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Transcription and Translation — A Practical Approach
93
Biological Spectroscopy by I D C a m p b e l l and R A D w e k . pp 404. A d d i s o n Wesley, W o k i n g h a m , U K . 1984. £37.95 and £14.95 (softback). I S B N 0 - 8 0 5 3 - 1 8 4 7 - X and 0 - 8 0 5 3 - 1 8 4 9 - 6 Spectroscopy is a subject which most uninitiated students and research workers in the biological sciences find difficult, especially in its more theoretical aspects. Those who are involved in trying to impart spectroscopic 'know how' to such students know from long experience that we are unlikely to succeed by attempting a rigorous, mathematical, theory-based approach. It is nevertheless of increasing importance that students and research workers in biochemistry and other biological sciences should be able to appreciate the scope and potential of spectroscopic methods in order to understand the literature and to be aware of how spectroscopy may be useful in solving specific problems. There has, therefore, been a tendency to try to educate biologists in spectroscopy by an empirical, example-based approach with the emphasis on practical problems and solutions and only a minimum of theory and mathematics. 'Biological Spectroscopy' takes this approach. Although it is by no means the first to do so (this reviewer edited a volume with a similar aim in 1980) it will represent a valuable addition to the texts available. A particularly useful feature is the abundance of worked examples, augmented by the lists of problems at the end of each chapter. The book includes treatment of U.V. and visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence, magnetic resonance, scattering techniques, optical activity and microscopy. It therefore embraces several techniques, which are not strictly spectroscopy, but this licence is surely justified in view of their importance in biological research. Indeed, mass spectroscopy might well have been included among the latter. The biggest problem regarding a book such as this is who will buy it. At £14.95 it is certainly not expensive by modern standards, but nevertheless is probably not appropriate for individual purchase by undergraduates in biology, bearing in mind the relatively small contributions of spectroscopy in most degree courses. It is eminently suited as a book for multiple purchase by departments or libraries for student borrowing and will hopefully find a place in many research laboratories. S B Brown
Transcription Approach
and
Translation
m
A
Practical
E d i t e d by B D H a m e s and S J Higgins. pp 328. I R L Press, Oxford. 1984. £12. ISBN 0-904147-52-5 This is the latest addition to the 'Practical Approach' series which offer detailed practical advice at a very reasonable price. The techniques described in the present volume are much more demanding than previous ones such as gel electrophoresis. Still, the authors of the ten chapters are all experienced experts and their descriptions are, on the whole, sufficiently detailed to allow one to work directly from the text. Nevertheless, I think it would take considerable courage to embark on a series of experiments involving the injection of Xenopus oocytes, for example, without first having a 'tutorial' from someone already adept at performing their techniques. In this sense the book is probably comfortingly complementary! (In fact two chapters, both by A Colman, are on the use of Xenopus oocytes, one on DNA and the other on RNA translation.) The other chapters cover expression of exogenous DNA in mammalian cells, transcription of eukaryotic genes in whole-cell extracts, transcription of RNA in isolated nuclei, transcription of BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
13(2) 1985
chromatin, prokaryotic systems (in vivo and cell-free) and purification of m R N A and its translation in cell-free extracts. The value of the book will be seen from this list. I thought that it should have been pointed out in the chapter on mRNA translation in cell-free systems that sterile (or RNase-free) conditions should be used - - although it must be admitted that ample warning is given in the previous chapter on how to prepare your mRNA. Appendices tabulate nucleic acid and protein molecular weight markers and list suppliers of specialist items mentioned in the text. On the whole, very good value and admirably up to date. G A Patrick
The Genetic Code and Protein Biosynthesis (Second Edition) by B F C Clark. pp 76. E d w a r d A r n o l d , L o n d o n (Studies in Biology N o 83). 1984. £3.20 (paperback). ISBN 0-7131-2887-9 This is one of the better volumes in the Studies in Biology series. The need for a revision since the first edition in 1977 is obvious and has been quite well done. The book takes the reader from the most basic principles (eg amino acids and peptide bonds) to some of the most modem areas of molecular biology. Its best feature is the solid detailed, historical and clearly written account of the discovery of the Genetic Code. It is debatable whether you get more for your money by buying Stryer or a 'Molecular Biology of the Cell' if you only want this topic. Nevertheless, within its lights a valuable member of this series. With clear illustrations, it provides a useful introduction to biochemical genetics. N F Cooper
Electrophoresis ' 8 3 Edited by H Hirai. pp 787. W a l t e r de G r u y t e r , Berlin. 1984. D M 280 ISBN 3-11-009788-5 The third meeting of the International Society of Electrophoresis took place in May 1983 in Tokyo and this (rather expensive) volume records the proceedings. The papers, as would be expected, are mostly short, and obviously much of this material is published elsewhere. Nevertheless it is convenient to have the papers collected together. Some of the longer papers are very interesting. I am thinking here of '20 Years of Scientific Work and Development of Isoelectric Focusing' by Vesterberg and 'High Performance Electrophoresis' by Hjert~n. A backward glance too, in a way, from Chrambach and Hjelmeland on 'Recent Conceptual Advances in Moving Boundary Electrophoresis', although f found this hard going. The major sections into which the papers are collected are '2-D electrophoresis', 'Cell electrophoresis', 'Isoenzymes', 'Isoelectric focusing and isotachophoresis', 'Affinity electrophoresis', and finally a section of applications, plus abstracts of papers not received (sic). A valuable source of ideas, if you are an electrophoresis person. The book is printed in 'camera-ready' fashion, but the text is quite easy to read and the reproduction of diagrams and photographs satisfactory. P. Banner
Atlas of Steroid Structure V o l u m e 2 Edited by J F Griffin, W L D u a x and C M Weeks. pp 754. I F I / P l e n u m D a t a Corp, N e w York. $140. ISBN 0-306-66102-0 A massive compendium containing complete molecular and crystal data on 42 oestrane, 61 androstane and 81 pregnane structures, supplementing Volume 1. Comes complete with stereoviewer.
Biological Spectroscopy by I D C a m p b e l l and R A D w e k . pp 404. A d d i s o n Wesley, W o k i n g h a m , U K . 1984. £37.95 and £14.95 (softback). I S B N 0 - 8 0 5 3 - 1 8 4 7 - X and 0 - 8 0 5 3 - 1 8 4 9 - 6 Spectroscopy is a subject which most uninitiated students and research workers in the biological sciences find difficult, especially in its more theoretical aspects. Those who are involved in trying to impart spectroscopic 'know how' to such students know from long experience that we are unlikely to succeed by attempting a rigorous, mathematical, theory-based approach. It is nevertheless of increasing importance that students and research workers in biochemistry and other biological sciences should be able to appreciate the scope and potential of spectroscopic methods in order to understand the literature and to be aware of how spectroscopy may be useful in solving specific problems. There has, therefore, been a tendency to try to educate biologists in spectroscopy by an empirical, example-based approach with the emphasis on practical problems and solutions and only a minimum of theory and mathematics. 'Biological Spectroscopy' takes this approach. Although it is by no means the first to do so (this reviewer edited a volume with a similar aim in 1980) it will represent a valuable addition to the texts available. A particularly useful feature is the abundance of worked examples, augmented by the lists of problems at the end of each chapter. The book includes treatment of U.V. and visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence, magnetic resonance, scattering techniques, optical activity and microscopy. It therefore embraces several techniques, which are not strictly spectroscopy, but this licence is surely justified in view of their importance in biological research. Indeed, mass spectroscopy might well have been included among the latter. The biggest problem regarding a book such as this is who will buy it. At £14.95 it is certainly not expensive by modern standards, but nevertheless is probably not appropriate for individual purchase by undergraduates in biology, bearing in mind the relatively small contributions of spectroscopy in most degree courses. It is eminently suited as a book for multiple purchase by departments or libraries for student borrowing and will hopefully find a place in many research laboratories. S B Brown
Transcription Approach
and
Translation
m
A
Practical
E d i t e d by B D H a m e s and S J Higgins. pp 328. I R L Press, Oxford. 1984. £12. ISBN 0-904147-52-5 This is the latest addition to the 'Practical Approach' series which offer detailed practical advice at a very reasonable price. The techniques described in the present volume are much more demanding than previous ones such as gel electrophoresis. Still, the authors of the ten chapters are all experienced experts and their descriptions are, on the whole, sufficiently detailed to allow one to work directly from the text. Nevertheless, I think it would take considerable courage to embark on a series of experiments involving the injection of Xenopus oocytes, for example, without first having a 'tutorial' from someone already adept at performing their techniques. In this sense the book is probably comfortingly complementary! (In fact two chapters, both by A Colman, are on the use of Xenopus oocytes, one on DNA and the other on RNA translation.) The other chapters cover expression of exogenous DNA in mammalian cells, transcription of eukaryotic genes in whole-cell extracts, transcription of RNA in isolated nuclei, transcription of BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
13(2) 1985
chromatin, prokaryotic systems (in vivo and cell-free) and purification of m R N A and its translation in cell-free extracts. The value of the book will be seen from this list. I thought that it should have been pointed out in the chapter on mRNA translation in cell-free systems that sterile (or RNase-free) conditions should be used - - although it must be admitted that ample warning is given in the previous chapter on how to prepare your mRNA. Appendices tabulate nucleic acid and protein molecular weight markers and list suppliers of specialist items mentioned in the text. On the whole, very good value and admirably up to date. G A Patrick
The Genetic Code and Protein Biosynthesis (Second Edition) by B F C Clark. pp 76. E d w a r d A r n o l d , L o n d o n (Studies in Biology N o 83). 1984. £3.20 (paperback). ISBN 0-7131-2887-9 This is one of the better volumes in the Studies in Biology series. The need for a revision since the first edition in 1977 is obvious and has been quite well done. The book takes the reader from the most basic principles (eg amino acids and peptide bonds) to some of the most modem areas of molecular biology. Its best feature is the solid detailed, historical and clearly written account of the discovery of the Genetic Code. It is debatable whether you get more for your money by buying Stryer or a 'Molecular Biology of the Cell' if you only want this topic. Nevertheless, within its lights a valuable member of this series. With clear illustrations, it provides a useful introduction to biochemical genetics. N F Cooper
Electrophoresis ' 8 3 Edited by H Hirai. pp 787. W a l t e r de G r u y t e r , Berlin. 1984. D M 280 ISBN 3-11-009788-5 The third meeting of the International Society of Electrophoresis took place in May 1983 in Tokyo and this (rather expensive) volume records the proceedings. The papers, as would be expected, are mostly short, and obviously much of this material is published elsewhere. Nevertheless it is convenient to have the papers collected together. Some of the longer papers are very interesting. I am thinking here of '20 Years of Scientific Work and Development of Isoelectric Focusing' by Vesterberg and 'High Performance Electrophoresis' by Hjert~n. A backward glance too, in a way, from Chrambach and Hjelmeland on 'Recent Conceptual Advances in Moving Boundary Electrophoresis', although f found this hard going. The major sections into which the papers are collected are '2-D electrophoresis', 'Cell electrophoresis', 'Isoenzymes', 'Isoelectric focusing and isotachophoresis', 'Affinity electrophoresis', and finally a section of applications, plus abstracts of papers not received (sic). A valuable source of ideas, if you are an electrophoresis person. The book is printed in 'camera-ready' fashion, but the text is quite easy to read and the reproduction of diagrams and photographs satisfactory. P. Banner
Atlas of Steroid Structure V o l u m e 2 Edited by J F Griffin, W L D u a x and C M Weeks. pp 754. I F I / P l e n u m D a t a Corp, N e w York. $140. ISBN 0-306-66102-0 A massive compendium containing complete molecular and crystal data on 42 oestrane, 61 androstane and 81 pregnane structures, supplementing Volume 1. Comes complete with stereoviewer.