This all-in-one compendium of current laboratory techniques for the study of RNA brings together numerous novel methods that were hitherto only available through the primary literature. The editors - themselves experienced RNA researchers - have gathered expert authors from the US and Europe for the ultimate in everyday working knowledge. In more than 300 detailed protocols, all the techniques covered are treated with the user in mind, including practical advice and an invaluable "troubleshooting" section.
The broad scope of the book allows the side-by-side treatment of specialized methods with basic biochemical techniques for the isolation, characterization and functional analysis of RNA. All pertinent laboratory methods are presented in detail, including
+ RNA synthesis, modification and ligation
+ Sequence and structure determination of RNA
+ Isolation and purification of ribonucleoproteins
+ RNA crystallization
+ Single molecule studies on RNA
+ Analysis of splice variants
+ RNA imaging in vivo
+ Modeling and prediction of RNA structure
+ RNA microarrays
+ Aptamer libraries and SELEX technology
+ RNA interference
In short, a guide to successful experimentation for molecular biologists, biochemists and biotechnologists and of interest to every researcher experimenting with RNA.
About the Author: Roland K. Hartmann is Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany). He studied Biochemistry at the Freie Universität Berlin where in 1988 he received the Ernst Reuter award for outstanding Ph.D. theses. His research interests include natural ribozymes, particularly ribonuclease P, interactions of RNAs with proteins and small ligands, aptamers, antisense and RNA interference.

Albrecht Bindereif is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Giessen (Germany) since 1999. He studied Biochemistry in Tübingen and at the University of California, Berkeley. His postdoctoral work was done in Michael Green's laboratory at Harvard University. His research interests focus on the mechanism and regulation of mRNA splicing, both in the mammalian system and in trypanosomes.

Astrid Schön received her PhD from the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Würzburg, and was a graduate fellow and postdoctoral associate with Dieter Söll at Yale University. She is currently a lecturer at the Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig (Germany). Her research is focused on RNA metabolism and RNA-protein interactions, and the evolution of complex RNA enzymes.

Eric Westhof is Professor of Biophysics at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg (France) since 1988. He studied in Liège and Regensburg and was a Fulbright-Hays Research Fellow at the University of Wisconsin with M. Sundaralingam. His research is centered on the relationships between sequence, structure, evolution and functions of RNA molecules.