- Email: [email protected]
The polyketide metabolites
1998
Book Reviews
proteins the problems of specific delivery become more acute. This volume discusses the synthesis of peptides and proteins; physical biochemistry of peptides compared to proteins; analysis of protein and peptide drugs; enzymatic barriers; intestinal, epithelial and vascular endotheli~ barriers; pharmacokinetics of peptide and protein drugs; parenteral delivery; buccal routes; rectal routes; nasal routes; vaginal routes; transdermal route; pulmonry route; mucoadhesive dosage; preformulation; controlled delivery; toxicity proflles; reduction of immunogenicity and extension of the half life; regulatory perspectives. Endo&&--Edited by G. M. RUBANW. 211 pp. Oxford University Press, New York. $70.
AnhnaI Ltfe at Low Temperature-J. DAVENPORT.246 pp. 1992. Chapman and Hall, London. X65 U.S.A.; $74.95 Canada. Animals adapt to living in cold en~ronments. This book discusses the physics of temperature, cooling, thermal conduction, wind chill, heat production; the cold environment; behavioural responses to low temperature; sleep torpor and hibernation; life at temperatures below zero (antifreezes, supercooling, freezing avoidance); man and cold; cold and evolution of endothermy. Many topics are linked together in this very interesting book.
1992.
Endothelium derived contracting factor (EDCF) is a 21 amino acid peptide called endothelin (E). Three different E genes exist in the human genome encoding three different isofotms of E. This book deals with the discovery of E, EDCFs; molecular biology of E; structure activity relationship of E, E receptors and receptor subtypes; E synthesis and binding; cellular action of E on vascular smooth muscle; interactions between E and EDRF; E as a growth factor; E and the heart; renal and systematic hemodynamics of E, synthesis sites and receptors in the respiratory tract and CNS; E in essential h~~en~on, vasospastic angina, acute myocardial infarction and chronic renal failure; E and shock; E and homeostatic function, E and the control of the cardiovascular system.
Comparative aspecta of mecbanorecep&r systems Advances in Comparative Envinmmebl Pay&logy, Vol. lO-Edited by F. ITO. 309 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin. DM 198. The topics reviewed are: mechanosensitive (M) ion channels in bacteria; M ion channels in yeast; M t~n~uction in ciliates; molecular mechanisms of activation in M ion channels; gravity sensing in higher plants; M in respiratory systems; cardiovascular M; comparative physiology of cutaneous M; invertebrate auditory receptors; M in vertebrate hair cells; muscle M in invertebrates; muscle M in non-ma~alian vertebrates; muscle M in mammals. Muscle coo&a&on and ceil motility, me amI celhlu aspects: Advaocw in Comparative Eavhnenbl Phys&hgy, Vol. 12-Edited by H. Suer. 264 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin. DM 188.
Harderian GIam@ Porphyrin Metabolism, Behavioral and Ebdoche e&eta-Edited by S. M. WEBB, R. A. HOFFMAN, The topics reviewed are: regulatory mechanisms of contracM. L. PIJIG-DCJMINGO and R. J. R~ITER. 324 pp. 1992. tion in skeletal muscle; regulation of contractility in cardiac muscle; smooth muscle activation; structure and function of Springer, Berlin. DM 189. striated and smooth muscle; actin-myosin interaction; cytoThe Harderian glands (Ii) are large it&a-orbital glands plasmic streaming and amoeboid movement; molecular found in most land vertebrates. They are rich in porphyrins mechanisms of ciliary and flagellar movement; molecular especially in female rodents. They also contain a polypeptide mechanisms of mitosis and cytokinesis. growth factor and a unique fatty acid synthase. This book deals with the comparative anatomy of H, development of Water amIL&--Edited by G. N. SOMERO, C. B. O~MOND and H in rats and mice; structure of H in the golden hamster; C. L. B~LIS. 371 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin, DM 198. ultrastructure, sexual dimorphism and regulation by light and steroids; H in amphibia and reptiles; morphology in the Tbe structure of water has had a major role in determining rabbit; function of H in the gerbil; gonadal hormones and protein structure, DNA structure, membrane structure and porphyrin synthesis; H in birds; significance of porphyrins eel1 cytoarchitecture. Some organism (plant seeds, yeast in H; lipids in H; indoles; peptides; adrenergic activity; and fungal spores, some nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades, ne~~nd~~thyroid axis and H; Type II S-deiodinase; cysts of Artemia) are capable of surviving almost complete H and the pineal gland; H as a target for steroid hormones. dehydration and can remain in anhydrobiosis for decades. As yet the functions of H are not known. When the nematode Aphelenchus was slowly dehydrated it IWoerhse Toxicology-Edited by C. K. ATTERWILLand J. D. FWCK. 475 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. $110. Many drugs are either aimed at the endocrine system or at the indocrine systems’ target organ. Examples of hormones used in treatment are the oestrogens, androgens, progesterone, mineralocorticoids, insulin and the thyroid hormones. In addition there are the drugs used to control imbalances such as the thioureas for the thyroid system; the amino ~ute~i~de, etomidate and ketoconazole to inhibit corticoid secretion. ~no~u~~rnide is used in the treatment of breast cancer. This book deals with hypothalamic and pituitary toxicology Q’); thyroid and parathyroid T; adrenal T; reproductive T; neuroendrocrine T, dietary effects on endocrine tumours; extrapolation from animal tumours and T to man.
converted 20% of its dry weight into trehalose. Trehalose can stabilise membranes, sarcoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, liposomes and enzymes (PFK) against dehydration. This volume discusses water stress; organic osmolytes; osmotic control of transcription; de&cation tolerance; plant water compartmentation; polyol ice nucleating agents; protein antifreezes; glycopeptides; freeze-thaw injuries; freeze induced dehydration, Thus, what is dissolved in the water matrix in cells is also very important; life is an impure solution! The PoIyhetlde M&ahoBtes-D. O’HAGAN. Ellis Hoi-wood, New York. E29.50.
176~~. 1991.
The polyketide metabolites (P) am natural products derived from the condensation of ascetate units in a head to tail manner. Fatty acids are P, but other important P are the
1999
Book Reviews prostaglandins; thromboxanes; prostacyclin; the leukotrienes; fungal and plant P (orsellinic acid, acetyl-phlorglucinol, cardanol, anacardic acid, dmethyl salicylic acid, emodin, xanthones, allatoxins, brefelding-A, A 2677lB, mevinolin, compactin, tetracyclines, macrolides, averme&ins, milbemycins, erythromycin) and marine P (aplasmomycin, rubrenoic acids, okadaic acid, yessotoxin, brevetoxin); molluscs products (denticulatins, pectinatone). Many of these natural products are antibiotics, or important toxins whose biosynthesis is discussed. Protein
TralBc in Eukaryotic Cells--Edited by R. W. C~MPANS.Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 170-186 pp. 1991. Springer, Berlin, DM 136. Membrane proteins and the selected contents of vesicles are transported to their ultimate destination. Mitochondria acquire their membrane and cisternal proteins by pathways that are independent of the central vacuolar system. The lysosomes are one of the best known protein sorting systems. As many as 50 different lysosomal enzymes can be coupled to a single sorting system. In epithelial cells the apical and basolateral membranes are in separate domains and distinct populations of proteins are transported to each domain. Many viruses have a lipoprotein coat or envelope and the virus is assembled at specific membrane sites within the cell or at the cell surface. These topics are all comprehensively reviewed in this book. Biopr-
Monitoring end Control-Edited by M.-N. PONS. 365 pp. 1992. Hanser, Munich. DM 148, $95.
Sensors have been developed to measure the temperature, pressure, liquid flow rate, stirring, gas flow, pH, redox potential, dissolved gasses, enzyme levels, substrates, products (glucose, carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, antibiotics) and biomass, in industrial production systems. This information can be used to set up control systems using single and multiple loop control, feed forward control and adaptive control, which then lead to optimization of the production system. These subjects are described together with the methodology for research and development into process control, data collection and treatment on the laboratory and pilot scale, and the present and future of industrial automation. Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Liquid Systertu+G. F. PAYNE,V. BRINGI,C. PRINCEand M. L. SHULER.346 pp. 1992. Hanser, Munich. DM 144, $95. Just think of the products that plants synthesise (alginate, alkaloids, artemesin, betalains, caffeine, capsaicin, cardiac, glycosides, cytokinins, digitalis, L-DOPA, eucalyptus, garlic, geraniol, hyocyamine, isoprenes, limonin, menthol, morphine, nicotine, pyrethrins, quinine, scopolamine, taxol, vanilla, vincristine, vinblastine, xeatin, etc.). Think also of the application of genetic engineering to plants and plants could then make almost any chemical required. If this is linked to culture technique, the products could be more easily synthesised and extracted. This is the goal. The present book describes the techniques for the commercial production of chemicals from plant cell cultures; structure and metabolism of plant cells; growth and product synthesis kinetics and stochiometry; mass transfer; suspension culture; immobilised plant cells; root cultures; shoot cultures; somatic embryogenesis; strategies for productivity improvement.
Parasite Antigens, Padtic Molecular w--R.
Ceneq A Laboratory Manod for
M. M~zn~s, M. L. BLAXTER, B. D. ROBERTSONand M. E. SELKIRK.224 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Paper spiral back E35, S49.95. This manual is baaed on practical courses held since 1984 at Imperial College, London. The source materials are eukarytotic parasites and the chapters deal with: preparation of antigens; labelling of surface antigens; proteins (detection, cleavage, peptide maps, coupling of enzymes and haptens to proteins); antibodies; immunoassays; purification of antigens and antibodies; carbohydrates (antigens, deglycosylation, lectin binding assays); proteases; nucleic acids (parasite RNA and DNA, labelling DNA probes, in u&o translation); expression libraries (cDNA synthesis, antibody screening, lysogeny, subcloning into plasmid expression vectors, recombinant proteins); recombinant DNA; parasite life cycles and culture. Practical details are given and the book will be very useful in all parasitology courses. Cellular Caklam; A Practical Approa&Edited by J. G. MCCOIWACKand P. H. COBBALD. 418 pp. 1991. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $75, paperback $50. Calcium has taken the place of sodium or potassium as the element in fashion. Practical methods for the measurement of Ca are given in this book. They deal with; use of fluorescent indicators for measurement of cytosolic-free Ca concentration in cell populations and single cells (Quin-2, Fura-2, Indo-1, Fluo-3, Rhod-2); aequorin measurements of cytoplasmic free Ca; use of electrodes to study cellular Ca metabolism; metallochromic indicators; NMR measurements of cytoplasmic free Ca concentrations by fluorine labelled indicators; X-ray microanalysis; Ca buffering, computer programs and simulations; use of fluorescent TnC derivatives (dansylaxaridine labelled subunit of thin filament calcium sensor protein troponin) and caged compounds to study cellular Ca phenomena; Calmodulin; annexins, Ca dependent phospholipid binding proteins; quantification of the affinity of drugs acting at the Ca channel; sodiumcalcium exchange activity in plasma membrane vesicles; the Ca-ATPase of the plasma membrane; proteins involved in the uptake and release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum the role and study of the mammalian mitochondrial Ca transport and matrix Ca; measurement of free Ca in plant cells. This book shows the tremendous advances that have been made in Ca measurement over the last five years. Electron Microscopy
ln Biology: A Practical Approaclw
Edited by J. R. H,uuus. 308~~. 1991. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $65, Paperback %45. Most of the widely used EM techniques are given here. They consist of the techniques used in; fixation; embedding and thin section preparation; freeze substitution and other low temperature embedding methods; immunogold labelling techniques; EM autoradiographic techniques; EM enzyme histochemistry; high resolution shadowing; freeze fracture techniques; negative staining; transmission EM of vitrified biological macromolecules; quantitative biological X-ray microanalysis; three dimensional EM of tissues and cells. EM histologists will find this a very useful book.
Book Reviews
proteins the problems of specific delivery become more acute. This volume discusses the synthesis of peptides and proteins; physical biochemistry of peptides compared to proteins; analysis of protein and peptide drugs; enzymatic barriers; intestinal, epithelial and vascular endotheli~ barriers; pharmacokinetics of peptide and protein drugs; parenteral delivery; buccal routes; rectal routes; nasal routes; vaginal routes; transdermal route; pulmonry route; mucoadhesive dosage; preformulation; controlled delivery; toxicity proflles; reduction of immunogenicity and extension of the half life; regulatory perspectives. Endo&&--Edited by G. M. RUBANW. 211 pp. Oxford University Press, New York. $70.
AnhnaI Ltfe at Low Temperature-J. DAVENPORT.246 pp. 1992. Chapman and Hall, London. X65 U.S.A.; $74.95 Canada. Animals adapt to living in cold en~ronments. This book discusses the physics of temperature, cooling, thermal conduction, wind chill, heat production; the cold environment; behavioural responses to low temperature; sleep torpor and hibernation; life at temperatures below zero (antifreezes, supercooling, freezing avoidance); man and cold; cold and evolution of endothermy. Many topics are linked together in this very interesting book.
1992.
Endothelium derived contracting factor (EDCF) is a 21 amino acid peptide called endothelin (E). Three different E genes exist in the human genome encoding three different isofotms of E. This book deals with the discovery of E, EDCFs; molecular biology of E; structure activity relationship of E, E receptors and receptor subtypes; E synthesis and binding; cellular action of E on vascular smooth muscle; interactions between E and EDRF; E as a growth factor; E and the heart; renal and systematic hemodynamics of E, synthesis sites and receptors in the respiratory tract and CNS; E in essential h~~en~on, vasospastic angina, acute myocardial infarction and chronic renal failure; E and shock; E and homeostatic function, E and the control of the cardiovascular system.
Comparative aspecta of mecbanorecep&r systems Advances in Comparative Envinmmebl Pay&logy, Vol. lO-Edited by F. ITO. 309 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin. DM 198. The topics reviewed are: mechanosensitive (M) ion channels in bacteria; M ion channels in yeast; M t~n~uction in ciliates; molecular mechanisms of activation in M ion channels; gravity sensing in higher plants; M in respiratory systems; cardiovascular M; comparative physiology of cutaneous M; invertebrate auditory receptors; M in vertebrate hair cells; muscle M in invertebrates; muscle M in non-ma~alian vertebrates; muscle M in mammals. Muscle coo&a&on and ceil motility, me amI celhlu aspects: Advaocw in Comparative Eavhnenbl Phys&hgy, Vol. 12-Edited by H. Suer. 264 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin. DM 188.
Harderian GIam@ Porphyrin Metabolism, Behavioral and Ebdoche e&eta-Edited by S. M. WEBB, R. A. HOFFMAN, The topics reviewed are: regulatory mechanisms of contracM. L. PIJIG-DCJMINGO and R. J. R~ITER. 324 pp. 1992. tion in skeletal muscle; regulation of contractility in cardiac muscle; smooth muscle activation; structure and function of Springer, Berlin. DM 189. striated and smooth muscle; actin-myosin interaction; cytoThe Harderian glands (Ii) are large it&a-orbital glands plasmic streaming and amoeboid movement; molecular found in most land vertebrates. They are rich in porphyrins mechanisms of ciliary and flagellar movement; molecular especially in female rodents. They also contain a polypeptide mechanisms of mitosis and cytokinesis. growth factor and a unique fatty acid synthase. This book deals with the comparative anatomy of H, development of Water amIL&--Edited by G. N. SOMERO, C. B. O~MOND and H in rats and mice; structure of H in the golden hamster; C. L. B~LIS. 371 pp. 1992. Springer, Berlin, DM 198. ultrastructure, sexual dimorphism and regulation by light and steroids; H in amphibia and reptiles; morphology in the Tbe structure of water has had a major role in determining rabbit; function of H in the gerbil; gonadal hormones and protein structure, DNA structure, membrane structure and porphyrin synthesis; H in birds; significance of porphyrins eel1 cytoarchitecture. Some organism (plant seeds, yeast in H; lipids in H; indoles; peptides; adrenergic activity; and fungal spores, some nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades, ne~~nd~~thyroid axis and H; Type II S-deiodinase; cysts of Artemia) are capable of surviving almost complete H and the pineal gland; H as a target for steroid hormones. dehydration and can remain in anhydrobiosis for decades. As yet the functions of H are not known. When the nematode Aphelenchus was slowly dehydrated it IWoerhse Toxicology-Edited by C. K. ATTERWILLand J. D. FWCK. 475 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. $110. Many drugs are either aimed at the endocrine system or at the indocrine systems’ target organ. Examples of hormones used in treatment are the oestrogens, androgens, progesterone, mineralocorticoids, insulin and the thyroid hormones. In addition there are the drugs used to control imbalances such as the thioureas for the thyroid system; the amino ~ute~i~de, etomidate and ketoconazole to inhibit corticoid secretion. ~no~u~~rnide is used in the treatment of breast cancer. This book deals with hypothalamic and pituitary toxicology Q’); thyroid and parathyroid T; adrenal T; reproductive T; neuroendrocrine T, dietary effects on endocrine tumours; extrapolation from animal tumours and T to man.
converted 20% of its dry weight into trehalose. Trehalose can stabilise membranes, sarcoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, liposomes and enzymes (PFK) against dehydration. This volume discusses water stress; organic osmolytes; osmotic control of transcription; de&cation tolerance; plant water compartmentation; polyol ice nucleating agents; protein antifreezes; glycopeptides; freeze-thaw injuries; freeze induced dehydration, Thus, what is dissolved in the water matrix in cells is also very important; life is an impure solution! The PoIyhetlde M&ahoBtes-D. O’HAGAN. Ellis Hoi-wood, New York. E29.50.
176~~. 1991.
The polyketide metabolites (P) am natural products derived from the condensation of ascetate units in a head to tail manner. Fatty acids are P, but other important P are the
1999
Book Reviews prostaglandins; thromboxanes; prostacyclin; the leukotrienes; fungal and plant P (orsellinic acid, acetyl-phlorglucinol, cardanol, anacardic acid, dmethyl salicylic acid, emodin, xanthones, allatoxins, brefelding-A, A 2677lB, mevinolin, compactin, tetracyclines, macrolides, averme&ins, milbemycins, erythromycin) and marine P (aplasmomycin, rubrenoic acids, okadaic acid, yessotoxin, brevetoxin); molluscs products (denticulatins, pectinatone). Many of these natural products are antibiotics, or important toxins whose biosynthesis is discussed. Protein
TralBc in Eukaryotic Cells--Edited by R. W. C~MPANS.Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 170-186 pp. 1991. Springer, Berlin, DM 136. Membrane proteins and the selected contents of vesicles are transported to their ultimate destination. Mitochondria acquire their membrane and cisternal proteins by pathways that are independent of the central vacuolar system. The lysosomes are one of the best known protein sorting systems. As many as 50 different lysosomal enzymes can be coupled to a single sorting system. In epithelial cells the apical and basolateral membranes are in separate domains and distinct populations of proteins are transported to each domain. Many viruses have a lipoprotein coat or envelope and the virus is assembled at specific membrane sites within the cell or at the cell surface. These topics are all comprehensively reviewed in this book. Biopr-
Monitoring end Control-Edited by M.-N. PONS. 365 pp. 1992. Hanser, Munich. DM 148, $95.
Sensors have been developed to measure the temperature, pressure, liquid flow rate, stirring, gas flow, pH, redox potential, dissolved gasses, enzyme levels, substrates, products (glucose, carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, antibiotics) and biomass, in industrial production systems. This information can be used to set up control systems using single and multiple loop control, feed forward control and adaptive control, which then lead to optimization of the production system. These subjects are described together with the methodology for research and development into process control, data collection and treatment on the laboratory and pilot scale, and the present and future of industrial automation. Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Liquid Systertu+G. F. PAYNE,V. BRINGI,C. PRINCEand M. L. SHULER.346 pp. 1992. Hanser, Munich. DM 144, $95. Just think of the products that plants synthesise (alginate, alkaloids, artemesin, betalains, caffeine, capsaicin, cardiac, glycosides, cytokinins, digitalis, L-DOPA, eucalyptus, garlic, geraniol, hyocyamine, isoprenes, limonin, menthol, morphine, nicotine, pyrethrins, quinine, scopolamine, taxol, vanilla, vincristine, vinblastine, xeatin, etc.). Think also of the application of genetic engineering to plants and plants could then make almost any chemical required. If this is linked to culture technique, the products could be more easily synthesised and extracted. This is the goal. The present book describes the techniques for the commercial production of chemicals from plant cell cultures; structure and metabolism of plant cells; growth and product synthesis kinetics and stochiometry; mass transfer; suspension culture; immobilised plant cells; root cultures; shoot cultures; somatic embryogenesis; strategies for productivity improvement.
Parasite Antigens, Padtic Molecular w--R.
Ceneq A Laboratory Manod for
M. M~zn~s, M. L. BLAXTER, B. D. ROBERTSONand M. E. SELKIRK.224 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Paper spiral back E35, S49.95. This manual is baaed on practical courses held since 1984 at Imperial College, London. The source materials are eukarytotic parasites and the chapters deal with: preparation of antigens; labelling of surface antigens; proteins (detection, cleavage, peptide maps, coupling of enzymes and haptens to proteins); antibodies; immunoassays; purification of antigens and antibodies; carbohydrates (antigens, deglycosylation, lectin binding assays); proteases; nucleic acids (parasite RNA and DNA, labelling DNA probes, in u&o translation); expression libraries (cDNA synthesis, antibody screening, lysogeny, subcloning into plasmid expression vectors, recombinant proteins); recombinant DNA; parasite life cycles and culture. Practical details are given and the book will be very useful in all parasitology courses. Cellular Caklam; A Practical Approa&Edited by J. G. MCCOIWACKand P. H. COBBALD. 418 pp. 1991. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $75, paperback $50. Calcium has taken the place of sodium or potassium as the element in fashion. Practical methods for the measurement of Ca are given in this book. They deal with; use of fluorescent indicators for measurement of cytosolic-free Ca concentration in cell populations and single cells (Quin-2, Fura-2, Indo-1, Fluo-3, Rhod-2); aequorin measurements of cytoplasmic free Ca; use of electrodes to study cellular Ca metabolism; metallochromic indicators; NMR measurements of cytoplasmic free Ca concentrations by fluorine labelled indicators; X-ray microanalysis; Ca buffering, computer programs and simulations; use of fluorescent TnC derivatives (dansylaxaridine labelled subunit of thin filament calcium sensor protein troponin) and caged compounds to study cellular Ca phenomena; Calmodulin; annexins, Ca dependent phospholipid binding proteins; quantification of the affinity of drugs acting at the Ca channel; sodiumcalcium exchange activity in plasma membrane vesicles; the Ca-ATPase of the plasma membrane; proteins involved in the uptake and release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum the role and study of the mammalian mitochondrial Ca transport and matrix Ca; measurement of free Ca in plant cells. This book shows the tremendous advances that have been made in Ca measurement over the last five years. Electron Microscopy
ln Biology: A Practical Approaclw
Edited by J. R. H,uuus. 308~~. 1991. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $65, Paperback %45. Most of the widely used EM techniques are given here. They consist of the techniques used in; fixation; embedding and thin section preparation; freeze substitution and other low temperature embedding methods; immunogold labelling techniques; EM autoradiographic techniques; EM enzyme histochemistry; high resolution shadowing; freeze fracture techniques; negative staining; transmission EM of vitrified biological macromolecules; quantitative biological X-ray microanalysis; three dimensional EM of tissues and cells. EM histologists will find this a very useful book.