The Advances in Chemical Physics series provides the chemical physics field with a forum for critical, authoritative evaluations of advances in every area of the discipline. This latest volume explores the advent of optical single-molecule spectroscopy, and how atomic force microscopy has empowered novel experiments on individual biomolecules, opening up new frontiers in molecular and cell biology and leading to new theoretical approaches and insights. Organized into two parts—one experimental, the other theoretical—this volume explores advances across the field of single-molecule biophysics, presenting new perspectives on the theoretical properties of atoms and molecules. Single-molecule experiments have provided fresh perspectives on questions such as how proteins fold to specific conformations from highly heterogeneous structures, how signal transductions take place on the molecular level, and how proteins behave in membranes and living cells.This volume is designed to further contribute to the rapid development of single-molecule biophysics research.

Filled with cutting-edge research reported in a cohesive manner not found elsewhere in the literature, each volume of the Advances in Chemical Physics series serves as the perfect supplement to any advanced graduate class devoted to the study of chemical physics.