- Email: [email protected]
Molecular Biology of the Neuron
Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy 25 (2003) 312 www.elsevier.com/locate/jchemneu
Book review Molecular Biology of the Neuron R.W. Davies, B.J. Morris (Eds.), BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd., 1997, ISBN: 1-859962-40-8 The past decades have witnessed a huge rise in concern and interest in the molecular biology of the neuron. An authoritative and concise textbook of molecular biology of the neuron is needed to present the knowledge of molecular biology of the neuron. The book is undoubtedly the best candidate. The book is one of the series of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology. Its scope is very impressive, from traditional molecular biology of neuron to specific neuronal molecules, which play a role in the development of nervous system, to human neurological disease. It is very timely and important to neuroscience researcher. Also it will be very helpful to the researchers in other fields related to neuroscience. My overall impression of this book is that it offers an excellent compilation of high-standard reviews in molecular biology of the neuron. The book is well organized, with a detailed table of contents, complete contributors, and thorough abbreviations and index. It contains 14 chapters, each with really important points highlighted, which provide readers specialized, often detailed, information related to the molecular biology of the neuron. Chapter 1 presents the topic of neuronal genes including genes and the future of neuronal molecular biology, experimental approaches to find neuronal genes, the importance of using the World Wide Web to find neuronal genes, and the primary structure of brain-expressed genes, whereas Chapter 3 pays too much emphasis on neuron-specific gene expression. Other chapters discuss molecular genetics of nervous system and neuromuscular systems,
molecular biology of neurotransmitter release, voltagegated ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, molecular biology of neurotransmitter-gated ion channel receptors, signaling pathways in neurons, genetic control of brain development, neuronal plasticity, all of which are very hotly pursued fields in molecular biology of the neuron. However, a characteristic of the book is that it specifically selects the three topics of neurotrophic factors, the cytoskeleton, cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins, and human neuronal diseases as single chapter, respectively. The arrangement can have enough space to take an emphasis on the role of neurotrophic factors and cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins in neuronal survival and development, the importance of cytoskeleton in molecular biology of the neuron, and genetics basis of human neuronal diseases. Of course, it cannot cover all aspects of molecular biology of the neuron, but it takes an attempt to present some important and rapidly increased information related to molecular biology of the neuron. Undoubtedly, it provides the neuroscience researcher a very good choice of reference book about molecular biology of the neuron.
0891-0618/03/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0891-0618(03)00019-X
H.S. Chen Pain Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience, The Fourth Military Medical University, 17th West Chang-le Road, Xia´n 710032, People’s Republic of China E-mail address: [email protected]
Book review Molecular Biology of the Neuron R.W. Davies, B.J. Morris (Eds.), BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd., 1997, ISBN: 1-859962-40-8 The past decades have witnessed a huge rise in concern and interest in the molecular biology of the neuron. An authoritative and concise textbook of molecular biology of the neuron is needed to present the knowledge of molecular biology of the neuron. The book is undoubtedly the best candidate. The book is one of the series of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology. Its scope is very impressive, from traditional molecular biology of neuron to specific neuronal molecules, which play a role in the development of nervous system, to human neurological disease. It is very timely and important to neuroscience researcher. Also it will be very helpful to the researchers in other fields related to neuroscience. My overall impression of this book is that it offers an excellent compilation of high-standard reviews in molecular biology of the neuron. The book is well organized, with a detailed table of contents, complete contributors, and thorough abbreviations and index. It contains 14 chapters, each with really important points highlighted, which provide readers specialized, often detailed, information related to the molecular biology of the neuron. Chapter 1 presents the topic of neuronal genes including genes and the future of neuronal molecular biology, experimental approaches to find neuronal genes, the importance of using the World Wide Web to find neuronal genes, and the primary structure of brain-expressed genes, whereas Chapter 3 pays too much emphasis on neuron-specific gene expression. Other chapters discuss molecular genetics of nervous system and neuromuscular systems,
molecular biology of neurotransmitter release, voltagegated ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, molecular biology of neurotransmitter-gated ion channel receptors, signaling pathways in neurons, genetic control of brain development, neuronal plasticity, all of which are very hotly pursued fields in molecular biology of the neuron. However, a characteristic of the book is that it specifically selects the three topics of neurotrophic factors, the cytoskeleton, cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins, and human neuronal diseases as single chapter, respectively. The arrangement can have enough space to take an emphasis on the role of neurotrophic factors and cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins in neuronal survival and development, the importance of cytoskeleton in molecular biology of the neuron, and genetics basis of human neuronal diseases. Of course, it cannot cover all aspects of molecular biology of the neuron, but it takes an attempt to present some important and rapidly increased information related to molecular biology of the neuron. Undoubtedly, it provides the neuroscience researcher a very good choice of reference book about molecular biology of the neuron.
0891-0618/03/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0891-0618(03)00019-X
H.S. Chen Pain Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience, The Fourth Military Medical University, 17th West Chang-le Road, Xia´n 710032, People’s Republic of China E-mail address: [email protected]