Biochemistry examination and board review

64 Oncogene Techniques Vol. 254 of Methods in Enzymology, edited by P K Vogt and I M Verma. p. 703. Academic Press, San Diego. 1995. ISBN O-12-182155-2 $99 The Methods in Enzymology series continues to expand, and indeed does the range of techniques used in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This volume, like many of the others, has little to do with enzymology and describes a series of techniques related to cell culture, molecular biology, gene function, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. The techniques described are mostly of general utility and few are specific to oncogene research (eg Western blotting, hybridoma technology, gel shift assays). Most of the authors use examples from oncogene research to illustrate the techniques they describe. It is to be expected that people other than ocogene researchers will find their way into this volume via the cumulative index. As usual, this is another valuable addition to the Methods in Enzymology series. V C Haston

genetic expression. The last chapter gives an overview of metabolism and its hormonal control. Several errors and omissions can be found in these chapters also. The author has throughout used the term ‘serum glucose’ for describing the role of hormones in the regulation carbohydrate metabolism (p 82). There is no mention of the pathway of biosynthesis of creatine. TPP is said to have a role in the decarboxylation of keto-acids and ketosugars (p 45). Ferric ions and cupric ions are shown as Fe+j and Cu+’ (p 27). The A@’ for pyrophosphate is given as -4.6 kcalsi mol (p 26). The pathway of biosynthesis and utilisation of ketone bodies does not indicate the names of important enzymes. The term ‘Co A’ is omitted in the reaction of activation of acetoacetate by succinyl CoA (p 122). At the end of it all, one is left seriously wondering about the adequacy of this book for getting equipped for an examination despite the question and answer sections at the end of each chapter. The only redeeming feature is the suggestion that, it should be read in concert with a ‘standard text book”. Usha Anand and C V Anand

Biochemistry Examination and Board Review Biochemistry: An Illustrated Review with Questions and Explanations Fifth Edition By Paul 1995.

Jay Friedman,

pp 220. Little Brown, London. ISBN O-316-29428-4

This book has been written keeping in mind the requirements of medical students preparing for the USMLE. The emphasis has therefore been, on minimizing the number of pages, to enable the reader to have a quick revision of the major topics in the subject. The book begins with an account of the chemistry of amino acids, followed by a chapter on protein structure with details regarding its elucidation. There is no mention of the varieties of functions performed by proteins. A brief functional classification at this stage would have been more appealing. The fundamentals of acid-base balance are explained fairly well in the third chapter. This, however, is not been extended in a systematic way to describe the role of the lungs, the kidneys and the buffers of blood in maintaining pH homeostasis in the body. The fourth chapter deals with the principles of bio-energetics. This is followed by chapters on enzymes, co-enzymes and vitamins. The listing of enzymes has several overlapping examples like proteases and peptidases, which could create confusion. Instead of giving the names of some enzymes in alphabetical order, the IUB system could have been used in the traditional manner at least for the sake of clarity. The chapter on carbohydrates begins on a wrong note. Carbohydrates have been defined as ‘poly-hydroxylated compounds which may or may not possess a carbonyl group’. The words highlighted are aldoses, ketoses, sugar alcohols and sugar acids creating an impression that these are some of the important classes of carbohydrates. There is also a statement that lactic acid and puruvic acid are not considered as carbohydrates because they have only one hydroxyl group. Also in this chapter, there is a vague attempt to explain stereoisomerism, without invoking the central importance of the chiral carbon atom. While there is a half-hearted attempt to explain the existence of L and D isomers in this chapter, the ones on amino-acids and lipids completely ignore this aspect; not important perhaps for the overburdened medico wading his way through a sea of information. The remaining chapters of this book describe the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino-acids, lipids and nucleic-acids including DNA replication, transcription, translation and regulation of BIOCHEMICAL

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By W X Balcavage and M W King. pp 433. Appleton and ISBN o-8385-0661-5 Lange, Norwalk, USA. This book has the laudable intention of helping students, especially of medical biochemistry, prepare for regular course examinations and for the Part I of USMLE that follows the second year of medical school in USA. Its authors are professor and associate professor respectively at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine of Indiana University. Its publisher also publishes Harper’s Biochemistry from which the present book acquired over half of its illustrations. There are 38 chapters (which range in length between 6 and 22 pages, the median being 11 pages). These are organized under ten headings, ie chemical properties of biological systems; amino acids and proteins; structures of carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids; biological membranes; intermediary metabolism (this is the longest section - over 180 pages and 15 chapters); metabolic integration; information processing; cellular regulation; nutrition; and special topics. Each chapter is well organized with key words highlighted, begins with a set of objectives and ends with about fifteen review questions of two forms commonly used by USMLE ie best answer and matching, with occasional questions based on clinical cases. Correct answers are provided but no explanation or discussion. This is a surprisingly small book, as any course or examination review book should be, if one considers that at least 20% of the pages are dedicated to the questions and answers, and to the objectives. I suspect that few bother to read these latter, preferring to save time and get on with reading the text. The material is well chosen, presentation is generally clear and to the point, and with emphasis on clinical correlations. Almost inevitably the majority of these deal with inborn errors, although surprisingly none is listed in the section on ureagenesis. I found chapter 33 (on Growth Factors and Cytokines) and chapter 35 (on Growth Factors and Proto-oncogenes in Cancer) interesting and topical. Only two persons are acknowledged in the preface and both were involved in production of figures. This suggests that the text may have been published as provided to the publisher, without much external review. This, if correct, could account for several inconsistencies (eg, on the type of helix present in collagen, pp 28 and 63; definition of intermediary metabolism, pp 54 and 112; number of glucosyl residues between branch points in glycogen, pp 74 and 134; effect of glucose-6-phosphate on the hexokinase isozymes, Table 14.1 and p 123). There are

65 also a number of minor irritants (eg Hers, Tarui, Rieske, Okazaki and anaplerotic are misspelt as is ‘principles’ in the heading of chapter 2), misstatements (probably the most significant are the statements on hydride ions and oxidation-reduction coenzymes, pp 38 and 168) trivial use of terminology (eg sulfhydryl bond for disulfide bond, the much more common use of cytoplasm for cytosol and misnaming of nucleobases, nucleosides and nucleotides). I was particularly concerned by statements such as the following: “In early stages of starvation, when the last remnants of fat are oxidized, the brain will receive a majority of its fuel in the form of ketone bodies” (p 199); “an inability to conjugate bilirubin . . . is the root cause of jaundice” (p 180); and that “globin is recycled” in cells of the reticuloendothelial system which engulf senescent red blood cells (p 269). While it is unlikely that many readers will notice the above, I believe that they should not be present and that they should have been detected (and corrected) before the final printing stage was reached. They detract from the overall quality of what is otherwise a fresh and interesting approach. I hope the second edition will not repeat these easily-remediable weaknesses. F Vella

The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease Seventh Edition Edited by C R Striver, p 4605. McGraw-Hill,

A L Beaudet, W S Sly and D Valle. New York. 1995. ISBN o-07-909826-6

Does the title of this work look familiar? If so, is there nothing different about it? Look at it again. Of course it is familiar and at the same time different. Note the insertion of “and molecular” and the point mutation (i to e) to produce “bases” in the Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease. This was the familiar title that saw the work through six editions (the first five had one volume each, while the sixth had two volumes) since 1969, has now mutated to better adapt to its content and its time. It is very likely that the new title will endure well beyond the next edition whose appearance should be expected soon after the start of the new century (and millennium). By that time the human genome should be completely (or almost completely) mapped and sequenced and molecular medicine will have a complete description of its genetic foundations on which to base its future research and its deliberations. The monumental nature of this work reflects the amazing rate of increase of knowledge about molecular disease in Man in the past decade. Associated with this has been an equally fantastic increase in knowledge of basic human biochemistry which almost from its very beginnings - has been driven by the need to understand the human organism at a chemical level so as to better appreciate its workings, the origins and consequences of its malfunctioning, and the best way to return these as much to normal as possible. So, where have the changes taken place? A few numbers will begin to provide an answer. There are now three volumes (not two as in the sixth edition), 1.54 chapters (not 122), 4605 pages (not 3006) 302 authors (not 200) and an index of 91 pages of 3 columns each (not 85). I estimate that some 50 000 references are supplied. In respect to content, the first 20 chapters of Parts 1,2 and 3 (General Themes, Cancer and Genetics, and Chromosomes and Autosomes, respectively), the four chapters of Part 20 (Eye), the two chapters of Part 23 (Neurogenetics), and the last chapter-comprising 8 smaller ones - that constitutes Part 24 (Significant Developments in Progress) are all new. So are chapters on insulin insensitivity disorder, diseases of the mitochondria genome, apolipoprotein(a), lysosomal enzyme acti-

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 24(l) 1996

muscular dystrophies and hypertrophic vitor proteins, cardiomyopathy. All the other chapters, whose headings are familiar from the previous edition, have been extensively revised and updated. Most chapters end their literature citations in 1993. Particularly useful additions are the tabulated summary which runs into 50 pages and is placed right in front of chapter 7, and the genetic map of the human genome which comprises 110 pages appended to chapter one. Both will be invaluable to users of the work, for easy reference to key information and to known gene loci, respectively. Complete indices for the three volumes at the end of each give unity to the work. The task of checking and proofreading must have been a nightmarish one, A very occasional slight error in spelling (eg Owen for Owren, MacArdle for McArdle, microglobin for microglobulin, carboxylphosphate for carbamylphosphate) did slip by but a prize should be instituted for those who can find a score of such in the whole work. One question that I have is: why is Part 3 entitled Chromosomes and Autosomes rather than Sex Chromosomes and Autosomes? The three-letter-word must have got lost somewhere or a new definition of chromosome has been adopted that makes it include the X and Y but exclude the autosomes. I prefer the first explanation. This is an invaluable work, an authoritative summary of current knowledge on much of inherited metabolic disease and the molecular aspects of many other diseases. It is also a model for future comprehensive works on all aspects of molecular medicine. Its gargantuan scale reflects the dedication and commitment of its editors. A medical school library, health sciences center, department of medicine, pediatrics or genetics will be very poorly equipped if it lacks a copy of this work. F Vella

Cell Cycle Control Edited by C Hutchinson and D M Glover. pp 304. IRL Press Fontiers in Molecular Biology Series, at Oxford UniISBN o-19-963410-6 versity Press. 1995. f19.50 This is a lo-chapter, 16-author monograph on a very topical area. The editors are well aware that it will be out of date as soon as it is printed. Nevertheless, it will be useful to students and to postgraduates commencing PhD studies in this topic area. The first two chapters are introductory, the second giving a brief history of the Cell Cycle. This is surely very important for a proper understanding of what has become a complicated area. It is interesting that there are so many homologies over a very wide range of life forms and yet in details the processes are so complex. Throughout one is aware of the key importance of mutants in finding out about the Cell Cycle. The next chapters deal with START, controlling entry into mitosis, cdc2 kinase, cyclin-dependent kinases, the S phase and cell cycle progression in relation to cell growth in mammalian cells. The final two chapters deal with cancer and the cell cycle and Drosophila development. Each chapter has an extensive reference list. Overall the production is satisfactory and as up to date as can be expected, and the editors have done a good job. The diagrams are clear and adequate although the lack of uniformity makes the whole effect less than brilliant. Probably it was better to get the text out quickly rather than wait for artists to redraw authors’ artwork. One thing that might have helped would have been a Glossary, although it is appreciated how difficult it would be to assemble one in this complex and rapidly growing area of research. D Baker