Basic Principles of Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) can supply rich information on the mass, shape, size distribution, solvation, and composition of macromolecules and nanoscopic particles. It also provides a detailed view of their reversible single- or multi-component interactions over a wide range of affinities. Yet this powerful technique has been hard to master in mainstream molecular sciences due to a lack of comprehensive books on the subject.

Filling this gap in the literature of biophysical methodology, Basic Principles of Analytical Ultracentrifugation explains the fundamentals in the theory and practice of AUC. The book provides you with up-to-date experimental information to confidently practice AUC. You will understand the basic concepts, full potential, and possible pitfalls of AUC as well as appreciate the current relevance of past work in the field.

The book first introduces the basic principles and technical setup of an AUC experiment and briefly describes the optical systems used for detection. It then explores the ultracentrifugation experiment from a macromolecular standpoint, offering a detailed physical picture of the sedimentation process and relevant macromolecular parameters. The authors present important practical aspects for conducting an experiment, including sample preparation, data acquisition and data structure, and the execution of the centrifugal experiment. They also cover instrument calibration and quality control experiments.