of biochemical reactions in the cell. The failure of this process is linked to the pathology of various diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, genetic conditions (like cystic fibrosis), and cancer. It is no wonder that close to $2 billion in worldwide research funding has been devoted over the last five years (2019–2025) to helping scientists understand the molecular details of protein folding, how it can fail in ways that promote disease in humans, and clinical paths to treat or prevent diseases linked to protein misfolding. This primer is prerequisite reading to the literature on this important topic for readers new to the field. Chapter one provides exposure to the three-dimensional structure of proteins; readers will learn how to identify secondary structures, protein motifs, and domains involved in biological function. Chapter two introduces methodologies to determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins; readers will learn modern techniques to determine the secondary structure composition and the orientation of atoms in three-dimensional space. By providing exposure to how the physical environment (i.e., chemical denaturants, pH, pressure, and temperature) controls protein denaturation, readers will learn how such information can be used to study the biophysical characteristics of proteins through various probes and methodologies.