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An introduction to spectroscopy for biochemists
Reviews of recent publications-Fd tumour virology there are some useful methods which can be applied to cultured ceils used in many aspects of research. The only criticism that can be made is that since the book is written as a manual for a practical course and presumably many of the experiments are designed to run simultaneously, the order of topics covered is not necessarily the most logical.
Cheat. Toxic. Vol. 20. No. 1
tion of initial results and which secondary techniques to bring into play. The production of this book is of high quality, and most biochemists and undergraduate science students would find it extremely useful, particularly if. when the need arose, they could call upon the expertise of a specialist spectroscopist.
BOOKS
An
Introduction
Edited 1980.
to
Spectroscopy
by S. B. Brown. Academic pp. xv + 403. f16.60.
for
135
RECEIVED
FOR
REVIEW
Biochemists.
Press, London,
Dr Brown has taken on the formidable but no doubt absorbing task of compiling a single volume that deals with various spectroscopic techniques and is aimed at the non-specialist biochemist. He has also inadvertently produced an excellent means of revision for the chemist who has temporarily lost touch with practical spectroscopy. The book begins with a short general introduction to spectroscopy and a simple explanation of energy levels and transitions. Seven chapters follow covering ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, molecular emission spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, circular dichroism and optical rotation, nuclear magneparamagnetic resonance, tic resonance, electron atomic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry, although perhaps not strictly a spectroscopic technique, is included because of its increasing importance in investigative biochemistry. I feel that a short chapter on Mdssbauer spectroscopy should have been included for the sake of completeness, although the editor does mention the omission in the preface. The same general format is followed in each chapter. This includes an introduction, followed by some theoretical princ.iples and instrumental considerations. There are often cross-references to other spectroscopic techniques but the advantages of the particular technique under discussion are outlined and examples of molecules or compounds that lend themselves to investigation by that technique are given. Useful indications of range and sensitivity are included, and the reader is made well aware of the possible difficulties involved in sample preparation and interpretation of results. The contributors have avoided the usual pitfall of ‘selling’ their particular technique, and are content to list some of the major achievements and to suggest further possible applicacations. A list of reviews and further reading accompanies each chapter. The overall result is a very readable ‘armchair’ reference book, the chapters on ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry being particularly clear to the non-specialist. The mathematical content should not prove troublesome, while the diagrams of instrumentation and spectra are amongst the best to be found. An additional chapter would have been worthwhile. This could have given the reader a flow diagram, decision tree or simply an ordered list of hints on how to approach the investigation of samples of unknown structure and have suggested the techniques that might initially prove most informative. the interpretaF.C.T. 20 I -I
Mechanisms and Treatment. Edited by D. A. Willoughby & J. P. Giroud. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1980. pp. xxxiii + 873. f39.95. Biological EBects of Mineral Fibres Vols 1 & 2. Edited by J. C. Wagner. IARC Scient. Publ. no. 30. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1980. pp. xxxix + xiii + 1007. SW. fr. 60.00 + 60.00 (available in the UK through HMSO). Inflammation:
N-Nitroso rence.
Compounds:
Analysis,
Formation
and
Occur-
Edited by E. A. Walker, M. Castegnaro. L. Griciute & M. Borzsonyi. IARC Scient. Publ. no. 31. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1980. pp. xxvi + 841. Sw.fr. 70.00 (available in the UK through H MSO). Carcinogenesis-A Comprehensive Survey. Vol. 6. The Nihoquinolines. Edited by T. Sugimura. Raven Press, New York, 1981. pp. viii + 159. 134.00. Cell Proliferation in the Gastrointestinal Tract. Edited by D. R. Appleton, J. P. Sunter & A. J. Watson. Pitman Books Ltd. London, 1980. pp. xxvii + 428. f25.00. Aluminum Neurotoxicity. Edited by L. Liss. Pathotox Publishers, Inc., Park Forest South, IL, 1980. pp. 141. 821.76. Banbury Report 7. Gastrointestinal Factors. Edited by W. R. Bruce.
Cancer:
Endogenous
P. Correa. M. Lipkin, S. R. Tannenbaum & T. D. Wilkins. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1981. pp. xiii + 468. 878.00.
Extrahepatic Compounds.
Metabolism
of
Drugs
and
Other
Edited by T. E. Gram. MTP Lancaster, 1980. pp. 601. f29.95.
Handbook
of International
Food
Regulatory
Foreign
Press Ltd. Toxicology.
Vol. 1. Evaluations. Edited bv G. Vettorazzi. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1980. pp. 16i. f14.95. Handbook
of International
Food
Regulatory
Toxicology.
Vol. 2. Profiles. Edited bv G. Vettorazzi. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1981. pp. 191: f14.95. Standard Operating Procedures. Analytical Metabolism. Edited by I. P. Sword &
Chemistry
Histological Form.
In
and
A. W. Waddell. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1981. pp. xv + 295. f39.00. Nickel Toxicology. Edited by S. S. Brown & F. W. Sunderman, Jr. Academic Press Ltd, London, 1980. pp. xx + 193. f15.00. Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory. 3rd Ed: Edited by L. Bretherick. Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1981. pp. xxi + 567. fl5.00. Methods
and
Terminology.
Dictionary
By F. M. Brimmer. The Mosaic Press, Tucson, AZ, 1979. pp. 175.
Metal Carcinogenesis Testing. Methods. By M. Costa. The
Principles
and
In
Vitro
Humana Press Inc., Clifton, NJ, 1980. pp. xiii + 167. f 19.80. Progress in Pesticide Biochemistry. Vol. 1. Edited by D. H. Hutson & T. R. Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1981. pp. xi + 346. f24.00. Food Safety. Edited by H. R. Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1981. pp. xiii + 339. f25.05. lmmunoassays for the 80s. Edited by A. Voller, A. Bartlett & D. Bidwell. MTP Press Ltd, Lancaster, 1981. pp. xiii + 508. f24.95. Stereological Methods. Vol. 1. Practical Methods for Biological Morphometry. By E. R. Weibel. Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd. London. 1979. pp. xvi + 415. f27.60.
Cheat. Toxic. Vol. 20. No. 1
tion of initial results and which secondary techniques to bring into play. The production of this book is of high quality, and most biochemists and undergraduate science students would find it extremely useful, particularly if. when the need arose, they could call upon the expertise of a specialist spectroscopist.
BOOKS
An
Introduction
Edited 1980.
to
Spectroscopy
by S. B. Brown. Academic pp. xv + 403. f16.60.
for
135
RECEIVED
FOR
REVIEW
Biochemists.
Press, London,
Dr Brown has taken on the formidable but no doubt absorbing task of compiling a single volume that deals with various spectroscopic techniques and is aimed at the non-specialist biochemist. He has also inadvertently produced an excellent means of revision for the chemist who has temporarily lost touch with practical spectroscopy. The book begins with a short general introduction to spectroscopy and a simple explanation of energy levels and transitions. Seven chapters follow covering ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, molecular emission spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, circular dichroism and optical rotation, nuclear magneparamagnetic resonance, tic resonance, electron atomic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry, although perhaps not strictly a spectroscopic technique, is included because of its increasing importance in investigative biochemistry. I feel that a short chapter on Mdssbauer spectroscopy should have been included for the sake of completeness, although the editor does mention the omission in the preface. The same general format is followed in each chapter. This includes an introduction, followed by some theoretical princ.iples and instrumental considerations. There are often cross-references to other spectroscopic techniques but the advantages of the particular technique under discussion are outlined and examples of molecules or compounds that lend themselves to investigation by that technique are given. Useful indications of range and sensitivity are included, and the reader is made well aware of the possible difficulties involved in sample preparation and interpretation of results. The contributors have avoided the usual pitfall of ‘selling’ their particular technique, and are content to list some of the major achievements and to suggest further possible applicacations. A list of reviews and further reading accompanies each chapter. The overall result is a very readable ‘armchair’ reference book, the chapters on ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry being particularly clear to the non-specialist. The mathematical content should not prove troublesome, while the diagrams of instrumentation and spectra are amongst the best to be found. An additional chapter would have been worthwhile. This could have given the reader a flow diagram, decision tree or simply an ordered list of hints on how to approach the investigation of samples of unknown structure and have suggested the techniques that might initially prove most informative. the interpretaF.C.T. 20 I -I
Mechanisms and Treatment. Edited by D. A. Willoughby & J. P. Giroud. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1980. pp. xxxiii + 873. f39.95. Biological EBects of Mineral Fibres Vols 1 & 2. Edited by J. C. Wagner. IARC Scient. Publ. no. 30. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1980. pp. xxxix + xiii + 1007. SW. fr. 60.00 + 60.00 (available in the UK through HMSO). Inflammation:
N-Nitroso rence.
Compounds:
Analysis,
Formation
and
Occur-
Edited by E. A. Walker, M. Castegnaro. L. Griciute & M. Borzsonyi. IARC Scient. Publ. no. 31. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1980. pp. xxvi + 841. Sw.fr. 70.00 (available in the UK through H MSO). Carcinogenesis-A Comprehensive Survey. Vol. 6. The Nihoquinolines. Edited by T. Sugimura. Raven Press, New York, 1981. pp. viii + 159. 134.00. Cell Proliferation in the Gastrointestinal Tract. Edited by D. R. Appleton, J. P. Sunter & A. J. Watson. Pitman Books Ltd. London, 1980. pp. xxvii + 428. f25.00. Aluminum Neurotoxicity. Edited by L. Liss. Pathotox Publishers, Inc., Park Forest South, IL, 1980. pp. 141. 821.76. Banbury Report 7. Gastrointestinal Factors. Edited by W. R. Bruce.
Cancer:
Endogenous
P. Correa. M. Lipkin, S. R. Tannenbaum & T. D. Wilkins. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1981. pp. xiii + 468. 878.00.
Extrahepatic Compounds.
Metabolism
of
Drugs
and
Other
Edited by T. E. Gram. MTP Lancaster, 1980. pp. 601. f29.95.
Handbook
of International
Food
Regulatory
Foreign
Press Ltd. Toxicology.
Vol. 1. Evaluations. Edited bv G. Vettorazzi. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1980. pp. 16i. f14.95. Handbook
of International
Food
Regulatory
Toxicology.
Vol. 2. Profiles. Edited bv G. Vettorazzi. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1981. pp. 191: f14.95. Standard Operating Procedures. Analytical Metabolism. Edited by I. P. Sword &
Chemistry
Histological Form.
In
and
A. W. Waddell. MTP Press Ltd. Lancaster, 1981. pp. xv + 295. f39.00. Nickel Toxicology. Edited by S. S. Brown & F. W. Sunderman, Jr. Academic Press Ltd, London, 1980. pp. xx + 193. f15.00. Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory. 3rd Ed: Edited by L. Bretherick. Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1981. pp. xxi + 567. fl5.00. Methods
and
Terminology.
Dictionary
By F. M. Brimmer. The Mosaic Press, Tucson, AZ, 1979. pp. 175.
Metal Carcinogenesis Testing. Methods. By M. Costa. The
Principles
and
In
Vitro
Humana Press Inc., Clifton, NJ, 1980. pp. xiii + 167. f 19.80. Progress in Pesticide Biochemistry. Vol. 1. Edited by D. H. Hutson & T. R. Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1981. pp. xi + 346. f24.00. Food Safety. Edited by H. R. Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1981. pp. xiii + 339. f25.05. lmmunoassays for the 80s. Edited by A. Voller, A. Bartlett & D. Bidwell. MTP Press Ltd, Lancaster, 1981. pp. xiii + 508. f24.95. Stereological Methods. Vol. 1. Practical Methods for Biological Morphometry. By E. R. Weibel. Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd. London. 1979. pp. xvi + 415. f27.60.