Mechanics of Motor Proteins and the Cytoskeleton

JONATHON HOWARD is Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA.

Preface.- Introduction.- PART I: PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES.- Mechanical Forces.- Mass, Stiffness, and Damping of Proteins.- Thermal Forces and Diffusion.- Chemical Forces.- Polymer Mechanics.- PART II: CYTOSKELETON.- Structures of Cytoskeletal Filaments.- Mechanics of the Cytoskeleton.- Polymerization of Cytoskeletal Filaments.- Force Generation by Cytoskeletal Filaments.- Active Polymerization.- PART III: MOTOR PROTEINS.- Structures of Motor Proteins.- Speeds of Motors.- ATP Hydrolysis.- Steps and Forces.- Motility Models: From Crossbridges to Motion.- Afterword.- Appendix.- Bibliography.- Index.