Cell and Muscle Motility Volumes 1 and 2

187

Structures of DNA [Cold Spring Harbor Biology, Volume 47]

Recombinant DNA: A Short Course Symposia or Quantitative

p p 1234. C o l d S p r i n g H a r b o r L a b o r a t o r y . 1983. $140 (for 2 vols) ISBN 0-87969-046-1 This year sees the thirtieth anniversary of the discovery of the D N A double helix and fittingly this 47th volume of the Cold Spring Harbor series relates to a meeting held in 1982 to look at many aspects of D N A structure and function. The two-part set contains 132 papers from the meeting which, as judged from the list of participants, was of a high standard. Reviewing this amount of material in a short space is impossible: a pr6cis of the contents follows. Part 1 deals mainly with the structure of the D N A doublehelix. A large opening section of 19 papers covers several aspects of the structure of left-handed D N A , with most emphasis lying on the molecular considerations. This is followed by smaller sections on the analysis of D N A conformation, chemical modification of D N A and methods for the chemical synthesis of DNA. Papers on the interaction of proteins with D N A focus mainly on proteins involved at repressor and promotor regions of genes. Finally, this first part concludes with several papers on chromatin structure, particularly that of nucleosomes. The second part of the volume contains eight sections covering the functioning of DNA. Several papers deal with DNAmethylation and its possible role in gene regulation and this is complemented by a section on the transcription of D N A and its regulation; D N A replication is also covered in this part. Two small sections deal with gyrases and topoisomerases, and with recombinant and mutation of DNA. Papers on gene organisation deal with the structures of some multigene families and also D N A repetitive sequences and pseudogenes. Finally five papers cover origins of replication, centromeres and tetomeres. To workers interested in D N A structure and function this volume provides an excellent collection of current research results up to 1982. It brings together, in one volume, data which would otherwise be dispersed throughout a vast literature and consequently provides an easily accessible source to a very large area of research. It was a pleasure for this reviewer simply to browse through this fine collection of papers. The volume will obviously find its place alongside previous publications in many libraries, and in the traditions of these other CSH series it seems to be a book of quality and excellence. K W Siggens

Recombinant DNA Techniques: An Introduction by R L R o d r i g u e z a n d R C Tait. p p 236. A d d i s o n - W e s l e y , R e a d i n g , Mass. 1983. £16.95. ISBN 0-201-10870-4 Like many of the books on recombinant D N A technique, this volume evolved from a university molecular genetics course (in California). It does cover many concepts and techniques of recombinant D N A research, but suffers, I felt, by being almost totally prokaryotic in its approach. Each of the chapters is made up of one or more experiments which are preceded by a section explaining the theoretical background. The sections describing recombinant D N A concepts are clearly written and students would find them useful and easy to read. However few students are likely to pay £16.95 for the paperback edition. Researchers will find this collection of recipes useful, and presumably the pages are perforated so that selected bits can be torn out. I hope people don't come and do this to my copy! Although the writing is clear and concise, and many of the recipes would be useful to have around the lab, there are presumably plenty of books to choose from and one could do better at the present time. R D Snaith

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 12(4) 1984

by J D W a t s o n , J T o o z e a n d D T K u r t z . p p 260. Scientific A m e r i c a n B o o k s ( W H F r e e m a n ) N e w Y o r k . 1983. ISBN 0-7167-1483-3 or 0-7167-1484-1 (paperback) This book 'arose' from the excellent section that appeared at the end of 'The D N A Story' and of which the authors say " . . . a number of university instructors told us that if it were modestly expanded . . . . would serve as a most needed supplement to texts written before the recombinant D N A r e v o l u t i o n . . . ". Well, here it is, and it has to be admitted that they were right; it is a very useful book. It is clearly written and very well illustrated. The first few chapters establish the role of D N A within the cell, described the elucidation of the Genetic Code and deal with the creation of recombinant DNA. Subsequent chapters deal with the isolation of cloned genes and the complexity of eukaryotic genes, and with antibody genes, tumour viruses, and transposable elements. But it is after this that we leave the realm of most of the current textbooks with chapters on, for example, crown gall plasmids, microinjection into mammalian cells, D N A and genetic disease, and "the recombinant D N A industry". Each chapter has a reading list refering to original papers as well as reviews. Highly recommended for all biochemists, and especially useful for those just coming up to graduation. S J Higgins • C e l l and Muscle Motility Volumes 1 and 2 E d i t e d by R M D o w b e n a n d J W Shay. p p 400 a n d 310. P l e n u m Press, N e w Y o r k a n d L o n d o n . 1981 a n d 1982. ISBN 0-306-40703-5 and ISBN 0-306-40798-1 Significant contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying motility are being made in the disciplines of molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology and physiology, among others. Cell and Muscle Motility is claimed by its editors to be 'a new multivolume series of essays by distinguished research workers in various fields whose work has a common thread in dealing with one aspect or another of motility. The essays are meant to focus on topics of current interest [and] to be critical rather than exhaustive . . .' Given this claim it is surprising to find that the two volumes, so far published, are so very different from one another. Volume 1 consists of 10 contributions from a total of 15 authors. For the most part these essays are well written, competent reviews by authors in a position to give a critical survey of the field. Topics covered include the relationship between contractile activity and muscle growth, myosin phosphorylation as biochemical mechanism regulating contractility, the structure of actin in fibroblasts, the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal and cardiac muscle, polymorphic assemblies of tubulin and a particularly good account of the role of actin and myosin in the movements of nonmuscle cells. In addition two contributions are based on techniques; one is concerned with the use of optical diffraction to measure sarcomere length and the other with the use of NMR to study muscle constituents. There are also two accounts, which are not reviews, of immunofluorescence studies of intermediate filaments in myocytes and fibroblasts. In contrast volume 2, despite being nearly 100 pages shorter than the preceding volume consists of no less than 20 contributions from a total of almost 70 authors. It emerges that these contributions were presented at a symposium entitled Current Topics in Muscle and Nonmuscle Motility held in Dallas in 1980. With a few exceptions they could not possibly be described as critical essays since they are accounts of original research investigations. Some attempt to disguise this is made by adopting the same layout and format as was used for the essays in Volume I, but this fails to hide the inevitable Introduction, Materials and

188 Methods, Results and Discussion construction of most of these papers. The scope of these contributions is as great as you might expect from the title of the symposium and hence it is impossible to review them in any detail. However, I cannot help feeling that the majority of these papers should more properly have appeared in the standard journals and that a number of them may not have made it past the referees. Cell and Muscle Motility has the potential to be an interesting and exciting new series, but in view of the uneven nature of the first two books final judgment will have to await the publication of subsequent volumes. C A Middleton

Volume 4 p p 333. 1983. $39.50

ISBN 0-306-41227-6

The most recent addition to this excellent series includes reviews on the fine structure of skeletal muscle, intermediate filaments in human myopathies, preparation of monoclonal antibodies against contractile proteins, fluorescence energy transfer as a structural probe, conformational changes in actomyosin, microfilaments in the intestinal brush border and the contractile system in Dictyostelium amoebae. There are, inevitably, variations in the quality of individual essays, and one might wish that the editors had imposed a more even-handed distribution of diagrams and figures between the various contributions. Nevertheless the series as a whole has succeeded in providing wellwritten reviews covering many of the important growth areas in cell motility research. The individual volumes are well produced and each includes a useful index. For the most part the contributors are acknowledged experts in their chosen topic, and there can be no doubt that this series should be on the library shelves of any institution which purports to teach or carry out research in the cell motility field. John Illingworth

Volume 5 pp 417.1983.$49.50

ISBN 0-306-41443-0

It is very difficult for one reviewer to cover a multi-author text such as this satisfactorily. The areas covered by the present volume include intracellular organelle transport, stress fibres, actin, cell contact and shape, microtubules and microtubuleassociated proteins, cytoskeleton in platelets, and finally monoclonal antibodies to intermediate filament proteins. I found this last chapter, basically about diagnostic uses, less than clear, and the nomenclature of the monoclonals used made it hard going even for someone reasonably familiar with this field. In marked contrast, chapters 1 and 3 covering areas about which this reviewer knew rather little, were excellent and easily readable. Overall a welcome addition to this series, as usual with excellent photomicrographs but patchy as regards the usefulness of individual chapters. N F Cooper General Immunology

System Evolved. Several of the sections are therefore devoted to material presented only briefly in most immunology texts. The development of the immune system through phylogeny and ontogeny is discussed at length and those subjects which are always covered in immunology textbooks are expanded to include diverse animal models. As a biochemist, self-taught in immunology, I had to admit to considerable ignorance in these areas. If my motive in reviewing this book was further selfeducation I was well satisfied. As a general textbook in immunology the book does, however, have serious deficiencies. This reprinting of a first edition from 1982 did seem much older. Most of the cited material dates from the mid-70s and as such predates the recent explosion in knowledge of immunochemistry and the molecular biology of the immune system. I would therefore recommend the book to those biochemists with a basic understanding of immunology who wished to broaden their knowledge. The book is easy to read, well illustrated and very good value for money. I would see it as a welcome addition to many library shelves. The author is to be commended for this unique textbook and for the reminder that immunity is not restricted to mice and men. M Kerr

Handbook of Immunology for Students and House Staff E d i t e d by S e n i m M Fikrig. V e r l a g C h e m i e I n t e r n a t i o n a l , Weinheim, Germany This paperback of 200 pages aims to provide non-specialist students and housemen with an easy source of information on immunological topics suitable for everyday referral. Earlier chapters cover basic immunology whilst the later chapters covering immunodeficiency, transplantation, allergic and autoimmune diseases, are primarily intended to provide information on areas with direct clinical applications. The Editor comments in the preface that immunology progresses rapidly. It is especially in the more biochemical areas that this progress has been most rapid in recent years, and as a result the book is already dated in much of the basic immunology. The impact of monoclonal antibodies, the molecular biology of immunoglobulins and H L A , interferons and interleukins are covered only too briefly. These subjects are covered much better by several recent basic immunology textbooks. The repeated emphasis on clinical aspects of immunology separates this book from most of the other immunology textbooks. The book provides useful thumbnail sketches of many such clinical aspects and this is where the strength of the book lies. Unfortunately, because of the poor exchange rate of our currency against the Deutschmark the cost of the book will be prohibited to many students who would find the book useful. M A Kerr

Contemporary Metabolism. Volume 2

by E d w i n L C o o p e r . p p 343. P e r g a m o n Press, O x f o r d . 1982. £12 ISBN 0-08-026369-0

E d i t e d b y H F r e i n k e l . p p 540. P l e n u m M e d i c a l B o o k s , N e w Y o r k a n d L o n d o n . 1982. $42.50 ISBN 0-306-40954-2

'General Immunology' is a textbook of immunology written from the viewpoint of a biologist. The author has the opinion that all other immunology textbooks are written for and by cellular immunologists, immunochemists or medical readers. In 'General Immunology' he has attempted to redress the balance by providing the widest possible view of the immune system. The book, 343 pages in 23 chapters, is arranged in 8 sections: I Introduction; II Foreignness; III How the Immune System Developed: IV Cells of the Immune System; V Defense and Immunity; VI Antigens, Antibodies and Immunoglobulins; VII Organs of the Immune System and VIII How the Immune

A collection of 12 review-chapters on a variety of topics (series formerly called The Year in Metabolism): diabetes, glucagon, obesity, plasma lipoproteins, alcohol, amino acids and encephalopathy, G A B A and taurine, nutrition and ageing, receptors and second messengers, phosphatidylinositol turnover, disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism, urinary stone disease, Ca, P, Mg and vitamin D. High quality printing, obviously aimed at the clinical end of the market rather than research biochemists, but probably useful for preparing lectures for medical students. The reference lists take up a lot of the space. C Jones

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 12(4) 1984