The second edition of Molecular Conformations presents the latest science in the molecular biology of protein folding. A new section contains the latest developments in establishing the mechanisms that control protein folding and – when things go wrong – protein degradation. While the new section is more scientifically involved that the original sections, it has been written in a way that puts the emphasis on general concepts.

1. Genetic origins of amino acids
   
   1. Constituents and organisation of DNA
      
   2. Folding of DNA
      
   3. The codon structure of DNA
      
   4. Gene structure 
      
2. Transcription and translation 
   
   1. Transcription 
      
   2. Translation 
      
3. Amino acid geometries and protein folding 
   
   1. Amino acid structure and bond flexibility 
      
   2. Principles of protein folding 
      
4. Proteostasis, aggregation and degradation 
   
   1. Proteostasis – overview 
      
   2. Aggregation 
      
   3. Nonsense Mediated Decay 
      
5. Structure-function relationship of proteins 
   
   1. Relevance of pH and isoelectric point to proteins 
      
   2. Surface electrostatic potential 
      
   3. Affinity and specificity 
      
   4. Allosteric activation 
      
6. Conformational change via epigenetics 
   
   1. DNA methylation 
      
   2. Definition of PTMs 
      
   3. Bromodomains 
      
   4. Chromodomains 
      
   5. Domains that bind phosphorylated serines 
      
7. Summary