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Biological Membranes, Vol. 5
100
Book Reviews
Dopamine Receptor Agonists-Edited by G. PASTE and S. T. 388~~. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. 155.
CKOOKE.
This is the first volume in a series of symposia on NL)M, I-lorizor~s in Therapeutics founded by Smith. Kline & French. The realization that dopamine (DA) was a neurotransmitter like adrenaline and noradrenaline led to a boost in DA research especially when DA was shown to be involved in Parkinson’s disease, hyperprolactinemia. certain pituitary tumours and in the therapy of cardiovascular shock. The differentiation of different types of DA receptors and their specific antagonists promises selective treatment of those m the gut. kidney. heart and specific regions of the vascular bed. The chapters of this book deal with: pharmacological and biochemical characterizations of two categories of DA receptors; radioligand binding studies of agonist interactjo< with DA receptors: quantitative assay of DA receptor subtypes; structure-activity relationships of DA receptor agonists; peripheral DA receptors; pre- and post-synaptic DA receptors; DA an endogenous peripheral neurotransmitter: vascular DA and DA receptor agonists: DA receptor agonists and hypertension; kidney and hypertension; molecular mechanisms of hypertension: DA agonists and their clinical effects; haemodynamic factors involved in regulation of sodium balance: DA mechanisms in secretion: DA the control of aldosterone agonists/antagonists in the treatment of GI diseases: use of DA agonists and antagonists in neurology. The review articles in this book are well-written and provide an excellent overview and details of the present state of DA research.
Biological Responses in Cancer, Vol. 2-Edited MIHICH. 245~~. 1984. Plenum Press. New York.
by E. $39.50.
This volume contains reviews on transforming growth faCtors produced by viral-transformed and human tumor cells; heterogeneities of human interferons: inhibition of carcinogenic process and of expression of the neoplastic phenotype. proliferation and differentiation control mechansims in myeloid leukemia; regulation of natural killer cell activity; lymphocyte transfer for cancer therapy, pre-requisites for the efficacy and the use of long term cultures T lymphocytes; application of MAb to autologous bone marrow transplantation; bone marrow transplantation for neoplasia in man. Each review is fairly concise and gives a clear picture of the present state of the topic. These annual revieu volumes are a valuable contribution to the subject.
Asthma; Physiology, lmmunopharmacology and Treatment Edited by A. B. KAY, K. F. AIJSTEN and L. M. Lx‘HTENSTEIN.442~~. 1984. Academic Press, London S7Yf4Y The Third Internationul S~~n~po.wrt~OH.~.srhu w;ls held 111 Oxford and this volume contains the publi\hed paper\ Things are getting more complicated. There arc probabl! several different types of mast cells and the) can rcleasc slcnr reacting substance (SRS), leukotrienes C4 and B4. 5 monohydroxy eicosate tetraenoic acid (5 HETE). PGD2. platelet activating factor (PAF = AGEPC : acetyl glyccryl cthcr phosphoryl choline), histamine. heparin proteoglycan. and tryptase. Other cells such as the T-lymphocytes. basoph&. eosinophils. neutrophils. monocytes and macrophapcs all seem to take part in the reactions leading to asthma. The roles of these cells and substances are fully discussed ,n thl\ volume.
Hepatic Encephalopathy in Chronic Liver Failure- Edltcd b! L. CAPOCACCIA, J. E. FISCHER and F. ROSSI-FANI-I I I. 39Xpp 1984. Plenum Press. New York. $65 Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a syndrome of malfunction of the CNS in the presence of liver disease. The patient ma) show loss of judgement, disturbance of day:mght rhythm. an inability to deal with normal social events. and changes in the EEG. At one time HE was considered to be dur ((1 the effect of ammonia and glutamine on the CNS There is a reasonable correlation between the COIIC‘I’IItrations of glutamine in the CSF and the 5evrriiy of the observed symptoms, but this view is now thought to bc too simple and HE is better considered as the reactions of the CNS to the presence of excess mctabolites resulting fr(ml liver failure. During HE there IS an accumulation of mercaptan\.tart> acids, amino acids (glutamate) and phenols and an lncreascd sensitivity of the GABA and dopamine receptors in the CNS. Bromocriptine has been used as a trcatmcnt I’OI chronic but not acute HE. Another proposed treatment for the liver damage is the administration of branched cham amino acids (valine, leucine. isoleucine). This multi-authored volume is the pubhshed prr)ceedlng\ of a symposium held in Italy and provide\ a good account of the interaction between liver damage and ncurologlcal and psychological disorders. It also raises the more general problem of the extent to which some psychological do\turbances are due to malfunction of the Il\cr and gut metabolism, and hypersensitivity of the CNS to rhc CXI‘L’\\ metabolites.
Biological Membranes, Vol. 5- Edited hy L>. (‘HAPMAX pp. 1984. Academic Press, London. $75. Regulation and Development of Membrane Transport Processes-Edited by J. S. GRAVES. 287~~. 1985. Wiley. New York. f48.30. Volume 39 in the Society of General Physiologists Series. In membrane biogenesis, messenger RNA controls the formation of the polypeptide into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. There may be post-translational modification such as glycolysation in the Golgi apparatus. and then small vesicles containing the membrane proteins are liberated into the cytoplasm. The membrane protein is orientated and inserted into the cell membrane by exocytotic fusion of the vesicle with the membrane. Further alteration such as covalent modification or oligomerisation of the receptor and channel may then take place. The present multi authored volume discusses all these facets together with the way in which hormones. prostaglandins, kinins. and maturational development can effect the properties of the sodium. potassium, calcium and glucose transport systems.
404
There are I I reviews in this volume: hlomembranc fluIdIt>. effects of dehydration on membranes and membrane gtability at low water activity: physical hasls of trigger processes and membrane structure: rhodopsin and it< role in visual transduction; bacteriorhodopsin topography in purple membrane; acetylcholine receptor structure and function; kinetic infrared spectroscopy and kinetic light scattering-two new methods for studying fast trigger processes; optical probes and the detection of conformational changes in membrane protein: calcium and cellular activation; the ordered water model of membrane ionic channels; electric field-induced fusion and rotation of cells. The reviews contain material that will be 01. interest to most readers. For example it IS well known that some plant nematodes, insect eggs. etc can seeds, microorganisms, withstand cooling in liquid nitrogen and/or heating to IOO’C. How are their membranes stabilized under the\e
Book conditions? Normally such treatment would withdraw the water in the main hydration shell around the polar heads of some phospholipids and lead to irreversible phase separation and crystallization of the lipids and cholesterol so degrading the membrane structure. However in many cells that can withstand such extremes of temperature and dehydration, trehalose is present in the membrane and in citro experiments show that trehalose protects the hydration shells in membrane vesicles under these extreme conditions.
Membrane Protein Biosynthesis and Turnover. Current Topics in Membranes and Transport, Vol. 26Edited by P. A. KNAUF and J. S. COOK. 515 pp. 1985. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida. $89. There are eleven reviews in this volume: application of the signal hypothesis to the incorporation of integral membrane proteins; structure and function of signal peptides; use of genetic techniques to analyse protein export in E. coli; structural and thermodynamic aspects of the transfer of proteins into and across membranes; mechanisms and functional role of glycosylation in membrane protein synthesis; protein sorting in the secretory pathway; transport of proteins into mitochondria; assembley of the sarcoplasmic reticulum during muscle development; receptors as models for the mechanisms of membrane protein turnover and dynamic; the role of endocytosis and lysosomes in cell physiology; regulation of glucose transport and hormone receptor cycling by insulin in the rat adipose cell. The linking thread between the reviews is the dynamic state of the membranes and organelles in most cells and the manner in which it is brought about and controlled. Even stable membranes such as that of the RBC show endocytosis. The reviews are well written and provide excellent summaries of the present knowledge of this important subject.
Myxobacteria; Development and Cell Interaction-Edited by E. ROSENBERG. 301 pp. 1984. Springer, New York. DM 148. The Myxobacteria such as Myxococcus xanrhus are Gram negative bacteria. that are social, i.e. live as interacting colonies, have gliding motion, and show morphogenesis into spores. and fruiting bodies. Its genome is 3.1 to 3.8 x lo9 daltons. i.e. 25%50% larger than E. cob. Chemical interactions occur between the individual bacteria in gliding motion, and in synchronization of sporulation. In some ways the situation is similar to that already known for slime moulds but they are not slime moulds but are prokaryotic cells and have the advantages of prokaryotic genetic systems. For this reason their biochemistry and molecular biology may be much easier to analyse than that of the slime moulds. The present multi-authored volume provides full information concerning our present knowledge of these interactive social bacteria.
Mechanisms and Regulation of Carbohydrate Transport in Bacteria-MILTON H. SAIER Jr. 209 pp. 1985. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida. $39. Bacteria provide the best understood system for the study of carbohydrate transport into and out of the cell. Five different transport systems have been described: (I) Facilitated diffusion (glycerol); (2) Proton symport (lactose); (3) Sodium symport (melibiose); (4) Active transport (maltose); (5) Group translocation (mannitol). The genes responsible for the transport proteins (permeases) have been cloned for lactose, melibiose, mannitol and
Reviews
101
maltose, and the IacT and mtlA genes encoding the lactose and mannitol permeases have been sequenced and analysed. Their vectorial transport has been characterised in phospholiposomes containing phospholipids and a single transport protein. Metabolite activated protein kinases are also involved in the regulation of transport and the accumulation of cytoplasmic inducers. It is possible that CAMP and protein kinases first evolved to coordinate carbohydrate metabolism in prokaryotes. This single-author volume provides an excellent account of the porins in the outer membrane and the permeases in the inner membrane that are responsible for selective transport of carbohydrates into and out of the cell, and the manner in which such transport systems are regulated.
Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Mode of Action of vertebrate Hormones-Edited by J. HOFFMANN and PORCHET. 519 pp. 1984. Springer, Berlin. DM 158.
InM.
With the development of radioimmune assays, and improved purification and analytical methods, there have been considerable advances in the isolation and study of hormones from invertebrates. A peptide of IO amino acids (pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Phe) acts as the head activator in Hydra. It causes the development of a head in pieces of Hydra, being active at a concentration of IO-” M. This peptide is also present in the human hypothalamus and rat intestine. The ubiquity of hormones throughout the animal kingdom from man to Hydra is one of the main messages in the present multi-author work. In molluscs there are probably at least 20 hormones and neuromodulators that are also present in mammals, and gastrin, CCK and endorphins appear to be present in insects. The range of studies on insect hormones is well represented in this volume. The advantage of work on the invertebrates is that in many cases the invertebrate may have a high concentration of a given hormone or it may be the main hormone, whilst in the mammals this compound may play a less obvious role or research workers have decided that they already know the main story and do not want any additional complications!
Techniques in Pheromone Research-Edited by HUMMEL and T. A. MILLER. 464 pp. 1984. Springer, DM 178.
H. E. Berlin.
In 1959 Butenandt and his colleagues purified l2mg of bombykol from tens of thousands of silkmoths and were able to make a chemical identification of the molecule, Nowadays with improved purification and analytical techniques it is possible to identify and analyse a few micrograms of material: an increase in sensitivity of five orders of magnitude. The I4 chapters in this volume provide details on modern techniques for isolating, purifying and identifying pheromones by GLC, HPLC, mass spectrometry, IR, and NMR with specific examples for each case. There are also chapters on the bioassay of the pheromones by study of the electroantennograms (electrical changes that the pheromones cause in the antenna of the insect), behavioural assays, wind tunnel experiments. and tandem set ups that combine GLC linked to a detecting system of single olfactory cells, antennograms, or behavioural activity. In this way the research worker can be sure that the substance he is purifying and analyzing is the one that has the maximal physiological effect on the receiving insect. These chemical attractants are often species specific and can be used to attract, trap and kill a single species of insect pest whilst not affecting other insects such as pollinating bees. The information in this book will be very
Book Reviews
Dopamine Receptor Agonists-Edited by G. PASTE and S. T. 388~~. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. 155.
CKOOKE.
This is the first volume in a series of symposia on NL)M, I-lorizor~s in Therapeutics founded by Smith. Kline & French. The realization that dopamine (DA) was a neurotransmitter like adrenaline and noradrenaline led to a boost in DA research especially when DA was shown to be involved in Parkinson’s disease, hyperprolactinemia. certain pituitary tumours and in the therapy of cardiovascular shock. The differentiation of different types of DA receptors and their specific antagonists promises selective treatment of those m the gut. kidney. heart and specific regions of the vascular bed. The chapters of this book deal with: pharmacological and biochemical characterizations of two categories of DA receptors; radioligand binding studies of agonist interactjo< with DA receptors: quantitative assay of DA receptor subtypes; structure-activity relationships of DA receptor agonists; peripheral DA receptors; pre- and post-synaptic DA receptors; DA an endogenous peripheral neurotransmitter: vascular DA and DA receptor agonists: DA receptor agonists and hypertension; kidney and hypertension; molecular mechanisms of hypertension: DA agonists and their clinical effects; haemodynamic factors involved in regulation of sodium balance: DA mechanisms in secretion: DA the control of aldosterone agonists/antagonists in the treatment of GI diseases: use of DA agonists and antagonists in neurology. The review articles in this book are well-written and provide an excellent overview and details of the present state of DA research.
Biological Responses in Cancer, Vol. 2-Edited MIHICH. 245~~. 1984. Plenum Press. New York.
by E. $39.50.
This volume contains reviews on transforming growth faCtors produced by viral-transformed and human tumor cells; heterogeneities of human interferons: inhibition of carcinogenic process and of expression of the neoplastic phenotype. proliferation and differentiation control mechansims in myeloid leukemia; regulation of natural killer cell activity; lymphocyte transfer for cancer therapy, pre-requisites for the efficacy and the use of long term cultures T lymphocytes; application of MAb to autologous bone marrow transplantation; bone marrow transplantation for neoplasia in man. Each review is fairly concise and gives a clear picture of the present state of the topic. These annual revieu volumes are a valuable contribution to the subject.
Asthma; Physiology, lmmunopharmacology and Treatment Edited by A. B. KAY, K. F. AIJSTEN and L. M. Lx‘HTENSTEIN.442~~. 1984. Academic Press, London S7Yf4Y The Third Internationul S~~n~po.wrt~OH.~.srhu w;ls held 111 Oxford and this volume contains the publi\hed paper\ Things are getting more complicated. There arc probabl! several different types of mast cells and the) can rcleasc slcnr reacting substance (SRS), leukotrienes C4 and B4. 5 monohydroxy eicosate tetraenoic acid (5 HETE). PGD2. platelet activating factor (PAF = AGEPC : acetyl glyccryl cthcr phosphoryl choline), histamine. heparin proteoglycan. and tryptase. Other cells such as the T-lymphocytes. basoph&. eosinophils. neutrophils. monocytes and macrophapcs all seem to take part in the reactions leading to asthma. The roles of these cells and substances are fully discussed ,n thl\ volume.
Hepatic Encephalopathy in Chronic Liver Failure- Edltcd b! L. CAPOCACCIA, J. E. FISCHER and F. ROSSI-FANI-I I I. 39Xpp 1984. Plenum Press. New York. $65 Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a syndrome of malfunction of the CNS in the presence of liver disease. The patient ma) show loss of judgement, disturbance of day:mght rhythm. an inability to deal with normal social events. and changes in the EEG. At one time HE was considered to be dur ((1 the effect of ammonia and glutamine on the CNS There is a reasonable correlation between the COIIC‘I’IItrations of glutamine in the CSF and the 5evrriiy of the observed symptoms, but this view is now thought to bc too simple and HE is better considered as the reactions of the CNS to the presence of excess mctabolites resulting fr(ml liver failure. During HE there IS an accumulation of mercaptan\.tart> acids, amino acids (glutamate) and phenols and an lncreascd sensitivity of the GABA and dopamine receptors in the CNS. Bromocriptine has been used as a trcatmcnt I’OI chronic but not acute HE. Another proposed treatment for the liver damage is the administration of branched cham amino acids (valine, leucine. isoleucine). This multi-authored volume is the pubhshed prr)ceedlng\ of a symposium held in Italy and provide\ a good account of the interaction between liver damage and ncurologlcal and psychological disorders. It also raises the more general problem of the extent to which some psychological do\turbances are due to malfunction of the Il\cr and gut metabolism, and hypersensitivity of the CNS to rhc CXI‘L’\\ metabolites.
Biological Membranes, Vol. 5- Edited hy L>. (‘HAPMAX pp. 1984. Academic Press, London. $75. Regulation and Development of Membrane Transport Processes-Edited by J. S. GRAVES. 287~~. 1985. Wiley. New York. f48.30. Volume 39 in the Society of General Physiologists Series. In membrane biogenesis, messenger RNA controls the formation of the polypeptide into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. There may be post-translational modification such as glycolysation in the Golgi apparatus. and then small vesicles containing the membrane proteins are liberated into the cytoplasm. The membrane protein is orientated and inserted into the cell membrane by exocytotic fusion of the vesicle with the membrane. Further alteration such as covalent modification or oligomerisation of the receptor and channel may then take place. The present multi authored volume discusses all these facets together with the way in which hormones. prostaglandins, kinins. and maturational development can effect the properties of the sodium. potassium, calcium and glucose transport systems.
404
There are I I reviews in this volume: hlomembranc fluIdIt>. effects of dehydration on membranes and membrane gtability at low water activity: physical hasls of trigger processes and membrane structure: rhodopsin and it< role in visual transduction; bacteriorhodopsin topography in purple membrane; acetylcholine receptor structure and function; kinetic infrared spectroscopy and kinetic light scattering-two new methods for studying fast trigger processes; optical probes and the detection of conformational changes in membrane protein: calcium and cellular activation; the ordered water model of membrane ionic channels; electric field-induced fusion and rotation of cells. The reviews contain material that will be 01. interest to most readers. For example it IS well known that some plant nematodes, insect eggs. etc can seeds, microorganisms, withstand cooling in liquid nitrogen and/or heating to IOO’C. How are their membranes stabilized under the\e
Book conditions? Normally such treatment would withdraw the water in the main hydration shell around the polar heads of some phospholipids and lead to irreversible phase separation and crystallization of the lipids and cholesterol so degrading the membrane structure. However in many cells that can withstand such extremes of temperature and dehydration, trehalose is present in the membrane and in citro experiments show that trehalose protects the hydration shells in membrane vesicles under these extreme conditions.
Membrane Protein Biosynthesis and Turnover. Current Topics in Membranes and Transport, Vol. 26Edited by P. A. KNAUF and J. S. COOK. 515 pp. 1985. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida. $89. There are eleven reviews in this volume: application of the signal hypothesis to the incorporation of integral membrane proteins; structure and function of signal peptides; use of genetic techniques to analyse protein export in E. coli; structural and thermodynamic aspects of the transfer of proteins into and across membranes; mechanisms and functional role of glycosylation in membrane protein synthesis; protein sorting in the secretory pathway; transport of proteins into mitochondria; assembley of the sarcoplasmic reticulum during muscle development; receptors as models for the mechanisms of membrane protein turnover and dynamic; the role of endocytosis and lysosomes in cell physiology; regulation of glucose transport and hormone receptor cycling by insulin in the rat adipose cell. The linking thread between the reviews is the dynamic state of the membranes and organelles in most cells and the manner in which it is brought about and controlled. Even stable membranes such as that of the RBC show endocytosis. The reviews are well written and provide excellent summaries of the present knowledge of this important subject.
Myxobacteria; Development and Cell Interaction-Edited by E. ROSENBERG. 301 pp. 1984. Springer, New York. DM 148. The Myxobacteria such as Myxococcus xanrhus are Gram negative bacteria. that are social, i.e. live as interacting colonies, have gliding motion, and show morphogenesis into spores. and fruiting bodies. Its genome is 3.1 to 3.8 x lo9 daltons. i.e. 25%50% larger than E. cob. Chemical interactions occur between the individual bacteria in gliding motion, and in synchronization of sporulation. In some ways the situation is similar to that already known for slime moulds but they are not slime moulds but are prokaryotic cells and have the advantages of prokaryotic genetic systems. For this reason their biochemistry and molecular biology may be much easier to analyse than that of the slime moulds. The present multi-authored volume provides full information concerning our present knowledge of these interactive social bacteria.
Mechanisms and Regulation of Carbohydrate Transport in Bacteria-MILTON H. SAIER Jr. 209 pp. 1985. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida. $39. Bacteria provide the best understood system for the study of carbohydrate transport into and out of the cell. Five different transport systems have been described: (I) Facilitated diffusion (glycerol); (2) Proton symport (lactose); (3) Sodium symport (melibiose); (4) Active transport (maltose); (5) Group translocation (mannitol). The genes responsible for the transport proteins (permeases) have been cloned for lactose, melibiose, mannitol and
Reviews
101
maltose, and the IacT and mtlA genes encoding the lactose and mannitol permeases have been sequenced and analysed. Their vectorial transport has been characterised in phospholiposomes containing phospholipids and a single transport protein. Metabolite activated protein kinases are also involved in the regulation of transport and the accumulation of cytoplasmic inducers. It is possible that CAMP and protein kinases first evolved to coordinate carbohydrate metabolism in prokaryotes. This single-author volume provides an excellent account of the porins in the outer membrane and the permeases in the inner membrane that are responsible for selective transport of carbohydrates into and out of the cell, and the manner in which such transport systems are regulated.
Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Mode of Action of vertebrate Hormones-Edited by J. HOFFMANN and PORCHET. 519 pp. 1984. Springer, Berlin. DM 158.
InM.
With the development of radioimmune assays, and improved purification and analytical methods, there have been considerable advances in the isolation and study of hormones from invertebrates. A peptide of IO amino acids (pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Phe) acts as the head activator in Hydra. It causes the development of a head in pieces of Hydra, being active at a concentration of IO-” M. This peptide is also present in the human hypothalamus and rat intestine. The ubiquity of hormones throughout the animal kingdom from man to Hydra is one of the main messages in the present multi-author work. In molluscs there are probably at least 20 hormones and neuromodulators that are also present in mammals, and gastrin, CCK and endorphins appear to be present in insects. The range of studies on insect hormones is well represented in this volume. The advantage of work on the invertebrates is that in many cases the invertebrate may have a high concentration of a given hormone or it may be the main hormone, whilst in the mammals this compound may play a less obvious role or research workers have decided that they already know the main story and do not want any additional complications!
Techniques in Pheromone Research-Edited by HUMMEL and T. A. MILLER. 464 pp. 1984. Springer, DM 178.
H. E. Berlin.
In 1959 Butenandt and his colleagues purified l2mg of bombykol from tens of thousands of silkmoths and were able to make a chemical identification of the molecule, Nowadays with improved purification and analytical techniques it is possible to identify and analyse a few micrograms of material: an increase in sensitivity of five orders of magnitude. The I4 chapters in this volume provide details on modern techniques for isolating, purifying and identifying pheromones by GLC, HPLC, mass spectrometry, IR, and NMR with specific examples for each case. There are also chapters on the bioassay of the pheromones by study of the electroantennograms (electrical changes that the pheromones cause in the antenna of the insect), behavioural assays, wind tunnel experiments. and tandem set ups that combine GLC linked to a detecting system of single olfactory cells, antennograms, or behavioural activity. In this way the research worker can be sure that the substance he is purifying and analyzing is the one that has the maximal physiological effect on the receiving insect. These chemical attractants are often species specific and can be used to attract, trap and kill a single species of insect pest whilst not affecting other insects such as pollinating bees. The information in this book will be very