From b8f2f2c87f8d5c7e8aa8cc37fe2847e7998a8cc5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "W. Trevor King" Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 16:09:41 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] introduction/main.tex: Add a lead-in paragraph Instead of jumping in at the top, Prof. Cruz suggested zooming out from my work to the big picture before drilling back down. Adding more context can't hurt ;). --- src/introduction/main.tex | 14 ++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+) diff --git a/src/introduction/main.tex b/src/introduction/main.tex index 5c06ee9..51b29e1 100644 --- a/src/introduction/main.tex +++ b/src/introduction/main.tex @@ -1,6 +1,20 @@ \chapter{Introduction} \label{sec:intro} +Single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is the study of folding and +unfolding transitions in proteins under tension. By measuring these +transitions, we hope to gain insight into fundamental protein +behavior. SMFS is an attempt to bridge the gap between chemists +studying folding and unfolding kinetics in bulk solutions and +theorists simulating protein behavior at the amino-acid level. An +increased understanding of protein folding would guide researchers in +developing drugs targeting biologically significant receptors and +enzymes. In this chapter, I describe the protein folding problem in a +general sense (\cref{sec:folding-problem}), discuss theoretical +frameworks for understanding protein folding +(\cref{sec:energy-landscape}), and highlight the role of SMFS in +extending this understanding (\cref{sec:single-molecule}). + \section{The Protein Folding Problem} \label{sec:folding-problem} -- 2.26.2