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Hplc of small molecules, a practical approach, 1986, Vol. 1
1114
Book reviews
Hole of Small Molecules, A Practical Approach, 1986, Vol. 1, edited by C.K. Lim. I R L Press Ltd., Oxford, pp. 334, b o u n d : US$ 31.00, u n b o u n d : US$ 49.00 This volume, one of the well known series 'The Practical Approach Series' is devoted to the use of Hplc techniques for the separation of micromolecules. Its purpose is to serve as a practical guide to those working in research or routine biomedical laboratories. Despite competition with more exhaustive series like Methods in Enzymology, or Methods of Biochemical Analysis, this book has amply accomplished its purpose. The volume is divided into 11 chapters preceded by a general introduction. Its principal qualities a r e : / ) The presentation is simple and concise enough to attract less experienced readers, like those beginning a scientific career or who resist socalled 'modern" techniques. 2) Each chapter is provided with details regarding sample preparation before analysis (extraction, derivatization) for better resolution and detection. This practical aspect, often neglected, is as we well know equally important for analytical chemistry as it is for Hplc analysis itself. Moreover, difficuities inherent in extraction, separation, and detection of a given compound are thoroughly discussed, and several solutions proposed to avoid such difficulties. 3) The reference list which ends each specific chapter is exhaustive enough to address particular questions or provide details not described in the book. Each of the eleven specific chapters is written by an expert with a long personal experience in the field of amino acids or short peptides, biogenic amines, carbohydrates, lipids, steroids, biliary acids, vitamins, nucleotides (and their components), porphyrines or biliary pigments. Despite some inequalities of length between some chapters (16 pages for amino acids, and 65 pages devoted to vitamins), I am sure of the utility of this book not only as a working tool, but also as an agreable introduction to this expanding field of analytical biochemistry. O. B~.rzu
Cysteine Proteinases and their Inhibitors, 1986, by Vito T u r k . W. de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, pp. 846, b o u n d : D M 390 This book is a collection of the lectures given during the first International Symposium on Cysteine Proteinases and their Inhibitors which was held in Portoroz, Yugoslavia, in September 1986. The introduction is a classification of the proteins homologous with the cysteine proteinase inhihitor chicken cystatin. It was agreed that these proteins, which form the cystatin superfamily, were divided into three families: the stefin, the cystatin and the kininogen families.
The first section contains 20 articles concerning the isolation, properties, primary structure and cloning of general cysteine proteinases. Special attention is given to cathepsins B, H and L. Cysteine proteinases from human and hog thyroid, rat skeletal muscle, human melanoma and human parasite $chistosama mansoni are also described. The structure of ~t-clostripain is given and specificity of the enzyme discussed. The second part (8 articles) deals with the localization and biological role of cysteine proteinases of different origins. The third section (4 articles) presents the mechanism of action of cysteine proteinases and its differences with those of serine enzymes. The mechanisms of chymopapain, calpain, and calcium-activated neutral protease are especially studied. Section four deals with the isolation, properties and primary structure of general cysteine proteinase inhibitors. The first article (out of 25) proposes an interesting model for the evolution of mammalian inhibitors. Most of the others are devoted to the characterization of new inhibitors of various origins and their classification as stefins, cystatins or kininogens. The fifth part deals with the localization, biological function and kinetics of general cysteine inhibitors (6 articles). Section six concerns the presence of cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors in tumors (2 articles). The last section deals with some medical aspects: cystatin C and amyloidosis, chymopapain and sciatica, granulocyte proteinases and inflammation. In short, this book may help to clarify many problems, including the classification and nomenclature of the protein inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. A. Lecroisey
Methods of Protein and Nucleic Research, 1984-1986, Vol. 1, 2, 3, by Lev. A. Osterman. Springer-Verlag, New York, Berlin, Heidelberg, T o k y o , Vol. 1, 1984, pp. 342, DM 156; Vol. 2, 1984, pp. 204, D M 98; Vol. 3, 1986, pp. 505, D M 248 The last of these three manuals of research methodology is devoted to chromatography. Like the two others, already published in 1984, it is an excellent practical guide and everyday handbook for the experimenter who has an interest in protein and nucleic acid research. Chapter I gives a classification of chromatographic methods and some theory on chromatographic elution. Chapter II treats matrices of sorbants and ion exchangers, the next reviews the equipment required for colunm chromatography. Chapters IV, V and VI respectively deal with gel filtration, and partition, hydrophobic, and adsorption chromatographies. Chapters VII and VIII
Book reviews
Hole of Small Molecules, A Practical Approach, 1986, Vol. 1, edited by C.K. Lim. I R L Press Ltd., Oxford, pp. 334, b o u n d : US$ 31.00, u n b o u n d : US$ 49.00 This volume, one of the well known series 'The Practical Approach Series' is devoted to the use of Hplc techniques for the separation of micromolecules. Its purpose is to serve as a practical guide to those working in research or routine biomedical laboratories. Despite competition with more exhaustive series like Methods in Enzymology, or Methods of Biochemical Analysis, this book has amply accomplished its purpose. The volume is divided into 11 chapters preceded by a general introduction. Its principal qualities a r e : / ) The presentation is simple and concise enough to attract less experienced readers, like those beginning a scientific career or who resist socalled 'modern" techniques. 2) Each chapter is provided with details regarding sample preparation before analysis (extraction, derivatization) for better resolution and detection. This practical aspect, often neglected, is as we well know equally important for analytical chemistry as it is for Hplc analysis itself. Moreover, difficuities inherent in extraction, separation, and detection of a given compound are thoroughly discussed, and several solutions proposed to avoid such difficulties. 3) The reference list which ends each specific chapter is exhaustive enough to address particular questions or provide details not described in the book. Each of the eleven specific chapters is written by an expert with a long personal experience in the field of amino acids or short peptides, biogenic amines, carbohydrates, lipids, steroids, biliary acids, vitamins, nucleotides (and their components), porphyrines or biliary pigments. Despite some inequalities of length between some chapters (16 pages for amino acids, and 65 pages devoted to vitamins), I am sure of the utility of this book not only as a working tool, but also as an agreable introduction to this expanding field of analytical biochemistry. O. B~.rzu
Cysteine Proteinases and their Inhibitors, 1986, by Vito T u r k . W. de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, pp. 846, b o u n d : D M 390 This book is a collection of the lectures given during the first International Symposium on Cysteine Proteinases and their Inhibitors which was held in Portoroz, Yugoslavia, in September 1986. The introduction is a classification of the proteins homologous with the cysteine proteinase inhihitor chicken cystatin. It was agreed that these proteins, which form the cystatin superfamily, were divided into three families: the stefin, the cystatin and the kininogen families.
The first section contains 20 articles concerning the isolation, properties, primary structure and cloning of general cysteine proteinases. Special attention is given to cathepsins B, H and L. Cysteine proteinases from human and hog thyroid, rat skeletal muscle, human melanoma and human parasite $chistosama mansoni are also described. The structure of ~t-clostripain is given and specificity of the enzyme discussed. The second part (8 articles) deals with the localization and biological role of cysteine proteinases of different origins. The third section (4 articles) presents the mechanism of action of cysteine proteinases and its differences with those of serine enzymes. The mechanisms of chymopapain, calpain, and calcium-activated neutral protease are especially studied. Section four deals with the isolation, properties and primary structure of general cysteine proteinase inhibitors. The first article (out of 25) proposes an interesting model for the evolution of mammalian inhibitors. Most of the others are devoted to the characterization of new inhibitors of various origins and their classification as stefins, cystatins or kininogens. The fifth part deals with the localization, biological function and kinetics of general cysteine inhibitors (6 articles). Section six concerns the presence of cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors in tumors (2 articles). The last section deals with some medical aspects: cystatin C and amyloidosis, chymopapain and sciatica, granulocyte proteinases and inflammation. In short, this book may help to clarify many problems, including the classification and nomenclature of the protein inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. A. Lecroisey
Methods of Protein and Nucleic Research, 1984-1986, Vol. 1, 2, 3, by Lev. A. Osterman. Springer-Verlag, New York, Berlin, Heidelberg, T o k y o , Vol. 1, 1984, pp. 342, DM 156; Vol. 2, 1984, pp. 204, D M 98; Vol. 3, 1986, pp. 505, D M 248 The last of these three manuals of research methodology is devoted to chromatography. Like the two others, already published in 1984, it is an excellent practical guide and everyday handbook for the experimenter who has an interest in protein and nucleic acid research. Chapter I gives a classification of chromatographic methods and some theory on chromatographic elution. Chapter II treats matrices of sorbants and ion exchangers, the next reviews the equipment required for colunm chromatography. Chapters IV, V and VI respectively deal with gel filtration, and partition, hydrophobic, and adsorption chromatographies. Chapters VII and VIII