Chemical Neurobiology - Methods and Protocols (Hardcover, 2013 ed.)

Many advances in modern neuroscience are enabled by the availability of chemical tools that allow sensitive, precise, and quantitative measurements of, and control over, biological processes. These powerful reagents are widely used for investigating the nervous system at levels of detail ranging from ion channel structure to neural network dynamics. Recent advances in photochemistry, microscopy, and protein engineering have triggered a surge in the development and application of these interdisciplinary techniques. Chemical Neurobiology: Methods and Protocols assists with the design, characterization and validation of new chemical tools for neurobiology by providing detailed protocols of procedures and assays deemed essential for the successful development and implementation of such tools. Divided into three sections, topics cover chemical probes of membrane protein structure and function, photochemical control of protein and cellular function, and chemical probes for imaging in the nervous system. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Chemical Neurobiology: Methods and Protocols serves scientists at many levels, including students aiming to expand their perspective, laboratory researchers seeking technical guidance, and established investigators looking for creative solutions to their research problems in molecular, cellular and systems neuroscience.