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Federation of European Biochemical Societies 12th Meeting. Dresden 1978. Vols. 51–57
Even so, it is a splendid book, and one hopes that the publishers will have printed enough copies. J. E. Smith
require a description of a particular enzyme mechanism in terms that are very much more chemical than are found in most textbooks of biochemistry. K. Brocklehurst
Organic
Reaction
Mechanisms.
Edited byA. C. Knipe and W. Watts. Pp. 74 1. John Wiley, Chichester. 1978. f46.00.
This latest volume of the well known WileyInterscience series on Organic Reaction Mechanisms-introduced originally in 1965 by Capon, Perkins, and Rees-maintains the high standards of its predecessorsin providing annual surveys of the recent literature, in this case for the year ending November, 1977. The major reaction types are covered in fourteen chapters, of which those on radical reactions by Nonhebel and Walton, based on over 1100 references, and on molecular rearrangements by A. W. Murray (780 references) deserve special mention for their comprehensive coverage. Efforts have clearly been made to minimise overlap among the various chapters, and where it does occur,.g., between ‘Molecular and Ions’ ‘Carbonium Rearrangements’-is apparently justified by the context. The lapse of time between the period reviewed and the publication date (December 1978) is perhaps inevitable given the volume of material, the high standard of production, and the need to synchronise the productivity of fourteen authors. Few practising organic chemists .will fail to find relevant and hitherto undiscovered references from even a casual perusal of these pages, and for those concerned to keep abreast of recent developments in fundamental aspects of the subject, this annual volume is an invaluable aid, though regrettably now priced out of reach ofmost personal collections. J. D. Hobson Enzymatic
Reaction
Mechanisms
Christopher Walsh. Pp. 978. Reading. 1979. f 18.30.
by W. H. Freeman,
Dr Walsh has produced an interesting and unusual enzymology book that should find a place on the library shelf. The book has developed from a chemistry course on enzyme reaction mechanism taught at MIT. The author has taken as his approach the analysis of enzyme catalysis in terms of a small number of basic types of chemical reaction. The book contains very few kinetic constants and relatively many structures analysing patterns of electron flow as bonds break and reform during the course of enzyme-mediated transformation. Much of the book is devoted to coenzyme-dependentreactions and to how the particular chemistry open to a particular coenzyme is used to both direct and assist reaction. A rather short general introduction to the theory of rate enhancement and specificity is followed by extensive sections devoted to (1) group transfer reactions; (2) redox reactions; isomerizations and (3) eliminations, rearrangements; and (4) reactions that make and break carbon-carbon bonds. A great many enzyme reactions are described in terms of chemical mechanisms. This book contains references and should be useful to final year undergraduates and research workers who 88
Metal Ions in Solution byJohn Burgess. Pp. xv + 48 1. Ellis Horwood, Chichester. 19 78. Hardback Paperback f8.50
f25.00 ($55.00), ($20.75).
1979.
It was a pleasure to read another important book from the prolific school at Leicester. It deals with the properties of metal cations from all appropriate parts of the Periodic Table in aqueous, non-aqueous, and binary aqueous solvent systems. The brief introduction covers the properties of solvents and the ions to be found in them, and is followed by three chapters describing spectroscopic and other techniques for investigating metal-ion solvation. Chapter 5 is an excellent survey of reported solvation numbers and Chapter 6 deals with mixed solvents and selective solvation. There follow chapters on the thermochemistry of metal ion solvation, redox potentials, hydrolysis, and polymerisation. Chapters 11-14 review kinetics and mechanisms of solvent exchange, complex formation, redox reactions, and reactions of coordinated solvents. Many chapters have been the subjects of separate texts but specialists, new researchers, teachers, and well-motivated undergraduates should find the bold approach of bringing together wide-ranging material both useful and refreshing. The book is well-written and extensively documented. One is struck by the author’s comprehensive and grasp authoritative treatment of the subject. Whilst some of the Tables are difficult to follow because they contain too much information, the overall presentation is good and the paperback representsoutstanding value. J. Bullock Federation of European Biochemical Societies 12th Meeting. Dresden 1978. Vols. 51-57. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1979. Vols.51-56,flOOtheset. f20.00.
Vol.57
The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) publishes a well-established series of Symposia and the present volumes 51-56 report the proceedings of selected symposia held at the FEBS meeting in Dresden in July, 1978. Publication of only a selected number of symposia is an innovation which appears to be successfulbecause the subjects covered are all timely and have not suffered from overexposure in recent secondary publications. In a short review it is hardly possible to do more than summarize the topics consideredin the various symposia. Volume 55 (Regulation of Secondary Product and Plant Hormone Metabolism) is of particular interest to the present writer and amongst many contains important contributions two impressive articles from leading scientists in the host country. Professor K. Schreiber writes on the relationship between secondary products and hormones and Professor M. Luckner on alkaloid biosynthesis
in Penicillium cyclopodium related to the development of special&d cells in the growing mould. The symposium on Cyclic Nucleotides and Protein Phosphorylation of Cell Regulation (Vol. 54) concentrates mainly on the significance of cyclic nucleotides in muscle, the nervous system, and in secretion. The largest volume of the series (Vol. 5 1, 544 pages) covers exciting growing points in gene expression and DNA-protein interaction and gives some emphasis to the technology of genetic engineering. Volume 52 ranges widely over the protein field by absorbing three symposia in one volume; on structure and assembly, structure and function, and on technical enzymology. The volumeis dedicated to the memory of Dr J. I. Harris, who died tragically in 1978, and it is fitting that his outstanding work on the structure of from Bacillus phosphotofructokinase stearothermophilus is reported in this volume by his colleagues. Post-translational processes in protein biochemistry are considered in volume 53 with particular reference to protein degradation and turnover of organelles. In spite of being rather short (104 pages) volume 56 ranges widely over the field of metabolic diseases in nine articles covering topics from the molecular basis of hereditary enzyme defects to substitution therapy in lysosomal storage diseases. A satellite symposium on Antimetabolites in Biochemistry, Biology and Medicine was held in Prague immediately following the FEBS meeting. The proceedings (Vol. 57) emphasize the useof antimetabolites as research tools and as chemotherapeutic agents in cancer therapy, immunosuppression, and as antiviral compounds. All volumes are produced from cameraready copy, which has beencarefully prepared, printed on good quality paper. and bound in hard covers of attractive design. There is no doubt that all these volumes need to be available to research biochemists and senior undergraduates for they provide much up to date information, (publication time was little more than six months) in many important areasof modern biochemistry. T. W. Goodwin The Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes by E. Broda. Pp. xxv + 23 1. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1979. f 14.00; Flexicover f6.50.
Hard cover
This book, originally published in 1975,is now revised, reprinted, and available as a paperback with an attractive cover intended for the textbook market. The book contains 168 pages of text, an updating appendix, 36 pagesof references,and an index. It is a scholarly review of a fascinating topic, well endowed with references and comprehensively indexed. The 25 logically arranged chapters cover all major aspects of bioenergetics except transport, with additional material on thermodynamic aspects,evolution with some supporting evidence, and the history of the atmosphere. Most chapters contain a comprehensive, albeit brief, review of their topic with a discussion of the evidence and hypotheses concerning its evolution. The
require a description of a particular enzyme mechanism in terms that are very much more chemical than are found in most textbooks of biochemistry. K. Brocklehurst
Organic
Reaction
Mechanisms.
Edited byA. C. Knipe and W. Watts. Pp. 74 1. John Wiley, Chichester. 1978. f46.00.
This latest volume of the well known WileyInterscience series on Organic Reaction Mechanisms-introduced originally in 1965 by Capon, Perkins, and Rees-maintains the high standards of its predecessorsin providing annual surveys of the recent literature, in this case for the year ending November, 1977. The major reaction types are covered in fourteen chapters, of which those on radical reactions by Nonhebel and Walton, based on over 1100 references, and on molecular rearrangements by A. W. Murray (780 references) deserve special mention for their comprehensive coverage. Efforts have clearly been made to minimise overlap among the various chapters, and where it does occur,.g., between ‘Molecular and Ions’ ‘Carbonium Rearrangements’-is apparently justified by the context. The lapse of time between the period reviewed and the publication date (December 1978) is perhaps inevitable given the volume of material, the high standard of production, and the need to synchronise the productivity of fourteen authors. Few practising organic chemists .will fail to find relevant and hitherto undiscovered references from even a casual perusal of these pages, and for those concerned to keep abreast of recent developments in fundamental aspects of the subject, this annual volume is an invaluable aid, though regrettably now priced out of reach ofmost personal collections. J. D. Hobson Enzymatic
Reaction
Mechanisms
Christopher Walsh. Pp. 978. Reading. 1979. f 18.30.
by W. H. Freeman,
Dr Walsh has produced an interesting and unusual enzymology book that should find a place on the library shelf. The book has developed from a chemistry course on enzyme reaction mechanism taught at MIT. The author has taken as his approach the analysis of enzyme catalysis in terms of a small number of basic types of chemical reaction. The book contains very few kinetic constants and relatively many structures analysing patterns of electron flow as bonds break and reform during the course of enzyme-mediated transformation. Much of the book is devoted to coenzyme-dependentreactions and to how the particular chemistry open to a particular coenzyme is used to both direct and assist reaction. A rather short general introduction to the theory of rate enhancement and specificity is followed by extensive sections devoted to (1) group transfer reactions; (2) redox reactions; isomerizations and (3) eliminations, rearrangements; and (4) reactions that make and break carbon-carbon bonds. A great many enzyme reactions are described in terms of chemical mechanisms. This book contains references and should be useful to final year undergraduates and research workers who 88
Metal Ions in Solution byJohn Burgess. Pp. xv + 48 1. Ellis Horwood, Chichester. 19 78. Hardback Paperback f8.50
f25.00 ($55.00), ($20.75).
1979.
It was a pleasure to read another important book from the prolific school at Leicester. It deals with the properties of metal cations from all appropriate parts of the Periodic Table in aqueous, non-aqueous, and binary aqueous solvent systems. The brief introduction covers the properties of solvents and the ions to be found in them, and is followed by three chapters describing spectroscopic and other techniques for investigating metal-ion solvation. Chapter 5 is an excellent survey of reported solvation numbers and Chapter 6 deals with mixed solvents and selective solvation. There follow chapters on the thermochemistry of metal ion solvation, redox potentials, hydrolysis, and polymerisation. Chapters 11-14 review kinetics and mechanisms of solvent exchange, complex formation, redox reactions, and reactions of coordinated solvents. Many chapters have been the subjects of separate texts but specialists, new researchers, teachers, and well-motivated undergraduates should find the bold approach of bringing together wide-ranging material both useful and refreshing. The book is well-written and extensively documented. One is struck by the author’s comprehensive and grasp authoritative treatment of the subject. Whilst some of the Tables are difficult to follow because they contain too much information, the overall presentation is good and the paperback representsoutstanding value. J. Bullock Federation of European Biochemical Societies 12th Meeting. Dresden 1978. Vols. 51-57. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1979. Vols.51-56,flOOtheset. f20.00.
Vol.57
The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) publishes a well-established series of Symposia and the present volumes 51-56 report the proceedings of selected symposia held at the FEBS meeting in Dresden in July, 1978. Publication of only a selected number of symposia is an innovation which appears to be successfulbecause the subjects covered are all timely and have not suffered from overexposure in recent secondary publications. In a short review it is hardly possible to do more than summarize the topics consideredin the various symposia. Volume 55 (Regulation of Secondary Product and Plant Hormone Metabolism) is of particular interest to the present writer and amongst many contains important contributions two impressive articles from leading scientists in the host country. Professor K. Schreiber writes on the relationship between secondary products and hormones and Professor M. Luckner on alkaloid biosynthesis
in Penicillium cyclopodium related to the development of special&d cells in the growing mould. The symposium on Cyclic Nucleotides and Protein Phosphorylation of Cell Regulation (Vol. 54) concentrates mainly on the significance of cyclic nucleotides in muscle, the nervous system, and in secretion. The largest volume of the series (Vol. 5 1, 544 pages) covers exciting growing points in gene expression and DNA-protein interaction and gives some emphasis to the technology of genetic engineering. Volume 52 ranges widely over the protein field by absorbing three symposia in one volume; on structure and assembly, structure and function, and on technical enzymology. The volumeis dedicated to the memory of Dr J. I. Harris, who died tragically in 1978, and it is fitting that his outstanding work on the structure of from Bacillus phosphotofructokinase stearothermophilus is reported in this volume by his colleagues. Post-translational processes in protein biochemistry are considered in volume 53 with particular reference to protein degradation and turnover of organelles. In spite of being rather short (104 pages) volume 56 ranges widely over the field of metabolic diseases in nine articles covering topics from the molecular basis of hereditary enzyme defects to substitution therapy in lysosomal storage diseases. A satellite symposium on Antimetabolites in Biochemistry, Biology and Medicine was held in Prague immediately following the FEBS meeting. The proceedings (Vol. 57) emphasize the useof antimetabolites as research tools and as chemotherapeutic agents in cancer therapy, immunosuppression, and as antiviral compounds. All volumes are produced from cameraready copy, which has beencarefully prepared, printed on good quality paper. and bound in hard covers of attractive design. There is no doubt that all these volumes need to be available to research biochemists and senior undergraduates for they provide much up to date information, (publication time was little more than six months) in many important areasof modern biochemistry. T. W. Goodwin The Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes by E. Broda. Pp. xxv + 23 1. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1979. f 14.00; Flexicover f6.50.
Hard cover
This book, originally published in 1975,is now revised, reprinted, and available as a paperback with an attractive cover intended for the textbook market. The book contains 168 pages of text, an updating appendix, 36 pagesof references,and an index. It is a scholarly review of a fascinating topic, well endowed with references and comprehensively indexed. The 25 logically arranged chapters cover all major aspects of bioenergetics except transport, with additional material on thermodynamic aspects,evolution with some supporting evidence, and the history of the atmosphere. Most chapters contain a comprehensive, albeit brief, review of their topic with a discussion of the evidence and hypotheses concerning its evolution. The