Book excerpt: Infrared Spectroscopy of Biomolecules Edited by Henry H. Mantsch and Dennis Chapman Dramatic new advances in the application of infrared spectroscopy to biomolecules and instrumentation are revolutionizing this branch of molecular spectroscopy. Infrared Spectroscopy of Biomolecules provides an up-to-date, detailed look at the different spectroscopic techniques now available and offers a framework for progression in the field, including the evolution of Fourier transform methods, the development of time-resolved techniques and difference spectroscopy, as well as new modulation methods. The book begins with a fundamental introduction to the theories behind both infrared spectroscopy and the Fourier transform method, which lays the groundwork for the instrumental and mathematical chapters that follow. Once the basics of the infrared methods are established, the proceeding chapters cover the application of infrared spectroscopy to proteins, lipids, enzymes, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and biomembranes. Other chapters in this excellent reference include: Theoretical Analyses of the Amide I Infrared Bands of Globular Proteins Slow and Fast Infrared Kinetic Studies Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of Cell Surface Polysaccharides What Can Infrared Spectroscopy Tell Us About the Structure and Composition of Intact Bacterial Cells Biomedical Infrared Spectroscopy Editors Henry Mantsch and Dennis Chapman, leading experts in the field, conclude with an exciting look at much-anticipated future developments, including the use of caged compounds and studies of oxidation reduction systems within the IR spectrometer. A solid introduction to the basics with up-to-the-minute coverage of the latest developments in the field, Infrared Spectroscopy of Biomolecules is an indispensable reference tool for biochemists, biophysicists, and structural biologists alike.