[.ca] Protein Purification: Principles and Practice (ISBN 0387940723)

The best book for understanding protein purification!:
Scientists and educators alike will benefit from Robert K. Scopes thorough and up-to-date examination of the techniques behind the science of protein purification. Written with enough simplicity and easy reading for the upper-level undergraduate student, but with all the facts and formulas for hard-core theorists, Protein Purification may well be the most concise and easy to read book of its kind on the textbook market. A must read for those interested in any form of protein science, anyone from the industrial biochemist to the graduate student will benefit from Robert's full description of the most current procedures for separating proteins by size, charge, or physical characteristics. An in-depth discussion of procedures used from the beginning of scientists' knowledge of the individual characteristics of protein charge and size to the most current procedures involving dye ligand chromatography will ensure an overall knowledge of the field. Robert's belief that a ninety percent separation of protein is the minimun standard for any reliable purification procedure is augmented by his insistence that most science can be done well while watching a budget. Definitely a textbook for the educator who has less money on hand than the typical research scientist, I highly recommend this book for undergraduate and graduate level biochemistry courses, as its cost is much less than that generally charged for most college texts.

A Clear, In-depth Treatment of Biochemistry:
In the first chapter of Protein Purification, Scopes notes that more and more biochemical techniques are black boxed, with kits eliminating the need for an understanding of biochemical principles (e.g., "precipitate with Acme Solution B, pour off Solution B, and redissolve precipitant in Solution C"). Scopes notes that with a proper understanding of biochemistry, one can save money on kits and do more purification steps with standard lab materials and reagents. He wrote this book to help biochemistry labs make more informed decisions on protein purification rather than just defaulting on some already familiar kit or protocol. Scopes succeeded in this purpose with flying colors: he hit a rare balance that makes this book fun to read. Each chapter is well-laid out, concetrating on a single separation technique's general practice and the theoretical foundations for that method. The basic ideas and materials are laid out, with clear, well-picked illustrations. I was particularly happy with the mathematical treament Scopes gives: understanding the thermodynamics or physics of a process aids your intuitive understanding and makes your troubleshooting skills much more honed.