Con~p.Biochem. Physiol.Vol. IOIA, No. I, pp. 183-185,1992 Pereamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS Fislh Evolution and Systematics; Evidence From Spermatazoa-By B. G. M. JAMIESON.319 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press. 240.
RNA; methodology; vectors used in work with recombinant DNA (plasmids, bacteriophages, yeast artificial chromosomes, viruses, production of genetically engineered protein; prokaryotic gene organization and expression; the operon concept; eukaryotic gene organization and expression; oncogenes; haemoglobin; proteins of the immune system; some gene families (collagen, P 450, serine proteases, lipoproteins, growth hormone family, glycoprotein hormones, polyproteins); mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; different and evolving genomes. The book will be useful to students and those wishing to get up to date in this subject.
Thtm subject of this book is the ultra-structure of spermatozoa in echinoderms, lophorata, protochordates and fish, wit.1 the major accent on fish. Seventy diagnostic characteristic s are given for sperm structures. These have been used to hell) in determining the phylogeny of the sharks, Latimeria, lun;;fish, escoids, ostariophysans, and salmonids. Some of the “primitive” sperm structures are secondarily simplified. SorIle of the conclusions drawn from spermiotaxonomy are the cyclostomes are an artificial group unified by iawlessness. The two lamprey genera are related. The Ela;mobranchs and Holocephali are unified by their spe m structure into a valid group, the Chondrichthys. The Ani heriniformes, Cyprinodontiformes, and Beloniformes, sta: Id apart from the other fish exemplified by the Salmoniformes. There are final chapters on cryopreservation and the live preservation of fish gametes. The data presented will stirymlate readers to reconsider the pattern of fish phylogeny.
Immunoglobulin GenesEdited by T. HONJO,F. W. ALT and T. H. RABBITTS.410 pp. 1989. Academic Press, London. E40. Once the structure of the immunoglobulins (I) had been determined, it was a relatively short step to the elucidation of the genetic systems controlling I synthesis and production. This volume reviews; B-cell differentiation; roles of I in development and growth control of the B-lymphocyte lineage; long term lymphoid cultures; the heavy chain variable region locus; light chain genes of the k type; I lambda genes; constant gene regions of I and class switching; chicken I repertoire; I in lower vertebrates; I deficiencies; restrive usage of I variable region; I in lymphoid neoplasms; chimeric I genes; regulation of the I mu chain; transgeneic mouse I; I gene transcription; the J chain helper; the I superfamily. These studies provide models for exon-intron organization, differential splicing, site-specific as well as regional non-specific recombination, gene deletions and somatic mutations.
Cy~ochrome c; Evolutionary, Structural and Physicochemical Aspects-By G. R. MOORE and G. W. PETTIGREW.478 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 214. In 1987 the complimentary companion volume “Cytochr,>me c; Biological Aspects” was published. The present vol lrne deals with; stereochemical and physicochemical prclperties of haems; spectroscopic studies of cytochromes (C,. amino acid sequences of C-c l-8; structure of Class I C-c ; structures of Class II, III, and IV C-c; evolution; redox pal entials; electron-transfer mechanisms. The family of C-I ‘s is one whose structure, chemistry, biochemistry, functio.1 and evolution is the best known of all proteins, and the rell vant information is presented in this book.
Retinoids Part B Methods in Enzymology. Vol. 190. Cell Differentiation and Clinical Applications-Edited by L. PACKER.488 pp. 1990. Academic Press, San Diego CA. $69. Retinoic acid dramatically reduces DMBA induced mouse skin tumor. A wide range of retinoids (R) have been tested for their effects on diploid and haploid cell lines. The most important developments have been in the use of R in the treatment of skin diseases and in cancer therapy, though the teratogenic effects of R have always to be kept in mind. The main sections of this volume are; vitamin A mediated regulation of keratocyte differentiation; down-regulation of squamous cell-specific markers by R; effect of R on Sertoli cells; R and cell adhesion; R and epithelial differentiation; R inhibition of tumor cell growth; R and murine teratocarcinoma; R binding proteins in embryonic carcinoma; Acyl-CoA-Retinol acyltransferase; R and rheumatoid arthritis; R and regenerating limbs; slow release R; R sensitive cells and cell lines; nutrition and R; antioxidant actions of R; pharmacokinetics of R; effect of R on sebaceous glands; R modulation of phorbol ester effects; photo-damaged skin; photo-aged skin; Psoriasis; chemoprevention of cancer; toxicology of R.
Nwleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology-Edited by G. M. BL CKBURN and M. J. GAIT. 466 pp. IRL/Oxford University Prtss, Oxford. Hardback $115; paperback $49.95. This book is aimed at students and new research workers thclugh most research workers will find it useful. The chilpters are on; DNA and RNA structure; chemical synthesis; biosynthesis of nucleotides; DNA sequence informa tion and transmission; RNA sequence information and tra Ismission; covalent interaction of nucleic acids with sm#111molecules; reversible interactions of nucleic acids with sm,ill molecules; interactions of nucleic acids with proteins; DNA sequence rearrangements and alterations. The text is well written, clearly laid out, with good illustrations, and an emphasis on how the chemistry of nucleic acids explains the bItslogy of nucleic acids.
Gene Structure and Expression. 2nd Edition.-J. HAWKINS. 216 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Cambridge. Hardback $64.50; paperback $21.95.
D. Press, Advances in Microbial Physiology. Vol. 3l-Edited by A. H. ROSE and D. W. TEMPEST.311 pp. 1990. Academic Press, London. $95.
Thz first edition was published in 1985 and there have been rapid and important developments since then. The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as including the basic material. The chapters arc on; DNA;
The subjects reviewed in this volume plasmids, determinants of the catabolism 183
are; (1) the TOL of toluene and the