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Principles of molecular recognition
BOOKREVIEWS Recognition isn't everything-it's the only thing Principles of Molecular Recognition edited by A. D. Buckingham, A. C. Legon and $. M. Roberts, Chapman and Hall, 1993..£35.00 (x + 200 pages) ISBN 0 7514 0125 0
The process whereby molecules interact to form complexes, and the chemical and physical nature of these complexes (molecular recognition) is fundamental in chemistry and biology. Ultimately, molecular recognition is the underlying feature of all chemical and biological processes, from protein folding and catalysis to transcription and DNA replication. It is the complexity of these processes, and our lack of understanding of the relative importance of the different chemical principles involved, that makes it so difficult to understand at the chemical level why things work as they do.
Principles of Molecular Recognition provides a useful compilation of a variety of different and current problems in this broad field. A very brief introduction to the chemical forces underlying noncovalent chemistry is followed by a somewhat longer discussion of recognition between small molecules in the gas phase. These chapters are designed to bring the less chemically oriented reader up to speed, but unfamiliar readers may still find it necessary to consult textbooks devoted exclusively to these subjects. The remainder of the book discusses, in separate chapters, different and diverse aspects of scientific questions that all fall under the general heading of molecular recognition. Each chapter is written by authors whose own research interests parallel the work described. Topics include protein dynamics, catalysis in metalloenzymes, asymmetric chemical synthesis, solvent-solute chemistry and drug discovery. Most chapters include material requiring knowledge beyond basic chemistry, but anyone with some chemical background should be able to follow the intellectual flow. Several chapters include a discussion on the application of computational methods, and the chapter on protein dynamics is devoted almost exclusively to this type of analysis. In general, only the results of more complex calculations are presented, while the details are left to more advanced texts and to the
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literature cited at the end of each chapter. Several chapters also include discussion outside of the topic of molecular recognition. The chapter on drug discovery, for example, incorporates aspects of molecular recognition into a much broader discussion of the nature of drug discovery itself (and its various pitfalls). Of particular interest to the biologist is the discussion of myoglobin protein dynamics and the catalytic action of staphylococcal nuclease (a metalloenzyme). Organic chemists are likely to be most at home with the discussion of asymmetric chemical synthesis. However, this book will be of greatest value to those focusing their research efforts on problems falling at the interface between biochemistry and chemistry, which is and should continue to be a very active arena. Principles of Molecular Recognition is far from exhaustive. The book focuses primarily on particular approaches to several distinct problems in molecular recognition, rather tl-,an on an extensive summary of the chemical concepts
involved. Each chapter could itself be the subject of a lengthy textbook. The advantage of this approach is that it gives the general reader a better idea of current issues and problems from a variety of approaches in a number of experimental systems. Thus, researchers from different backgrounds can gain insight from other systems that may prove useful in their own work. This book makes it particularly clear that different problems in biology and chemistry are approached in very different ways, and a complete understanding of any system will require some knowledge of all of these approaches. In addition, it highlights the fact that even seemingly simple chemical phenomena are actually quite complex, and both chemists and biologists must ultimately speak in the same chemical terms if they hope to understand things at the chemical level.
BRIANW. PONTIUS Institute of Molecular Biology,Universityof Oregon, Eugene,OR 97403, USA.
BooksReceived K. W. Adolf (ed.) Molecular Microbiology Techniques: Part A (Methuds in Molecular Genetics Vo/. 3), Academic Press, 1994. $ 8 5 . 0 0 (xiil + 398 pages) ISBN 0 12 044305 8 K. S. Authl, S, P. Watson and V, V, Kekkar (eds) Mechanisms of Platelet Activation and Control (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Vol. 344), Plenum, 1993. $95.40 (xiv + 272 pages) ISBN 0 306 44631 6 O. Chadwick and K, Ackrlll (eds) The Biosynthesis of the Tetrapyrrole Pigments (Ciba Foundation Symposia Vol. 180), Wiley, 1994. £47.50 (xv + 350 pages) ISBN 0 471 93947 1
£15.00/$30.00 (xiv + 176 pages) ISBN 1 872748 21 X F. W. Harrison and A. J, Kohn (eds) Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates (Vol. 5: Mollusca), WIley-Liss, 1994. $185.00 (xiv + 389 pages) ISBN 0 471 56112 6 R. L. Isaacson and K. F. Jenaen (eds) The Vulnerable Brain and Environmental Risks (Vol. 3: Toxins in Air and Water), Plenum, 1994. $95.40 (xxv + 358 pages) ISBN 0 306 44611 1 J, F. Kennedy and J. M. S. Cabral (eds) Recovery Processes for Biological Materials, Wiley, 1993. £110.00 (viii + 592 pages) ISBN 0 471 93349 X
O. Chadwick, J. Marsh and J. Goode (eds) The Molecular Basis of Smell and Taste Transduction (Ciba Foundation Symposia Vol. 179), Wiley, 1993. £45.00 (ix + 287 pages) ISBN 0 471 93946 3
M. $. KIIberg and O. H~iusslnger (eds) Mammalian Amino Acid Transport: Mechanisms and Control, Plenum, 1993. $102.00 (x + 318 pages) ISBN 0 306 44359 7
J. A. A. Chambers and D, Rlckwood (eds) Biochemistry Labfax, Bios, 1993. £27.50 (xx + 361 pages) ISBN 1 872748 20 1
Y. C. Lee and R. T. Lee (eds) Neoglycoconjugates: Preparation and Applications, Academic Press, 1994. $120.00 (xiv + 549 pages) ISBN 0 12 440585 1
V. L. Clark and P. M. Bavoil (eds) Bacterial Pathogenesis Part A: Identification and Regulation of Virulence Factors (Methods in Enzymology Vol. 235), Academic Press, 1994. $ 1 0 5 . 0 0 (xxx + 789 pages) ISBN 0 12 182136 6 H-D. Daniel Guardians of Science: Fairness and Reliability of Peer Review, VCH, 1993. DM78.00 (xiv + 118 pages) ISBN 3 527 29041 9 M, J. Dunn Gel Electrophoresis: Proteins (Introduction to Biotechniques), Bios, 1993.
J. E. Levine (ed.) Pulsatility in Neuroendocrine Systems (Methods in Neurosciences VoL 20), Academic Press, 1994. $95.00 (xviii + 510 pages) ISBN 0 12 185289 X C. R. Newton and A, Graham PCR (Introduction to Biotechniques), Bios, 1994. £16.00/$30.00 (xii + 161 pages) ISBN 1 872748 82 1 K. Nishinari and E. Doi (eds) Food Hydrocolloids: Structures, Properties and Functions, Plenum, 1993. $150.00 (xiii + 510 pages) ISBN 0 306 44594 8
The process whereby molecules interact to form complexes, and the chemical and physical nature of these complexes (molecular recognition) is fundamental in chemistry and biology. Ultimately, molecular recognition is the underlying feature of all chemical and biological processes, from protein folding and catalysis to transcription and DNA replication. It is the complexity of these processes, and our lack of understanding of the relative importance of the different chemical principles involved, that makes it so difficult to understand at the chemical level why things work as they do.
Principles of Molecular Recognition provides a useful compilation of a variety of different and current problems in this broad field. A very brief introduction to the chemical forces underlying noncovalent chemistry is followed by a somewhat longer discussion of recognition between small molecules in the gas phase. These chapters are designed to bring the less chemically oriented reader up to speed, but unfamiliar readers may still find it necessary to consult textbooks devoted exclusively to these subjects. The remainder of the book discusses, in separate chapters, different and diverse aspects of scientific questions that all fall under the general heading of molecular recognition. Each chapter is written by authors whose own research interests parallel the work described. Topics include protein dynamics, catalysis in metalloenzymes, asymmetric chemical synthesis, solvent-solute chemistry and drug discovery. Most chapters include material requiring knowledge beyond basic chemistry, but anyone with some chemical background should be able to follow the intellectual flow. Several chapters include a discussion on the application of computational methods, and the chapter on protein dynamics is devoted almost exclusively to this type of analysis. In general, only the results of more complex calculations are presented, while the details are left to more advanced texts and to the
348
TIBS 1 9 - AUGUST 1 9 9 4
literature cited at the end of each chapter. Several chapters also include discussion outside of the topic of molecular recognition. The chapter on drug discovery, for example, incorporates aspects of molecular recognition into a much broader discussion of the nature of drug discovery itself (and its various pitfalls). Of particular interest to the biologist is the discussion of myoglobin protein dynamics and the catalytic action of staphylococcal nuclease (a metalloenzyme). Organic chemists are likely to be most at home with the discussion of asymmetric chemical synthesis. However, this book will be of greatest value to those focusing their research efforts on problems falling at the interface between biochemistry and chemistry, which is and should continue to be a very active arena. Principles of Molecular Recognition is far from exhaustive. The book focuses primarily on particular approaches to several distinct problems in molecular recognition, rather tl-,an on an extensive summary of the chemical concepts
involved. Each chapter could itself be the subject of a lengthy textbook. The advantage of this approach is that it gives the general reader a better idea of current issues and problems from a variety of approaches in a number of experimental systems. Thus, researchers from different backgrounds can gain insight from other systems that may prove useful in their own work. This book makes it particularly clear that different problems in biology and chemistry are approached in very different ways, and a complete understanding of any system will require some knowledge of all of these approaches. In addition, it highlights the fact that even seemingly simple chemical phenomena are actually quite complex, and both chemists and biologists must ultimately speak in the same chemical terms if they hope to understand things at the chemical level.
BRIANW. PONTIUS Institute of Molecular Biology,Universityof Oregon, Eugene,OR 97403, USA.
BooksReceived K. W. Adolf (ed.) Molecular Microbiology Techniques: Part A (Methuds in Molecular Genetics Vo/. 3), Academic Press, 1994. $ 8 5 . 0 0 (xiil + 398 pages) ISBN 0 12 044305 8 K. S. Authl, S, P. Watson and V, V, Kekkar (eds) Mechanisms of Platelet Activation and Control (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Vol. 344), Plenum, 1993. $95.40 (xiv + 272 pages) ISBN 0 306 44631 6 O. Chadwick and K, Ackrlll (eds) The Biosynthesis of the Tetrapyrrole Pigments (Ciba Foundation Symposia Vol. 180), Wiley, 1994. £47.50 (xv + 350 pages) ISBN 0 471 93947 1
£15.00/$30.00 (xiv + 176 pages) ISBN 1 872748 21 X F. W. Harrison and A. J, Kohn (eds) Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates (Vol. 5: Mollusca), WIley-Liss, 1994. $185.00 (xiv + 389 pages) ISBN 0 471 56112 6 R. L. Isaacson and K. F. Jenaen (eds) The Vulnerable Brain and Environmental Risks (Vol. 3: Toxins in Air and Water), Plenum, 1994. $95.40 (xxv + 358 pages) ISBN 0 306 44611 1 J, F. Kennedy and J. M. S. Cabral (eds) Recovery Processes for Biological Materials, Wiley, 1993. £110.00 (viii + 592 pages) ISBN 0 471 93349 X
O. Chadwick, J. Marsh and J. Goode (eds) The Molecular Basis of Smell and Taste Transduction (Ciba Foundation Symposia Vol. 179), Wiley, 1993. £45.00 (ix + 287 pages) ISBN 0 471 93946 3
M. $. KIIberg and O. H~iusslnger (eds) Mammalian Amino Acid Transport: Mechanisms and Control, Plenum, 1993. $102.00 (x + 318 pages) ISBN 0 306 44359 7
J. A. A. Chambers and D, Rlckwood (eds) Biochemistry Labfax, Bios, 1993. £27.50 (xx + 361 pages) ISBN 1 872748 20 1
Y. C. Lee and R. T. Lee (eds) Neoglycoconjugates: Preparation and Applications, Academic Press, 1994. $120.00 (xiv + 549 pages) ISBN 0 12 440585 1
V. L. Clark and P. M. Bavoil (eds) Bacterial Pathogenesis Part A: Identification and Regulation of Virulence Factors (Methods in Enzymology Vol. 235), Academic Press, 1994. $ 1 0 5 . 0 0 (xxx + 789 pages) ISBN 0 12 182136 6 H-D. Daniel Guardians of Science: Fairness and Reliability of Peer Review, VCH, 1993. DM78.00 (xiv + 118 pages) ISBN 3 527 29041 9 M, J. Dunn Gel Electrophoresis: Proteins (Introduction to Biotechniques), Bios, 1993.
J. E. Levine (ed.) Pulsatility in Neuroendocrine Systems (Methods in Neurosciences VoL 20), Academic Press, 1994. $95.00 (xviii + 510 pages) ISBN 0 12 185289 X C. R. Newton and A, Graham PCR (Introduction to Biotechniques), Bios, 1994. £16.00/$30.00 (xii + 161 pages) ISBN 1 872748 82 1 K. Nishinari and E. Doi (eds) Food Hydrocolloids: Structures, Properties and Functions, Plenum, 1993. $150.00 (xiii + 510 pages) ISBN 0 306 44594 8