Methods of optical spectroscopy for structural biology

V. Baumruk

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague 2

baumruk@karlov.mff.cuni.cz

Methods of optical spectroscopy represent a useful tool to study structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solution. Although these techniques cannot yield 3D structures of studied objects with atomic resolution they can provide answers to specific questions. In this lecture, basic principles of various methods based on interaction of molecules with ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation will be briefly summarized and then several representative applications will be presented to illustrate their usefulness, strength and in some respects even uniqueness.