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Gene expression 2, eukaryotic chromosomes (2nd edition)
158 The Fungal Nucleus Edited by K Gull and S G Oliver. pp 358. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1981. £32.50. ISBN 0 - 5 2 1 - 2 3 4 9 2 - 1 This book is based on a meeting on the fungal nucleus organized by the Physiology Group of the British Mycological Society and held in London in April, 1980. It devotes four chapters to the ultrastructure of fungal nuclei and these provide a thorough survey of current knowledge in this area. These chapters are followed by one on microtubules but half of this chapter is devoted to the slime mould,Physarum polycephalum. Similarly, the chapter on single-stranded DNA-binding proteins related less to the one fungus mentioned, Ustilago maydis, than to Escherichia coll. Then there is a chapter by Bradbury and Matthews on structure and function of chromatin. This is a general review with specific reference to Physarum polycephalum but virtually no reference to fungal chromatin. This is a pity as an up to date review of studies on fungal chromatin would have been very valuable, if only to point out how much remains to be learned in this area. Subsequent chapters cover parasexual processes, regular and aberrant segregation at meiosis, somatic incompatibility, the effects of ultraviolet radiation, the synthesis of chromosomal replicons, genetic regulation of RNA and protein patterns in the monokaryondikaryon transition, co-ordination of transcription with translation and a reappraisal of 'start' in the yeast cell cycle. In summary, this is a book which anyone concerned with the fungal nucleus will wish to have though they may, like the present reviewer, have doubts about the relevance of some of the contents. John Duffus
Department of Brewing and Biological Sciences Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh G e n e E x p r e s s i o n 2, E u k a r y o t i c Chromosomes (2nd Edition)
number, the organisation o f repetitive and non-repetitive DNA, inverted and tandem repeats, and DNA replication. Organelle genomes are covered in a separate chapter. The final section concerns the structure and expression of eukaryotic genes and includes chapters on the structure o f messenger RNA, the complexity o f eukaryotic messenger RNA populations, the nature of the transcription apparatus, heterogenous nuclear RNA, interrupted genes (introns) and RNA splicing, and gene families (histone genes, globin genes, Drosophila heat-shock genes). The last chapter also discusses attempts at faithful chromatin transcription in vitro, fractionation of chromatin into transcriptionally 'active' and 'inactive' fractions, and finally models for gene regulation. Three appendices, respectively, list data from selected eukaryotes on the DNA content on haploid genomes, genome size estimates based on the reassociation of non-repetitive DNA, and the sequence composition o f eukaryotic genomes in terms of proportional representation, reiteration frequency, and the complexity of each component. This b o o k is a critical assessment of our present knowledge of eukaryotic molecular biology and draws heavily on original data from primary research papers. Those which break new ground are discussed in detail in the text and figures whilst those papers which provide supporting data are cited as references in tables and footnotes. The text is well-organised, wellwritten and very readable. Each chapter covers the historical background to the topic under consideration and then brings the reader up to date with a discussion of the crucial data. Obviously one is aware of the author's own interpretations of some o f the data but this is to be expected in any attempt to produce a unified text; the facts are well separated from opinions. It is an excellent example of creative reviewing. There are some omissions I regret, for example growth factor structure and mechanism o f action, but these are rare. I have no doubt that this volume will take its place amongst the earlier publications o f this series as almost essential reading for undergraduates, as well as providing new insights for more advanced workers in molecular biology. B D Hames
b y B Lewin. pp 1160. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 1980. £25.65 (hardback)/£13.25 (paperback). ISBN 0-471-01977-1 Gene expression is an excellent series o f books by Benjamin Lewin, published over the period 1974-1977 and covering the field of molecular biology in three volumes; volume 1, Bacterial Genomes; Volume 2, Eukaryotic Chromosomes; and volume 3, Plasmids and Phages. Gene Expression 2, 2nd edition, is more than simply a revision of the first edition of this volume. Indeed, as Lewin points out, given the rapid progress in this field over the last few years, any relationship between this b o o k and the previous edition is almost coincidental. There are 28 chapters organised into four sections. The first section, entitled Cell Structure and Genetics, is concerned with the molecular architecture of the cell and with the nature of the interactions between nucleus and cytoplasm. It contains detailed chapters on the biochemistry of the cell skeleton [microtubule assemblies, and the contractile network (including muscle cells but mainly contractile proteins in non muscle cells)], chromosome segregation (mitosis, and meiosis), somatic cell mutants, the cell division cycle, and two chapters on the use of hybrid cells to probe nucleocytoplasmic interactions, genetic mapping, cell cycle control and gene transfer. The second section of the b o o k discusses the molecular structure of chromosomes and chromatin and includes individual chapters on histones, non-histone proteins, nucleosome structure, euchromatin and heterochromatin, and finally specialised chromosomes (lampbush chromosomes and polytene chromosomes). The third section details the organisation of the eukaryotic genome, dealing with estimates of gene
BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
10(4) 1982
T h e S t r u c t u r a l B a s i s o f M u s c u l a r Contraction By John Squire. pp 698. Plenum Press, Neht York and London. 1981. $65 ISBN 0 - 3 0 6 - 4 0 5 8 2 - 2 This book reviews, in impressive detail, our present understanding of the molecular structure of myofilaments. Topics covered include the structure of myosin molecules and aggregates, of thick and thin filaments, and other elements of filament organisation within the sarcomere for both vertebrate and invertebrate muscles. Whenever possible the relevance to the contractile mechanism is being discussed, and a final chapter deals with current ideas and theories of the crossbridge cycle. For the non-expert, a few introductory chapters are included, giving a descriptive account of the electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques employed. The book's principal appeal should be to workers concerned with the molecular aspects of muscular function. However, others in related fields should find this a useful reference source, with a comprehensive index, informative sub-headings and numerous citations in the text. Still, the detailed and often closely argued discussion of so much material is somewhat daunting and may deter the general reader who is merely looking for the essential points of our current knowledge in this field. S Page
Department of Biophysics University College London
Department of Brewing and Biological Sciences Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh G e n e E x p r e s s i o n 2, E u k a r y o t i c Chromosomes (2nd Edition)
number, the organisation o f repetitive and non-repetitive DNA, inverted and tandem repeats, and DNA replication. Organelle genomes are covered in a separate chapter. The final section concerns the structure and expression of eukaryotic genes and includes chapters on the structure o f messenger RNA, the complexity o f eukaryotic messenger RNA populations, the nature of the transcription apparatus, heterogenous nuclear RNA, interrupted genes (introns) and RNA splicing, and gene families (histone genes, globin genes, Drosophila heat-shock genes). The last chapter also discusses attempts at faithful chromatin transcription in vitro, fractionation of chromatin into transcriptionally 'active' and 'inactive' fractions, and finally models for gene regulation. Three appendices, respectively, list data from selected eukaryotes on the DNA content on haploid genomes, genome size estimates based on the reassociation of non-repetitive DNA, and the sequence composition o f eukaryotic genomes in terms of proportional representation, reiteration frequency, and the complexity of each component. This b o o k is a critical assessment of our present knowledge of eukaryotic molecular biology and draws heavily on original data from primary research papers. Those which break new ground are discussed in detail in the text and figures whilst those papers which provide supporting data are cited as references in tables and footnotes. The text is well-organised, wellwritten and very readable. Each chapter covers the historical background to the topic under consideration and then brings the reader up to date with a discussion of the crucial data. Obviously one is aware of the author's own interpretations of some o f the data but this is to be expected in any attempt to produce a unified text; the facts are well separated from opinions. It is an excellent example of creative reviewing. There are some omissions I regret, for example growth factor structure and mechanism o f action, but these are rare. I have no doubt that this volume will take its place amongst the earlier publications o f this series as almost essential reading for undergraduates, as well as providing new insights for more advanced workers in molecular biology. B D Hames
b y B Lewin. pp 1160. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 1980. £25.65 (hardback)/£13.25 (paperback). ISBN 0-471-01977-1 Gene expression is an excellent series o f books by Benjamin Lewin, published over the period 1974-1977 and covering the field of molecular biology in three volumes; volume 1, Bacterial Genomes; Volume 2, Eukaryotic Chromosomes; and volume 3, Plasmids and Phages. Gene Expression 2, 2nd edition, is more than simply a revision of the first edition of this volume. Indeed, as Lewin points out, given the rapid progress in this field over the last few years, any relationship between this b o o k and the previous edition is almost coincidental. There are 28 chapters organised into four sections. The first section, entitled Cell Structure and Genetics, is concerned with the molecular architecture of the cell and with the nature of the interactions between nucleus and cytoplasm. It contains detailed chapters on the biochemistry of the cell skeleton [microtubule assemblies, and the contractile network (including muscle cells but mainly contractile proteins in non muscle cells)], chromosome segregation (mitosis, and meiosis), somatic cell mutants, the cell division cycle, and two chapters on the use of hybrid cells to probe nucleocytoplasmic interactions, genetic mapping, cell cycle control and gene transfer. The second section of the b o o k discusses the molecular structure of chromosomes and chromatin and includes individual chapters on histones, non-histone proteins, nucleosome structure, euchromatin and heterochromatin, and finally specialised chromosomes (lampbush chromosomes and polytene chromosomes). The third section details the organisation of the eukaryotic genome, dealing with estimates of gene
BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
10(4) 1982
T h e S t r u c t u r a l B a s i s o f M u s c u l a r Contraction By John Squire. pp 698. Plenum Press, Neht York and London. 1981. $65 ISBN 0 - 3 0 6 - 4 0 5 8 2 - 2 This book reviews, in impressive detail, our present understanding of the molecular structure of myofilaments. Topics covered include the structure of myosin molecules and aggregates, of thick and thin filaments, and other elements of filament organisation within the sarcomere for both vertebrate and invertebrate muscles. Whenever possible the relevance to the contractile mechanism is being discussed, and a final chapter deals with current ideas and theories of the crossbridge cycle. For the non-expert, a few introductory chapters are included, giving a descriptive account of the electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques employed. The book's principal appeal should be to workers concerned with the molecular aspects of muscular function. However, others in related fields should find this a useful reference source, with a comprehensive index, informative sub-headings and numerous citations in the text. Still, the detailed and often closely argued discussion of so much material is somewhat daunting and may deter the general reader who is merely looking for the essential points of our current knowledge in this field. S Page
Department of Biophysics University College London