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Advances in Nutritional Research, Volume 4
85 biochemistry at the level of the working of the engines rather than with the way in which Nature limits our ability to perform technical miracles. Which kind of biochemistry do we want to be taught in schools? It would be a bold move of the Biochemical Society to sponsor a b o o k designed to revolutionise, rather than to support, our current conventional wisdom. C J Garratt Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods. Volume 4 Edited by J K Setlow and A Hollaender, pp 298, Plenum Press, New York and London. 1982. $39.50 ISBN 0 - 3 0 6 - 4 1 1 1 3 - X The series 'Genetic Engineering' has, over the past few years, provided a timely and much appreciated up-date in this rapidly developing field. In this latest volume the editors have again given priority to the more recently developed and potentially powerful techniques in use today; the remainder of the b o o k covers some specific examples in which cloning methods have contributed to a field. Volume 4, like the previous one, includes a section on synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides, covering some of the advances made to enable simple and rapid synthesis of these extremely useful tools for the molecular biologist. One example of the use of these oligodeoxynucleotides is illustrated in the chapter on DNA sequencing using the dideoxy method. The b o o k also gives considerable space to 'satellite techniques' of cloning. Two extensive chapters review the transcription of eukaryotic genes in vitro, while another section covers use of translation systems in analysing cloned gene products. The trend of this series towards covering cloning methods which are not dependent upon E coli continues with a chapter on cloning in Streptomyces. Finally, two chapters illustrate the impact of cloning techniques in our understanding of nitrogen-fixation and also in the interferon field. Overall this volume seems to maintain the high standards set previously and should certainly be given more than just a cursory glance by anyone with an interest in the area. K W Siggens A d v a n c e s i n N u t r i t i o n a l R e s e a r c h , Volume 4 Edited b y Harold H Draper. pp 344. Plenum Press, New York & London. 1982. $39.50 ISBN 0 - 3 0 6 - 4 0 7 8 6 - 8 The Dutch Nutritional Council has defined human nutrition as, " t h e process of choosing and utilizing food, its assimilation by the b o d y and the resulting effect on human health". This statement reflects the increased importance that has recently been attached to nutrition in many fields o f clinical medicine. It has been demonstrated that the intake of certain nutrients may have far-reaching consequences on the metabolic processes of normal and diseased tissues. This book, Volume 4 o f the series 'Advances in Nutritional Research', does not only cover topics of direct relevance to human clinical nutrition but includes chapters dealing with the nutrition o f cells in culture and of species that may provide insights into nutritional disorders o f man. The reviews in this volume survey the most recent research on vitamin-responsive genetic abnormalities; vitamin D compounds in human and bovine milk; dietary protein, metabolic acidosis and calcium balance; the nutritional significance, metabolism and functions of myo-inositol and phosphatidylinositol in health and disease; neurobiology of pyridoxine; nutritional implications of carnitine biosynthesis; comparative perspective of insect nutrition; the nutrient requirements of cultured mammalian cells; and fatty acid metabolism in the neonatal ruminant. At the end of each chapter is a wealth o f useful references. This volume, published in 1982, will be of scientific interest to clinical nutritionists and researchers engaged in experimental nutrition and metabolic studies. I found the book BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
11(2) 1983
extremely readable and authoritative. Together with the previous three volumes, this b o o k can be very useful as a library or reference book. W B Mujaji Chimie fondamentale I: Echanges d'6nergie et b q u i l i b r e s (in F r e n c h ) b y J C Chottard, J C Depezay and J P Leroux. pp 170. Hermann, Paris. 1981. This book is the first of a three-volume t e x t b o o k entitled 'Chimie fondamentale' devoted to the relationships between chemistry and biochemistry and has been especially written for medical students. This first b o o k is especially concerned with energy exchanges and proton (or electron) transfers. To stress the relationship between chemistry and biochemistry, each chapter is divided into three parts which answer to three questions: (1) why chemistry is necessary to explain biological and biochemical phenomena, (2) what are the basic chemical concepts necessary for a better understanding, and (3) how the use of these chemical concepts may explain the phenomena. One must not forget that the b o o k is a chemistry b o o k intended for medical students and the most important developments cover chemical thermodynamics (chapter 1), proton transfer (chapter 2, Part A) and electron transfer (chapter 2, Part 2). Biochemical aspects represent less than 20% of the content of the book. The very first chapter (72 pp), on chemical thermodynamics, is written in a classical way, and examples are chosen from biological compounds and the biochemical developments include energy-rich compounds and a thermodynamical analysis of glycolysis. Chapter 2 (74 pp) is divided into two distinct parts: the first on pH, titration curves and buffers, the second on oxido-reduction and redox titration curves. The chemical explanations are clear and well-adapted for students having the usual mathematical basis of high-schools. When necessary, calculations (pH or buffer capacity for example) are detailed. However, I think it is a pity that the authors do not mention clearly that some of the characteristic data given may be modified in cells: for example the influence of ionic strength and Mg 2 c o n c e n t r a h o n on AG of ATP hydrolysis, or the difference between isoelectric and isoionic pH. I also think the bibliography should be improved (only 6 books are cited). Nevertheless, this book will give the basis of physical chemistry necessary to understand biochemical energetics. I await with special interest the two next books of this series, which will be devoted to molecular structure (Volume II) and organic and enzymatic reactions (Volume III). J Wallach +
.
Ot
.
E v o l v i n g L i f e S c i e n c e s V o l u m e I. P a r t 2 O f O x y g e n , Fuels and Living Matter Edited b y G Semenza. pp 508. John Wiley and Sons New York. 1982. £27.50 ISBN 0 - 4 7 1 - 2 7 9 2 4 - 2 This is the second part of one volume in a series in which authors are asked to talk about themselves. Unfortunately they are also allowed to include many reprints of papers. As a consequence three-quarters of the b o o k is reprinted (often old) material. Some authors contribute about five pages of autobiographical material for every fifty of reprints for example C Martius and B L Horecker. Such accounts are not very revealing. Other authors, H G Wood, A E Braunstein, J S Fruton, E L Smith and P Carlson give more space to new writing and as a result tell us much more of the pride and pleasure of biochemical research. Here and there the wish to put the record straight (as seen by the author) is not really fair to others in the field. Surely if you are writing about your career as a biochemist there must be a run of references to papers which you did not write. Two or three of the articles here come out of this test very badly. Self seems to dominate
EDUCATION
11(2) 1983
extremely readable and authoritative. Together with the previous three volumes, this b o o k can be very useful as a library or reference book. W B Mujaji Chimie fondamentale I: Echanges d'6nergie et b q u i l i b r e s (in F r e n c h ) b y J C Chottard, J C Depezay and J P Leroux. pp 170. Hermann, Paris. 1981. This book is the first of a three-volume t e x t b o o k entitled 'Chimie fondamentale' devoted to the relationships between chemistry and biochemistry and has been especially written for medical students. This first b o o k is especially concerned with energy exchanges and proton (or electron) transfers. To stress the relationship between chemistry and biochemistry, each chapter is divided into three parts which answer to three questions: (1) why chemistry is necessary to explain biological and biochemical phenomena, (2) what are the basic chemical concepts necessary for a better understanding, and (3) how the use of these chemical concepts may explain the phenomena. One must not forget that the b o o k is a chemistry b o o k intended for medical students and the most important developments cover chemical thermodynamics (chapter 1), proton transfer (chapter 2, Part A) and electron transfer (chapter 2, Part 2). Biochemical aspects represent less than 20% of the content of the book. The very first chapter (72 pp), on chemical thermodynamics, is written in a classical way, and examples are chosen from biological compounds and the biochemical developments include energy-rich compounds and a thermodynamical analysis of glycolysis. Chapter 2 (74 pp) is divided into two distinct parts: the first on pH, titration curves and buffers, the second on oxido-reduction and redox titration curves. The chemical explanations are clear and well-adapted for students having the usual mathematical basis of high-schools. When necessary, calculations (pH or buffer capacity for example) are detailed. However, I think it is a pity that the authors do not mention clearly that some of the characteristic data given may be modified in cells: for example the influence of ionic strength and Mg 2 c o n c e n t r a h o n on AG of ATP hydrolysis, or the difference between isoelectric and isoionic pH. I also think the bibliography should be improved (only 6 books are cited). Nevertheless, this book will give the basis of physical chemistry necessary to understand biochemical energetics. I await with special interest the two next books of this series, which will be devoted to molecular structure (Volume II) and organic and enzymatic reactions (Volume III). J Wallach +
.
Ot
.
E v o l v i n g L i f e S c i e n c e s V o l u m e I. P a r t 2 O f O x y g e n , Fuels and Living Matter Edited b y G Semenza. pp 508. John Wiley and Sons New York. 1982. £27.50 ISBN 0 - 4 7 1 - 2 7 9 2 4 - 2 This is the second part of one volume in a series in which authors are asked to talk about themselves. Unfortunately they are also allowed to include many reprints of papers. As a consequence three-quarters of the b o o k is reprinted (often old) material. Some authors contribute about five pages of autobiographical material for every fifty of reprints for example C Martius and B L Horecker. Such accounts are not very revealing. Other authors, H G Wood, A E Braunstein, J S Fruton, E L Smith and P Carlson give more space to new writing and as a result tell us much more of the pride and pleasure of biochemical research. Here and there the wish to put the record straight (as seen by the author) is not really fair to others in the field. Surely if you are writing about your career as a biochemist there must be a run of references to papers which you did not write. Two or three of the articles here come out of this test very badly. Self seems to dominate