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Film review
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
Spring 1973 Vol. 1 No. 2
FILM REVIEWS
Introduction to Biochemistry
1. Thin-layer chromatography. (Running time 18 min.) 2. Advanced thin-layer chromatography. (Running time 18 rain.) 3. High Voltage Electrophoresis. (Running time 20 min.) All in colour. 16 mm with magnetic sound. For loan in Great Britain, contact Griffin and George Limited, Scientific Instruments Division, Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, Middlesex HAO 1HJ. Those outside Great Britain should contact their local CAMAG sales organisation or CAMAG, 24 Hamburger St, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland. Available in English, German or French. These films were made for Camag A.G. of Switzerland to show the techniques of thin-layer chromatography and high voltage electrophoresis, using the elegant apparatus made for these purposes by the firm. The f i l l s are warmly recommended for showing both to undergraduates (to illustrate careful working with simple apparatus) and also to research workers who will learn how the techniques can be exploited by the use of more advanced instrumentation. Very attractive girls with a precise and flawless manipulative technique show the apparatus in action. The setting is a beautiful and colourful laboratory which is as clean and gleaming as an operating theatre and should serve as an example of how a laboratory should be kept - and which of us have seen with sorrow, biochemical laboratories which resemble a cross between a junk shop and a motor mechanic's yard? The TLC apparatus demonstrated includes simple sandwich chambers, manual and automatic coaters, spotting guides, instruments for quantitative sample application (e.g. in uniform lines by automatic syringes or spray guns), ultraviolet del~ectors, etc. An ingenious multichamber instrument allows five to ten T.L. separations to be run simultaneously on one chromatogram, either under different humidity conditions or with different solvents and so enabling the optimum conditions for separation of an unknown mixture to be determined readily. Recording equipment for the assay of spots by fluorescent or absorption spectroscopy was also shown. The third f i l l demonstrates the techniques of (paper) high voltage electrophoresis, thin-layer electrophoresis and their combinations with chromatography. The sound track was in German in the original film but the dubbing in English was quite satisfactory in the version seen by the reviewer. The musical background pleasantly and cleverly matches the operations being demonstrated and is not a distraction as sometimes happens in documentary films. B.A. Kiiby
METABOLIC MAPS
Research in Reproduction The four charts listed below, measuring 750 x 600 mm are printed in several colours and are suitable for wall display. They may be found useful during the advanced teaching of the biochemistry of reproduction. Explanations are given of the meaning and significahce of the various arrows and pathways, and there are references to recent literature. The charts may be purchased from the Information
35
Programme 1. Enzymology (running time 14 min.) Programme 2. Mechanism of Enzyme Catalysis (running time 15% min.) Produced by STU:DI (Studios for didactic productions), Steynlaan 1, Hilversum, Holland. In colour and available as 16 mm film, Super 8 and PIP cassettes and VCR. English version available now, and French, Spanish, German and Dutch versions in preparation. Prices on demand. These are the fkst two biochemical f'tlms made by this Dutch organisation from texts written by Karel van Buuren and Ed de Haan of the Biochemical laboratory of the B.C.P. Jansen Institute in the University of Amsterdam. They are aimed at first year university students in biochemistry, medicine and chemistry and for technicians. The first film was the least successful of the two since it aimed at doing too much in too short a time. It began with shots of a machine putting caps on milk bottles to illustrate how a large structure is necessary so that the active centre - the bit th~it pops the caps on can function and the machine acts as a catalyst, but the film ended some minutes later with a hurried explanation of four types of electrostatic interaction (e.g. dipole/induced dipole) in protein structures, having in the meantime shown diagrammatically how a protein can be considered as being made up by the elimination of water between amino acids. There were a few mispronunciations and slips, such as disulphate for disulphide linkages. The second film was much more successful and useful since it concentrated upon and emphasised two main points - that in order to react, molecules must have sufficient energy and that they must collide in a favourable orientation. It then showed how binding at the active centre of an enzyme could greatly increase the probability of reaction. B.A. Kilby
Information and Reviews wanted A list of f i l l s was drawn up by FEBS in February 1970 which gave an outline of films of biochemical interest suitable for teaching purposes and which were available in Europe. Biochemical Education has agreed to revise andupdate it, and the Editors would therefore welcome information about suitable films which are available for loan, hire or sale. They would also be happy to consider for publication unsolicited reviews from readers who have seen films of particular use and value in the teaching of biochemistry and therefore deserve to be known more widely.
Officer, International Planned Parenthood Federation. 18-20 Lower Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Price 30p in the U.K. and Europe or $1.00 in the U.S.A. and elsewhere (air mail). 1. Hypothalmic map for the regulation of gonadotropin. Based mainly on data obtained in the rat. Prepared by Dr Akira Arimura (New Orleans, USA~ and Dr Alan Findlay (Cambridge, England). Dated Jan. 1971. The map represents an attempt to summarize present concepts of localisation of function in the hypothalamus in relation to the control of gonadotropin secretion. 102 references. 2. Ovarian metabolism of steroid hormones. Based on data obtained mainly in the human and bovine. Prepared by Dr (;.F. Abraham
Spring 1973 Vol. 1 No. 2
FILM REVIEWS
Introduction to Biochemistry
1. Thin-layer chromatography. (Running time 18 min.) 2. Advanced thin-layer chromatography. (Running time 18 rain.) 3. High Voltage Electrophoresis. (Running time 20 min.) All in colour. 16 mm with magnetic sound. For loan in Great Britain, contact Griffin and George Limited, Scientific Instruments Division, Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, Middlesex HAO 1HJ. Those outside Great Britain should contact their local CAMAG sales organisation or CAMAG, 24 Hamburger St, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland. Available in English, German or French. These films were made for Camag A.G. of Switzerland to show the techniques of thin-layer chromatography and high voltage electrophoresis, using the elegant apparatus made for these purposes by the firm. The f i l l s are warmly recommended for showing both to undergraduates (to illustrate careful working with simple apparatus) and also to research workers who will learn how the techniques can be exploited by the use of more advanced instrumentation. Very attractive girls with a precise and flawless manipulative technique show the apparatus in action. The setting is a beautiful and colourful laboratory which is as clean and gleaming as an operating theatre and should serve as an example of how a laboratory should be kept - and which of us have seen with sorrow, biochemical laboratories which resemble a cross between a junk shop and a motor mechanic's yard? The TLC apparatus demonstrated includes simple sandwich chambers, manual and automatic coaters, spotting guides, instruments for quantitative sample application (e.g. in uniform lines by automatic syringes or spray guns), ultraviolet del~ectors, etc. An ingenious multichamber instrument allows five to ten T.L. separations to be run simultaneously on one chromatogram, either under different humidity conditions or with different solvents and so enabling the optimum conditions for separation of an unknown mixture to be determined readily. Recording equipment for the assay of spots by fluorescent or absorption spectroscopy was also shown. The third f i l l demonstrates the techniques of (paper) high voltage electrophoresis, thin-layer electrophoresis and their combinations with chromatography. The sound track was in German in the original film but the dubbing in English was quite satisfactory in the version seen by the reviewer. The musical background pleasantly and cleverly matches the operations being demonstrated and is not a distraction as sometimes happens in documentary films. B.A. Kiiby
METABOLIC MAPS
Research in Reproduction The four charts listed below, measuring 750 x 600 mm are printed in several colours and are suitable for wall display. They may be found useful during the advanced teaching of the biochemistry of reproduction. Explanations are given of the meaning and significahce of the various arrows and pathways, and there are references to recent literature. The charts may be purchased from the Information
35
Programme 1. Enzymology (running time 14 min.) Programme 2. Mechanism of Enzyme Catalysis (running time 15% min.) Produced by STU:DI (Studios for didactic productions), Steynlaan 1, Hilversum, Holland. In colour and available as 16 mm film, Super 8 and PIP cassettes and VCR. English version available now, and French, Spanish, German and Dutch versions in preparation. Prices on demand. These are the fkst two biochemical f'tlms made by this Dutch organisation from texts written by Karel van Buuren and Ed de Haan of the Biochemical laboratory of the B.C.P. Jansen Institute in the University of Amsterdam. They are aimed at first year university students in biochemistry, medicine and chemistry and for technicians. The first film was the least successful of the two since it aimed at doing too much in too short a time. It began with shots of a machine putting caps on milk bottles to illustrate how a large structure is necessary so that the active centre - the bit th~it pops the caps on can function and the machine acts as a catalyst, but the film ended some minutes later with a hurried explanation of four types of electrostatic interaction (e.g. dipole/induced dipole) in protein structures, having in the meantime shown diagrammatically how a protein can be considered as being made up by the elimination of water between amino acids. There were a few mispronunciations and slips, such as disulphate for disulphide linkages. The second film was much more successful and useful since it concentrated upon and emphasised two main points - that in order to react, molecules must have sufficient energy and that they must collide in a favourable orientation. It then showed how binding at the active centre of an enzyme could greatly increase the probability of reaction. B.A. Kilby
Information and Reviews wanted A list of f i l l s was drawn up by FEBS in February 1970 which gave an outline of films of biochemical interest suitable for teaching purposes and which were available in Europe. Biochemical Education has agreed to revise andupdate it, and the Editors would therefore welcome information about suitable films which are available for loan, hire or sale. They would also be happy to consider for publication unsolicited reviews from readers who have seen films of particular use and value in the teaching of biochemistry and therefore deserve to be known more widely.
Officer, International Planned Parenthood Federation. 18-20 Lower Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Price 30p in the U.K. and Europe or $1.00 in the U.S.A. and elsewhere (air mail). 1. Hypothalmic map for the regulation of gonadotropin. Based mainly on data obtained in the rat. Prepared by Dr Akira Arimura (New Orleans, USA~ and Dr Alan Findlay (Cambridge, England). Dated Jan. 1971. The map represents an attempt to summarize present concepts of localisation of function in the hypothalamus in relation to the control of gonadotropin secretion. 102 references. 2. Ovarian metabolism of steroid hormones. Based on data obtained mainly in the human and bovine. Prepared by Dr (;.F. Abraham