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Biosynthesis and the integration of cell metabolism
49 It is possible to question in a similar fashion almost all of the items selected for this supplement. That is, regardless of potential interest of a finding, the very technical presentations of the supplement are dissimilar to the presentations of the original text. In the textbook, PCR is summarized in about 340 words; of the myriad of papers extending and applying PCR technology, one was selected for the supplement based on the observation that certain single-stranded D N A sequences specifically bind to thrombin. Certainly to many biochemists this is an interesting observation and the practical implications are also real. I must ask, however, whether these are the criteria to be used in selecting material for an introduction to biochemistry? Although the authors could certainly defend their selections of interesting findings from the current literature, I doubt that any consensus could be reached even among other authors of textbooks about which are the fundamental findings that belong in a general description of the field. A growing criticism of our students is that overload of information has made them weak on fundamental understanding, which perhaps should lead us to set more modest goals for introductory courses and their textbooks, to concentrate more on the well established fundamental knowledge upon which modern research is based, to find ways to make this knowledge useful, and to leave the current literature for advanced courses and individual study. Alan H Mehler
Chemistry and the Living Organism (Fifth Edition) B y M o l l y M B l o o m f i e l d , p p 758, J o h n W i l e y , N e w Y o r k . 1992. £21.50 ISBN 0-471-51292-3 This is a junior college level text that goes all the way from basic chemical principles, through organic chemistry, to elementary biochemistry. The emphasis is strongly towards the relationship of these topics with humans. Each chapter starts off with a 'human' case history which will surely interest students. (Photosynthesis on the other hand only gets about threequarters of a page). The aim is to make the chemistry interesting and attractive, rather than hard, and I think the author succeeds. There are going to be many students in the position of wanting to do some chemistry but being frightened off by the perceived difficulty. The book would presumably also appeal to college, pre-med students. The interest and attraction are maintained through frequent 'Perspective Boxes' (eg on the Turin Shroud). I am less happy about the treatment and organisation of the biochemistry section. The first half of the book deals with chemistry - - atomic structure, gas laws, radioactivity, kinetics - - and this is followed by an elementary but sufficiently detailed account of organic chemistry. This latter story is told from the life scientist's point of view. All too often chemistry is taught to biochemists or potential biochemists by chemists who think that the kinetics of the nitration of aromatic compounds is vital for a good understanding of chemistry. It may be, but unfortunately, they only succeed in putting the students off. The 'Compounds of Life' starts at p 501 and deals with carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (but not nucleic acids) from the chemical point of view. The treatment is satisfactory but I thought that more could have been done to illuminate the importance of macromolecules and membranes. This section is followed by a chapter on enzymes, vitamins and hormones (grouped together) and the biological emphasis is more apparent here. Finally, nucleic acids and protein synthesis are dealt with in the last chapter (p 668). Thus the approach is rather 'traditional' and the biochemistry somewhat abbreviated. Presumably this reflects the needs of the market to which the book is aimed. BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
21(1) 1993
In addition there are appendices (eg on using significant figures), and an extensive glossary. Each chapter is followed by reasonably imaginative problems ('review' type, 'study' type and 'integrative' type) and there are in-text examples. Each chapter also has learning objectives ("By the time you have finished this chapter you should be able to: write, define, c a l c u l a t e . . , etc.) Also available are a Student Study Guide, a Laboratory Manual, and a Teacher's Manual, but I have not seen these. Overall, an attractive production, quite interesting and easy to read. Worth a look at if the students you have to deal with are at this borderline level between high school and university. E J Wood
Biosynthesis and the Integration of Cell Metabolism ' B i o t e c h n o l o g y by O p e n L e a r n i n g S e r i e s ' p p 257. B u t t e r w o r t h - H e i n c m a n n , O x f o r d . 1992. £19.95 ISBN 0-7506-11506-0 This book is a component member of the Biotechnology by Open Learning Series which is aimed at students at universities, polytechnics and colleges, as well as industrial organisations and professional bodies. This text is one of three which are devoted to increasing our understanding of intermediary metabolism (a phrase used here to describe the chemical reactions within cells which produce the basic building blocks necessary for the manufacture of cellular components). The first chapter introduces the reader to the design of an open learning text and also refreshes the reader's knowledge of the prerequisites for biosynthesis to occur which are described in greater detail in the previous two tests. The second chapter describes the nutritional requirements of cells and the mechanism for uptake of these nutrients into the cells. The next four chapters concentrate on the assimilation of nitrogen and sulphur and the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, lipids and carbohydrates. The final two chapters outline the integration, regulation and control of metabolic pathways. The text is kept simple and is easy to understand. The left hand margin of each page contains key phrases and words summarising the text. There is also space for personal notes which the use of an open learning text is encouraged to make. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of objectives which the reader should now be able to complete having read the appropriate chapter. One may wonder why the objectives did not come at the beginning. However, the text sadly lacks the benefits of the use of colour and different font types which are used to enhance most modern textbooks. For example, no efforts are made to distinguish enzymes from substrates or reaction products, or to highlight important points. The diagrams are also very sparse and no references are given should the reader wish to pursue any of the topics further. The open learning series is designed so that the reader "interacts" with the text. The text is interspersed with activities and self-assessment questions which give the reader an idea of the knowledge he or she should have gained by reading the relevant chapter. Although these attempt to focus the reader on the text, some students may find these questions somewhat superfluous and irritating at times. For example, "this chapter has introduced a lot of new c o m p o u n d s . . , many are referred to by initials, it is obviously important to remember t h e s e . . , and there is a special prize if you can get the last one right". Overall this book gives a clear and concise understanding of the principles involved in the biosynthesis of cellular building blocks and might act as a useful revision aid. However, there are better textbooks available for a similar price which make good
50 use of colour to enhance the text and which are also more detailed. H Knaggs
P r o t e i n Folding E d i t e d by T E Creighton. pp 547. W H F r e e m a n , Oxford. 1992. £47.95 ISBN 0-7167-7027-X An understanding of protein folding is vital to the future of molecular biology as the number of known protein sequences continues to grow exponentially. This book attempts to provide a comprehensive review of the entire subject. Leaders in the field have contributed a series of well written, substantial chapters each of which may be read in isolation. Since each chapter commences with an introduction there is inevitably some repetition of basic information, but this is only a minor quibble. Like all multi-author works it is somewhat lacking in continuity and style but Creighton has done a good job in pulling these disparate chapters together with the help of good layout and a full index. This is a good book for the researcher in the field, the interested spectator or someone preparing material for final year undergraduate or taught postgraduate courses. As Creighton points out in the Preface "the reader will not find the solution to the protein folding problem in these pages" but none the less this book does provide a full and authoritative account of the subject matter. D A Waller
Biochemistry A review with Explanations (Fourth Edition)
Questions
and
by P J F r i e d m a n . pp 196. Little, B r o w n and C o m p a n y , B o s t o n . 1992 ISBN 0-316-29394-6 Almost a decade ago, I reviewed an earlier edition of this book. I have now been asked to express my opinions on this latest edition. I must confess that I find very little (if any) improvement has occurred in this period. The author's objectives, as stated in the Preface, are still to "explain" the fundamentals of biochemistry to medical students and to "cover" the topics in a medical biochemistry course and in the National Boards (Part 1) examination. Though I have read the book carefully from cover to cover, I failed to find in the text the explanations promised by the author. On reflection, I conclude that this should not have surprised me since, in the book's subtitle, explanations are linked to questions. In truth, these are no more than brief notes on some (rather than on all) components of questions which are described as being mainly in the style of the already mentioned examination. As to "coverage", what I found was frequently just that. I have especially in mind the sections on purine synthesis and on topics included in the final three chapters which deal with D N A replication and transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression, respectively. Here, frequently, coverage means a mention, (eg the polymerase chain reaction gets two lines) or a series of disjointed sentences which are not always necessarily correct or accurate representations of the concepts involved. The Preface also states that the reader "should use this book in concert with one or more" of the three texts cited at the end of each chapter (these are: Mathews and Van Holde, 1990; Murray et al. 1990; Stryer, 1988), and that the illustrations in these
BIOCHEMICAL E D U C A T I O N
21(1) 1993
textbooks will assist the reader in understanding the materialin the book. I find this attitude irritating and disturbing. From this book the reader will learn that: the triple helix of tropocollagen is its secondary structure, and that the helical structure of polypeptide chains of this protein "differs from an ¢thelix because the spiral is tighter"; that globular proteins "consist mainly of random coils with occasional stretches of cxhelices"; that myoglobin may bind one or more oxygen molecules; that the B in IUB stands for Biochemists; that the conversion of proinsulin to insulin is an example of proteotytic activation of enzymes; that "vitamin B 6 includes pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxamine phosphate and pyridoxine'; that FAD, FMN and coenzyme Q transfer (or carry) "hydrogen atoms and electrons"; that the "coenzymatic role of both TI-1FA and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is to carry activated onecarbon groups such as methyl (CH3), methylene (CH2), formyl (CHO) and formimino (CH~--NH)"; that there is no difference between proteoglycans and glycoproteins; that inosine (ie hypoxanthine riboside) is a purine; that "each adenine-thymine base pair forms a major groove, whereas each cytosine-guanine base pair forms a minor groove"; that calmodulin is a "component of muscle protein kinase"; that "side chains are added to the porphin ring to yield protoporphyrin"; that ATP synthase phosphorylates ADP to ATP at each of three protein complexes; that in humans "all enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis are joined in a large multienzyme complex" which includes acyl-carrier protein; that "thioredoxin reductase accepts an electron from N A D P H " ; and that the base sequence T A T A A is "centered at base - - 25 (25 bases behind the base where transcription will begin)". This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it suffices to demonstrate the type of loose thinking present in this book. It disturbs me that several of these statements also occurred in the second edition. Of course, they are not to be found in any of the three texts recommended by the author. Besides, it appears that the author does not appreciate the existence of the concept of cytosol and nearly always uses the word cytoplasm where cytosol is more appropriate. The interest of the author (and his publisher) in the National Board examinations may provide a clue to why we are faced with this edition. It could be that enough medical students may have passed a message on to their junior colleagues that a previous edition may have helped them jump the hurdle posed by this professional examination, to please author and publisher. If I am correct in this, this examination may be performing a disservice by testing for memorization of "correct" answers to multiple choice questions rather than for real comprehension of the biochemical concepts involved. It is also possible that this book's survival may reflect the poor quality of the teaching of biochemistry in many medical schools and the trivialisation of this beautiful subject in the mind of many medical students. I certainly hope that I am wrong in this, and that a serious effort will be made to achieve real improvements if a further edition is ever contemplated. F VeUa
Textbook of Biochemistry with C l i n i c a l C o r r e l a t i o n s (Third Edition) E d i t e d by T M Devlin. pp 1185. Wiley-Liss, N e w York. 1992. £37.501572.50 (cloth), £24.95/$44.95 (pbk) ISBN 0-471-51348-2/-58818-0 The new, third edition of Devlin, it is stated in the Preface, has the same purpose the first and second editions had, namely to present a clear discussion of the biochemistry of mammalian
Chemistry and the Living Organism (Fifth Edition) B y M o l l y M B l o o m f i e l d , p p 758, J o h n W i l e y , N e w Y o r k . 1992. £21.50 ISBN 0-471-51292-3 This is a junior college level text that goes all the way from basic chemical principles, through organic chemistry, to elementary biochemistry. The emphasis is strongly towards the relationship of these topics with humans. Each chapter starts off with a 'human' case history which will surely interest students. (Photosynthesis on the other hand only gets about threequarters of a page). The aim is to make the chemistry interesting and attractive, rather than hard, and I think the author succeeds. There are going to be many students in the position of wanting to do some chemistry but being frightened off by the perceived difficulty. The book would presumably also appeal to college, pre-med students. The interest and attraction are maintained through frequent 'Perspective Boxes' (eg on the Turin Shroud). I am less happy about the treatment and organisation of the biochemistry section. The first half of the book deals with chemistry - - atomic structure, gas laws, radioactivity, kinetics - - and this is followed by an elementary but sufficiently detailed account of organic chemistry. This latter story is told from the life scientist's point of view. All too often chemistry is taught to biochemists or potential biochemists by chemists who think that the kinetics of the nitration of aromatic compounds is vital for a good understanding of chemistry. It may be, but unfortunately, they only succeed in putting the students off. The 'Compounds of Life' starts at p 501 and deals with carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (but not nucleic acids) from the chemical point of view. The treatment is satisfactory but I thought that more could have been done to illuminate the importance of macromolecules and membranes. This section is followed by a chapter on enzymes, vitamins and hormones (grouped together) and the biological emphasis is more apparent here. Finally, nucleic acids and protein synthesis are dealt with in the last chapter (p 668). Thus the approach is rather 'traditional' and the biochemistry somewhat abbreviated. Presumably this reflects the needs of the market to which the book is aimed. BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
21(1) 1993
In addition there are appendices (eg on using significant figures), and an extensive glossary. Each chapter is followed by reasonably imaginative problems ('review' type, 'study' type and 'integrative' type) and there are in-text examples. Each chapter also has learning objectives ("By the time you have finished this chapter you should be able to: write, define, c a l c u l a t e . . , etc.) Also available are a Student Study Guide, a Laboratory Manual, and a Teacher's Manual, but I have not seen these. Overall, an attractive production, quite interesting and easy to read. Worth a look at if the students you have to deal with are at this borderline level between high school and university. E J Wood
Biosynthesis and the Integration of Cell Metabolism ' B i o t e c h n o l o g y by O p e n L e a r n i n g S e r i e s ' p p 257. B u t t e r w o r t h - H e i n c m a n n , O x f o r d . 1992. £19.95 ISBN 0-7506-11506-0 This book is a component member of the Biotechnology by Open Learning Series which is aimed at students at universities, polytechnics and colleges, as well as industrial organisations and professional bodies. This text is one of three which are devoted to increasing our understanding of intermediary metabolism (a phrase used here to describe the chemical reactions within cells which produce the basic building blocks necessary for the manufacture of cellular components). The first chapter introduces the reader to the design of an open learning text and also refreshes the reader's knowledge of the prerequisites for biosynthesis to occur which are described in greater detail in the previous two tests. The second chapter describes the nutritional requirements of cells and the mechanism for uptake of these nutrients into the cells. The next four chapters concentrate on the assimilation of nitrogen and sulphur and the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, lipids and carbohydrates. The final two chapters outline the integration, regulation and control of metabolic pathways. The text is kept simple and is easy to understand. The left hand margin of each page contains key phrases and words summarising the text. There is also space for personal notes which the use of an open learning text is encouraged to make. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of objectives which the reader should now be able to complete having read the appropriate chapter. One may wonder why the objectives did not come at the beginning. However, the text sadly lacks the benefits of the use of colour and different font types which are used to enhance most modern textbooks. For example, no efforts are made to distinguish enzymes from substrates or reaction products, or to highlight important points. The diagrams are also very sparse and no references are given should the reader wish to pursue any of the topics further. The open learning series is designed so that the reader "interacts" with the text. The text is interspersed with activities and self-assessment questions which give the reader an idea of the knowledge he or she should have gained by reading the relevant chapter. Although these attempt to focus the reader on the text, some students may find these questions somewhat superfluous and irritating at times. For example, "this chapter has introduced a lot of new c o m p o u n d s . . , many are referred to by initials, it is obviously important to remember t h e s e . . , and there is a special prize if you can get the last one right". Overall this book gives a clear and concise understanding of the principles involved in the biosynthesis of cellular building blocks and might act as a useful revision aid. However, there are better textbooks available for a similar price which make good
50 use of colour to enhance the text and which are also more detailed. H Knaggs
P r o t e i n Folding E d i t e d by T E Creighton. pp 547. W H F r e e m a n , Oxford. 1992. £47.95 ISBN 0-7167-7027-X An understanding of protein folding is vital to the future of molecular biology as the number of known protein sequences continues to grow exponentially. This book attempts to provide a comprehensive review of the entire subject. Leaders in the field have contributed a series of well written, substantial chapters each of which may be read in isolation. Since each chapter commences with an introduction there is inevitably some repetition of basic information, but this is only a minor quibble. Like all multi-author works it is somewhat lacking in continuity and style but Creighton has done a good job in pulling these disparate chapters together with the help of good layout and a full index. This is a good book for the researcher in the field, the interested spectator or someone preparing material for final year undergraduate or taught postgraduate courses. As Creighton points out in the Preface "the reader will not find the solution to the protein folding problem in these pages" but none the less this book does provide a full and authoritative account of the subject matter. D A Waller
Biochemistry A review with Explanations (Fourth Edition)
Questions
and
by P J F r i e d m a n . pp 196. Little, B r o w n and C o m p a n y , B o s t o n . 1992 ISBN 0-316-29394-6 Almost a decade ago, I reviewed an earlier edition of this book. I have now been asked to express my opinions on this latest edition. I must confess that I find very little (if any) improvement has occurred in this period. The author's objectives, as stated in the Preface, are still to "explain" the fundamentals of biochemistry to medical students and to "cover" the topics in a medical biochemistry course and in the National Boards (Part 1) examination. Though I have read the book carefully from cover to cover, I failed to find in the text the explanations promised by the author. On reflection, I conclude that this should not have surprised me since, in the book's subtitle, explanations are linked to questions. In truth, these are no more than brief notes on some (rather than on all) components of questions which are described as being mainly in the style of the already mentioned examination. As to "coverage", what I found was frequently just that. I have especially in mind the sections on purine synthesis and on topics included in the final three chapters which deal with D N A replication and transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression, respectively. Here, frequently, coverage means a mention, (eg the polymerase chain reaction gets two lines) or a series of disjointed sentences which are not always necessarily correct or accurate representations of the concepts involved. The Preface also states that the reader "should use this book in concert with one or more" of the three texts cited at the end of each chapter (these are: Mathews and Van Holde, 1990; Murray et al. 1990; Stryer, 1988), and that the illustrations in these
BIOCHEMICAL E D U C A T I O N
21(1) 1993
textbooks will assist the reader in understanding the materialin the book. I find this attitude irritating and disturbing. From this book the reader will learn that: the triple helix of tropocollagen is its secondary structure, and that the helical structure of polypeptide chains of this protein "differs from an ¢thelix because the spiral is tighter"; that globular proteins "consist mainly of random coils with occasional stretches of cxhelices"; that myoglobin may bind one or more oxygen molecules; that the B in IUB stands for Biochemists; that the conversion of proinsulin to insulin is an example of proteotytic activation of enzymes; that "vitamin B 6 includes pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxamine phosphate and pyridoxine'; that FAD, FMN and coenzyme Q transfer (or carry) "hydrogen atoms and electrons"; that the "coenzymatic role of both TI-1FA and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is to carry activated onecarbon groups such as methyl (CH3), methylene (CH2), formyl (CHO) and formimino (CH~--NH)"; that there is no difference between proteoglycans and glycoproteins; that inosine (ie hypoxanthine riboside) is a purine; that "each adenine-thymine base pair forms a major groove, whereas each cytosine-guanine base pair forms a minor groove"; that calmodulin is a "component of muscle protein kinase"; that "side chains are added to the porphin ring to yield protoporphyrin"; that ATP synthase phosphorylates ADP to ATP at each of three protein complexes; that in humans "all enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis are joined in a large multienzyme complex" which includes acyl-carrier protein; that "thioredoxin reductase accepts an electron from N A D P H " ; and that the base sequence T A T A A is "centered at base - - 25 (25 bases behind the base where transcription will begin)". This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it suffices to demonstrate the type of loose thinking present in this book. It disturbs me that several of these statements also occurred in the second edition. Of course, they are not to be found in any of the three texts recommended by the author. Besides, it appears that the author does not appreciate the existence of the concept of cytosol and nearly always uses the word cytoplasm where cytosol is more appropriate. The interest of the author (and his publisher) in the National Board examinations may provide a clue to why we are faced with this edition. It could be that enough medical students may have passed a message on to their junior colleagues that a previous edition may have helped them jump the hurdle posed by this professional examination, to please author and publisher. If I am correct in this, this examination may be performing a disservice by testing for memorization of "correct" answers to multiple choice questions rather than for real comprehension of the biochemical concepts involved. It is also possible that this book's survival may reflect the poor quality of the teaching of biochemistry in many medical schools and the trivialisation of this beautiful subject in the mind of many medical students. I certainly hope that I am wrong in this, and that a serious effort will be made to achieve real improvements if a further edition is ever contemplated. F VeUa
Textbook of Biochemistry with C l i n i c a l C o r r e l a t i o n s (Third Edition) E d i t e d by T M Devlin. pp 1185. Wiley-Liss, N e w York. 1992. £37.501572.50 (cloth), £24.95/$44.95 (pbk) ISBN 0-471-51348-2/-58818-0 The new, third edition of Devlin, it is stated in the Preface, has the same purpose the first and second editions had, namely to present a clear discussion of the biochemistry of mammalian