- Email: [email protected]
Biological functions of carbohydrates
76
Lipids and Polysaccharides in Biology by A J Furth. Studies in Biology N o 125. Edward Arnold Ltd, London. 1980. £2.60 I S B N 0-7131-2805--4 This book is not recommended. It is poorly conceived, contains much irrelevant information and the text is vague, undeveloped and full of errors. It consists of three short chapters (sixty-five pages in all) with no index but a short book-list for further reading at the end. I find it difficult to understand the need for a small text solely concerned with lipids and polysaccharides, molecules about as unrelated biologically as is possible. This book does little to relate these topics to each other, it does not, as might be supposed from the title, concern itself with either glycolipids or the interrelationship of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It gives basically separate consideration to these two classes of compound. The connection that is made (the effects of weak intra- and inter-molecular interactions on structural organization) is dealt with in a mistaken manner with constant attention to the erroneous concept of'Van der Waals bonds' and no mention of the, inherently simple, concept of entropy. The text abounds with mistakes, both descriptive and conceptual. Textual errors include incorrect molecular structures for fructose, galactose, Dand t-glyceraldehyde, bloodgroup A substance, cholesterol, phosphate, hydroxide and deoxycholate. Conceptual errors include the lack of charge, and hence its effect, on amino groups at physiological pH, the (proposed) direct enzymic conversion of D- and t- sugars and phrases such as 'lowering the degree ofunsaturation tends to... increase its fluidity' concerning lipids. There are a few references to the literature scattered throughout the book but they are often incorrectly cited and, even worse, the data extracted incorrect or misleadingly (see pages 58, 59 and 61 for the full range of these errors). The publishers are recommended to withdraw this book from the market and make the considerable amendments necessary. M F Chaplin
Biological Functions of Carbohydrates by D J Candy. pp 197. Blackie & Sons Ltd, Glasgow and London. 1980. £16.95 and £7.95 (pbk) I S B N 0-216-91010-2 or 0-216-91011-0 (pbk) The rapid growth and re-awakened interest in knowledge of the involvement of carbohydrates in an ever-widening range of key biological processes makes the publication of an up-to-date textbook, suitable for undergraduate use, both timely and welcome. The author's task, however, is not an easy one, the more so because frequently the areas of new interest are both diverse and sophisticated. Dr Candy addresses himself to the problem resolutely in ten chapters. An introductory first chapter sets out to familiarize the reader in a dear and straightforward style, with some of the salient features of monosaccharide structure and conformation. This is followed by three chapters, on aspects of carbohydrate metabolism (such as glycolysis, sugar transformations and photosynthesis), in which well-established phenomena are treated in an elementary and basic manner. Membrane transport systems are discussed succinctly in one short chapter. The remaining chapters are concerned with a wide range of polysaccharides and related structures, some of considerable complexity. The chemical evidence of their molecular structure is assumed and emphasis is placed, rather, on their biological occurrence in relation to particular physiological functions or pathological states. The endeavour to be all-embracing in the author seems to be determined that almost everything relevant shall not escape mention m gives the work a suggestion of being 'thin' in parts, though it is interestingly and carefully presented. The book adopts, consistently, a qualitative approach and some readers may regret that, for example, no consideration is given in the chapters dealing with metabolism, to the reversibility of enzymic sequences nor to thermodynamic parameters of biochemical change. Nevertheless the book is well written and commendably illustrated with appropriate diagrams and formulae. It will be a helpful general introduction to the subject, especially for students of biology and medicine and may well evoke interest in some of its more specialized aspects. The author has provided a useful, brief bibliography for further reading and the book concludes with an adequate index. P W Kent
Glycoprotein Research Unit University of Durham, UK BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
9(2)
1981
Molybdenum Chemistry of Biological Significance (Proceedings o f an International S y m p o s i u m held at Lake Biwa, Japan, April 1979.) Edited by W E N e w t o n and S Otsuka. pp 425. Plenum Press, N e w Y o r k and London. 1980. $39.50 I S B N 0-306-40352-8 For those anxious to keep in touch with developments in (and close to) the area of molybdo-enzymes this volume is invaluable reading and reference. First it should be said that the chemistry of many second and third row transition metal elements is not as well understood as might be, and molybdenum as the only element in these series with a biological role (and a considerable one at that), is now clearly receiving much attention prompted by this relevance. While the chemistry texts have continued to expand, it was not clear (say three years ago) whether any advantage to the molybdoenzyme area had resulted, which in the absence of X-ray crystal structure information (high MW's!) remained forbiddingly difficult. Within a relatively short time much has happened, and this volume records the proceedings of a symposium involving many of those at the forefront of these developments. The position now is that a nitrogenase Fe/Mo co-factor unit has been identified (there are high hopes of a crystal structure here), valuable synthetic chemistry of active site analogues has been carried out, and the whole area has been drawn together with the information provided by the new technique exafs (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) which requires synchrotron radiation. Using this technique it is known that the molybdenum in nitrogenase is bonded in a sulphur environment. Xanthine oxidase and sulphite oxidase on the other hand have different (partially oxygen) molybdenum environments. Many other relevant aspects in this high growth area are reported which is proving very much a success story for collaboration between biochemist and chemist. A G Sykes
Department of Inorganic Chemistry The University Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Alkaline Phosphatase by R B M c C o m b , G N Bowers, Jr and S Posen. pp 986. Plenum Press, N e w Y o r k a n d London. 1979. $75 I S B N 0-306-40214-9 This is not a textbook but an enormous review of the literature on alkaline phosphatases, written with the clinical enzymologist in mind. After a brief introductory chapter (with twenty-six references, citing a number of review articles, nonelater than 1974), the chapter headings reflect the width of cover (numbers of references in parentheses): historical background (241), distribution in nature (1013), purification (155), structural features (184), reaction mechanisms (244), measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity (425), isoenzymes (922), clinical utilization of alkaline pliosphatase measurements (2127), utilization in veterinary practice (400), industrial and other uses (95), and physiological functions (278). Titles of references are given in full but inspection shows that the most recent references (presumably those found after the authors' MEDLINE literature search ofJanuary 1976) occur at the end of each chapter list, and correspond to updating insertions in the text; for example, in chapter 5 there are two 1978 references, five 1977 and five 1976 ones, and the other 172 are of earlier date. Since references are given by number and are not listed in the order of first appearance, due to the updating insertions, it is very difficult to work back from an interesting title to its mention in the text. Not that this is necessarily worthwhile, as an example from chapter 11 shows: section 11.1 (use in the dairy industry), subsection 11.1.4 (enzymatic properties of bovine milk alkaline phosphatase), 'the purification, structure and kinetic properties of bovine milk alkaline phosphatase were described in detail by Linden et al (33)'. We are not told what these properties were. In summary, this book is of little use in biochemical education, as it is limited in what it tells the reader. It is, however, a gigantic catalogue of the literature, and as such may command some admiration, but against this, one has to set off the fact that it appears not to cover the most recent literature at all thoroughly. D G Herries
Lipids and Polysaccharides in Biology by A J Furth. Studies in Biology N o 125. Edward Arnold Ltd, London. 1980. £2.60 I S B N 0-7131-2805--4 This book is not recommended. It is poorly conceived, contains much irrelevant information and the text is vague, undeveloped and full of errors. It consists of three short chapters (sixty-five pages in all) with no index but a short book-list for further reading at the end. I find it difficult to understand the need for a small text solely concerned with lipids and polysaccharides, molecules about as unrelated biologically as is possible. This book does little to relate these topics to each other, it does not, as might be supposed from the title, concern itself with either glycolipids or the interrelationship of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It gives basically separate consideration to these two classes of compound. The connection that is made (the effects of weak intra- and inter-molecular interactions on structural organization) is dealt with in a mistaken manner with constant attention to the erroneous concept of'Van der Waals bonds' and no mention of the, inherently simple, concept of entropy. The text abounds with mistakes, both descriptive and conceptual. Textual errors include incorrect molecular structures for fructose, galactose, Dand t-glyceraldehyde, bloodgroup A substance, cholesterol, phosphate, hydroxide and deoxycholate. Conceptual errors include the lack of charge, and hence its effect, on amino groups at physiological pH, the (proposed) direct enzymic conversion of D- and t- sugars and phrases such as 'lowering the degree ofunsaturation tends to... increase its fluidity' concerning lipids. There are a few references to the literature scattered throughout the book but they are often incorrectly cited and, even worse, the data extracted incorrect or misleadingly (see pages 58, 59 and 61 for the full range of these errors). The publishers are recommended to withdraw this book from the market and make the considerable amendments necessary. M F Chaplin
Biological Functions of Carbohydrates by D J Candy. pp 197. Blackie & Sons Ltd, Glasgow and London. 1980. £16.95 and £7.95 (pbk) I S B N 0-216-91010-2 or 0-216-91011-0 (pbk) The rapid growth and re-awakened interest in knowledge of the involvement of carbohydrates in an ever-widening range of key biological processes makes the publication of an up-to-date textbook, suitable for undergraduate use, both timely and welcome. The author's task, however, is not an easy one, the more so because frequently the areas of new interest are both diverse and sophisticated. Dr Candy addresses himself to the problem resolutely in ten chapters. An introductory first chapter sets out to familiarize the reader in a dear and straightforward style, with some of the salient features of monosaccharide structure and conformation. This is followed by three chapters, on aspects of carbohydrate metabolism (such as glycolysis, sugar transformations and photosynthesis), in which well-established phenomena are treated in an elementary and basic manner. Membrane transport systems are discussed succinctly in one short chapter. The remaining chapters are concerned with a wide range of polysaccharides and related structures, some of considerable complexity. The chemical evidence of their molecular structure is assumed and emphasis is placed, rather, on their biological occurrence in relation to particular physiological functions or pathological states. The endeavour to be all-embracing in the author seems to be determined that almost everything relevant shall not escape mention m gives the work a suggestion of being 'thin' in parts, though it is interestingly and carefully presented. The book adopts, consistently, a qualitative approach and some readers may regret that, for example, no consideration is given in the chapters dealing with metabolism, to the reversibility of enzymic sequences nor to thermodynamic parameters of biochemical change. Nevertheless the book is well written and commendably illustrated with appropriate diagrams and formulae. It will be a helpful general introduction to the subject, especially for students of biology and medicine and may well evoke interest in some of its more specialized aspects. The author has provided a useful, brief bibliography for further reading and the book concludes with an adequate index. P W Kent
Glycoprotein Research Unit University of Durham, UK BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
9(2)
1981
Molybdenum Chemistry of Biological Significance (Proceedings o f an International S y m p o s i u m held at Lake Biwa, Japan, April 1979.) Edited by W E N e w t o n and S Otsuka. pp 425. Plenum Press, N e w Y o r k and London. 1980. $39.50 I S B N 0-306-40352-8 For those anxious to keep in touch with developments in (and close to) the area of molybdo-enzymes this volume is invaluable reading and reference. First it should be said that the chemistry of many second and third row transition metal elements is not as well understood as might be, and molybdenum as the only element in these series with a biological role (and a considerable one at that), is now clearly receiving much attention prompted by this relevance. While the chemistry texts have continued to expand, it was not clear (say three years ago) whether any advantage to the molybdoenzyme area had resulted, which in the absence of X-ray crystal structure information (high MW's!) remained forbiddingly difficult. Within a relatively short time much has happened, and this volume records the proceedings of a symposium involving many of those at the forefront of these developments. The position now is that a nitrogenase Fe/Mo co-factor unit has been identified (there are high hopes of a crystal structure here), valuable synthetic chemistry of active site analogues has been carried out, and the whole area has been drawn together with the information provided by the new technique exafs (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) which requires synchrotron radiation. Using this technique it is known that the molybdenum in nitrogenase is bonded in a sulphur environment. Xanthine oxidase and sulphite oxidase on the other hand have different (partially oxygen) molybdenum environments. Many other relevant aspects in this high growth area are reported which is proving very much a success story for collaboration between biochemist and chemist. A G Sykes
Department of Inorganic Chemistry The University Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Alkaline Phosphatase by R B M c C o m b , G N Bowers, Jr and S Posen. pp 986. Plenum Press, N e w Y o r k a n d London. 1979. $75 I S B N 0-306-40214-9 This is not a textbook but an enormous review of the literature on alkaline phosphatases, written with the clinical enzymologist in mind. After a brief introductory chapter (with twenty-six references, citing a number of review articles, nonelater than 1974), the chapter headings reflect the width of cover (numbers of references in parentheses): historical background (241), distribution in nature (1013), purification (155), structural features (184), reaction mechanisms (244), measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity (425), isoenzymes (922), clinical utilization of alkaline pliosphatase measurements (2127), utilization in veterinary practice (400), industrial and other uses (95), and physiological functions (278). Titles of references are given in full but inspection shows that the most recent references (presumably those found after the authors' MEDLINE literature search ofJanuary 1976) occur at the end of each chapter list, and correspond to updating insertions in the text; for example, in chapter 5 there are two 1978 references, five 1977 and five 1976 ones, and the other 172 are of earlier date. Since references are given by number and are not listed in the order of first appearance, due to the updating insertions, it is very difficult to work back from an interesting title to its mention in the text. Not that this is necessarily worthwhile, as an example from chapter 11 shows: section 11.1 (use in the dairy industry), subsection 11.1.4 (enzymatic properties of bovine milk alkaline phosphatase), 'the purification, structure and kinetic properties of bovine milk alkaline phosphatase were described in detail by Linden et al (33)'. We are not told what these properties were. In summary, this book is of little use in biochemical education, as it is limited in what it tells the reader. It is, however, a gigantic catalogue of the literature, and as such may command some admiration, but against this, one has to set off the fact that it appears not to cover the most recent literature at all thoroughly. D G Herries