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Electrical Potentials in Biological Membrane Transport
765
Bioelecr&heti~ry and Biwnergeria, 9 (1982) 765-768 A caption of J_ Efec;roanaL Chem, and cam~tituting Vol. 141 (1982) Elsevier Sequoia SA..
Lausanne - Prinkd in .pe
Netherlands
Book reviews
Proceedings
in Life Metabolism
&d Molecular Activities of Cytokinins. J. Guem
C. Peaud-Lenoel (Editors). Springer-Verlag, xii + 352 pp., DM98.00; US$44.60.
Berlin, Heidelberg,
New York,
and 198 1,
Cytokinins are characterized as “hormones which control cell proliferation in cultivated plant tissues”. In fact, their influence far exceeds their activation of RNA and protein synthesis; it determines important developmental steps to the macromolecular level. It might well be that continued studies will help biologists to find a valuable key for a better understanding of one of the remaining problems of life sciences: differentiation. The volume comprises 32 papers presented during an international colloquium at Gif-sur-Yvette (September 1980). Therefore, it is mainly addressed to the specialist. As in many other conference reports the non-specialist misses a well-balanced introduction or at least broader reviews. NevertheIess, he will read lnost contributions with keen interest. Regarding the fact that plasrnid-bearing bacteria transfer Fytokinins to host plants, even microbiologists could study this book with great profit. H. METZNER TiIbingcn
Electrical Porentiais in BioIogica/ Membrane
Biochemistry and Biophysics, Volume New York, 1981, x + 85 pp_. DM89.00,
Transport- E. Heinz. Molecular Biology, 33. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, USS29.40.
The book deals with the origin, control and maintenance of electrical membrane potentials. In the first part of the book equilibrium potentials, diffusion potentials and potentials arising either from electrogenetic of electrically silent pumps are treated and the corresponding equations are derived both on the basis of the law of mass action and in terms of ‘the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. This subjectmatter. is standard and is cutlined in several other excellent books which have become available.in the last 10 years. For biologists who are interested in the origin of electrical potentials this part of the book may be of no great value because a broad physical background is required to understand the derivation of the equations. ‘Chapter 2 deals with maintenance ‘and modula_tion of electrical potentials, mainly by ionophores and channel blockers only a rough survey of the literature published
766
particular subject-matter is given so that the interested reader is likely to become frustrated and immediately turns to books which present a more extensive and critical treatment of the field. The third chapter deals with measurements of membrane potentials using microelectrodes and fluorescent dyes. This chapter also presents only a rough survey on the work which is done on this field, and a scientist who is interested in electrical measurements is recommended to read the extensive literature (books and reviews) published up to date, in order to obtain an insight into the problems of membrane potential measurements. The author does not seem to be aware of modem results concerning the electric field effect associated with membrane potentials and associated changes and modulation of membrane permeability. I cannot recommend this book either to students or to scientists. who would like to work in this field. 0’11 this
U. ZIMMERMANN Jiilich
Biochemistry, Vol. 2_ HA-O_ London, 1981, xiv + 347, f40.00.
Inorganic
Hill_ The Royal
Society of Chemistry,
This book considers the literature of selected topics up to mid-1979. As part of the series “Specialist Periodical Reports ” it is not conceived as an introduction or even a well-balanced review. It should help the specialist not to become overwhelmed by the flood of publications. The more biochemically oriented chapters comprise inorganic analogues of biological molecules; storage, transport and function of non-transition elements; electron-transport proteins; oxidases and reductases; zinc metalloenzymes; manganese metalloproteins and manganese-activated enzymes. Two final contributions on trace elements in animal nutrition and on inorganic elements in biology and medicine stress more biological aspects. The reports are carefully written and contain valuable information. They demonstrate the fast progress in this field of research. The bioelectrochemist will find a great deal of interesting data, especially concerning redox systems, and proton as we:! as ion transport and distribution_ More than 2000 references pave the way to the original publications. H. MEClZNER Tllbingcn
in Enzyme and Ion-Selective Electrodes. D-W.. Lubbers, H. Acker, R.P. Buck, G. Eisenman, M- Kessler and W. Simon (Editors). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1981, xii + 239 pp_. DM58.00; U~~34.30.
Progress
Bioelecr&heti~ry and Biwnergeria, 9 (1982) 765-768 A caption of J_ Efec;roanaL Chem, and cam~tituting Vol. 141 (1982) Elsevier Sequoia SA..
Lausanne - Prinkd in .pe
Netherlands
Book reviews
Proceedings
in Life Metabolism
&d Molecular Activities of Cytokinins. J. Guem
C. Peaud-Lenoel (Editors). Springer-Verlag, xii + 352 pp., DM98.00; US$44.60.
Berlin, Heidelberg,
New York,
and 198 1,
Cytokinins are characterized as “hormones which control cell proliferation in cultivated plant tissues”. In fact, their influence far exceeds their activation of RNA and protein synthesis; it determines important developmental steps to the macromolecular level. It might well be that continued studies will help biologists to find a valuable key for a better understanding of one of the remaining problems of life sciences: differentiation. The volume comprises 32 papers presented during an international colloquium at Gif-sur-Yvette (September 1980). Therefore, it is mainly addressed to the specialist. As in many other conference reports the non-specialist misses a well-balanced introduction or at least broader reviews. NevertheIess, he will read lnost contributions with keen interest. Regarding the fact that plasrnid-bearing bacteria transfer Fytokinins to host plants, even microbiologists could study this book with great profit. H. METZNER TiIbingcn
Electrical Porentiais in BioIogica/ Membrane
Biochemistry and Biophysics, Volume New York, 1981, x + 85 pp_. DM89.00,
Transport- E. Heinz. Molecular Biology, 33. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, USS29.40.
The book deals with the origin, control and maintenance of electrical membrane potentials. In the first part of the book equilibrium potentials, diffusion potentials and potentials arising either from electrogenetic of electrically silent pumps are treated and the corresponding equations are derived both on the basis of the law of mass action and in terms of ‘the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. This subjectmatter. is standard and is cutlined in several other excellent books which have become available.in the last 10 years. For biologists who are interested in the origin of electrical potentials this part of the book may be of no great value because a broad physical background is required to understand the derivation of the equations. ‘Chapter 2 deals with maintenance ‘and modula_tion of electrical potentials, mainly by ionophores and channel blockers only a rough survey of the literature published
766
particular subject-matter is given so that the interested reader is likely to become frustrated and immediately turns to books which present a more extensive and critical treatment of the field. The third chapter deals with measurements of membrane potentials using microelectrodes and fluorescent dyes. This chapter also presents only a rough survey on the work which is done on this field, and a scientist who is interested in electrical measurements is recommended to read the extensive literature (books and reviews) published up to date, in order to obtain an insight into the problems of membrane potential measurements. The author does not seem to be aware of modem results concerning the electric field effect associated with membrane potentials and associated changes and modulation of membrane permeability. I cannot recommend this book either to students or to scientists. who would like to work in this field. 0’11 this
U. ZIMMERMANN Jiilich
Biochemistry, Vol. 2_ HA-O_ London, 1981, xiv + 347, f40.00.
Inorganic
Hill_ The Royal
Society of Chemistry,
This book considers the literature of selected topics up to mid-1979. As part of the series “Specialist Periodical Reports ” it is not conceived as an introduction or even a well-balanced review. It should help the specialist not to become overwhelmed by the flood of publications. The more biochemically oriented chapters comprise inorganic analogues of biological molecules; storage, transport and function of non-transition elements; electron-transport proteins; oxidases and reductases; zinc metalloenzymes; manganese metalloproteins and manganese-activated enzymes. Two final contributions on trace elements in animal nutrition and on inorganic elements in biology and medicine stress more biological aspects. The reports are carefully written and contain valuable information. They demonstrate the fast progress in this field of research. The bioelectrochemist will find a great deal of interesting data, especially concerning redox systems, and proton as we:! as ion transport and distribution_ More than 2000 references pave the way to the original publications. H. MEClZNER Tllbingcn
in Enzyme and Ion-Selective Electrodes. D-W.. Lubbers, H. Acker, R.P. Buck, G. Eisenman, M- Kessler and W. Simon (Editors). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1981, xii + 239 pp_. DM58.00; U~~34.30.
Progress