- Email: [email protected]
Laser light scattering in biochemistry
Journal o/Biochemical and Biophysical .Methods, 25 (1992) 299-301
299
© 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0165-022X/92/$05.00
JBBM 025BR4
BOOK REVIEWS
Introduction The book review section is a novelty for the Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods. The intention is to critically review new books that are within the scope of the journal, i.e., methods and techniques to solve biological problems. Emphasis will be put on advances in separation science and instrumental techniques (spectroscopy, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, etc.), as well as on novel methods in molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and biotechnology. The book reviewers will be sought among well known specialists in the different fields. The first reviews are presented below.
Douglas Westerlund
(Professor o/Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dept. o/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, P.O. Ba~ 574, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden)
Laser Light Scattefln8 in Bloehem|stry.
(S.E. Harding, D.B. Sattelle and V.A. Bloomfield, Editors.) Royal Society of Chemistry (Information Services, 1992). This title results from a Biochemical Society Meeting at the University of Cambridge in September, 1990. The stated purpose in publishing the proceedings of the meeting in the form of a book was to present the "state of the art" both as regards total intensity and dynamic light scattering as applied in biochemistry. It was unfortunate that it took about two and a half years to bring it out (particularly since the contributors were asked to deliver their copy-ready manuscripts by the date of the meeting). That being said, much of the content is still up to date and the volume succeeds in providing a valuable and extremely useful addition to the literature dealing with applications of scattering methods. The book addresses both instrumental developments and specific applications to a range of biochemical systems. It thus provides a stimulating review to a wide category of readers ranging from researchers concerned with biochemical systems to thosewho wish to broaden their horizons and explore new possibilities in structure determination and characterization.
300
The techniques referred to under the cover of laser light scattering are still evolving rapidly and there have been exciting innovations. During the last five years, substantial developments have been made in photon correlation spectroscopy both with regard to the apparatus used (for example, multi-sampling time autocorrelators as well as simultaneous intensity monitoring and autocorrelation). There have also been parallel and far-reaching developments in routines for data processing (Laplace inversion) which permit the analysis of the correlation functions obtained osing wide-band autocorrelators. This latter aspect is given due attention and an overview of various algorithms provided. Part ][ of this volume deals with technique developments and some advances in specific areas. Of particular value to biochemists are the innovations that combine light scattering with separation techniques such as gel permeation chromatography, on-line dynamic light scattering and electrophoresis in the measurement of both size and the zeta potential. Part II is concerned with some applications to biological macromo|ecules studied in solution and in the gel form. A somewhat arbitrary d~,,ision leaves Part HI to deal with macromolecular assemblies. This section couF,~ advantageously have been extended to include micellar systems, vesicles, etc. In summary, this book provides a very valuable and timely overview of developments and different facets of on-going researc~ in biochemistry to which scattering techniques are being applied. The Editors and the Royal Society of Chemistry are to be congratulated on their achievement. One can hope that the Cambridge meeting will be followed by others at regular intervals and that the results will be similarly disseminated. Wyn Brown
(Institute of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 532, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden)
Prokaryot|c Structure and Function: a New Perspective.
Society for General Microbiology, Symposium 47, Edited by S. Mohan, C Dew and JJ1. Cole (Cambridge University Press, 1992). The symposium took place at the University of Edinburgh in April of 1991, and this recently published volume consists of 15 contributions dealing with regulation of synthesis and assembly of 'structural components of the bacterial cell. The editors define the approach as a reexamination of structure-function-regulation relationships starting from the centre of the bacterium and working outwards. The new perspective mentioned in the title refers to data, now available through DNA technology, regarding the organization and DNA sequence, as well as regulation of the genes, directing the synthesis of various structural components. In starting from the centre, there is an article on "Evolution and basic features of gene and genome structure" by W. Ford Doolittle, Wan [,am and Leo Schalk-
299
© 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0165-022X/92/$05.00
JBBM 025BR4
BOOK REVIEWS
Introduction The book review section is a novelty for the Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods. The intention is to critically review new books that are within the scope of the journal, i.e., methods and techniques to solve biological problems. Emphasis will be put on advances in separation science and instrumental techniques (spectroscopy, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, etc.), as well as on novel methods in molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and biotechnology. The book reviewers will be sought among well known specialists in the different fields. The first reviews are presented below.
Douglas Westerlund
(Professor o/Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dept. o/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, P.O. Ba~ 574, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden)
Laser Light Scattefln8 in Bloehem|stry.
(S.E. Harding, D.B. Sattelle and V.A. Bloomfield, Editors.) Royal Society of Chemistry (Information Services, 1992). This title results from a Biochemical Society Meeting at the University of Cambridge in September, 1990. The stated purpose in publishing the proceedings of the meeting in the form of a book was to present the "state of the art" both as regards total intensity and dynamic light scattering as applied in biochemistry. It was unfortunate that it took about two and a half years to bring it out (particularly since the contributors were asked to deliver their copy-ready manuscripts by the date of the meeting). That being said, much of the content is still up to date and the volume succeeds in providing a valuable and extremely useful addition to the literature dealing with applications of scattering methods. The book addresses both instrumental developments and specific applications to a range of biochemical systems. It thus provides a stimulating review to a wide category of readers ranging from researchers concerned with biochemical systems to thosewho wish to broaden their horizons and explore new possibilities in structure determination and characterization.
300
The techniques referred to under the cover of laser light scattering are still evolving rapidly and there have been exciting innovations. During the last five years, substantial developments have been made in photon correlation spectroscopy both with regard to the apparatus used (for example, multi-sampling time autocorrelators as well as simultaneous intensity monitoring and autocorrelation). There have also been parallel and far-reaching developments in routines for data processing (Laplace inversion) which permit the analysis of the correlation functions obtained osing wide-band autocorrelators. This latter aspect is given due attention and an overview of various algorithms provided. Part ][ of this volume deals with technique developments and some advances in specific areas. Of particular value to biochemists are the innovations that combine light scattering with separation techniques such as gel permeation chromatography, on-line dynamic light scattering and electrophoresis in the measurement of both size and the zeta potential. Part II is concerned with some applications to biological macromo|ecules studied in solution and in the gel form. A somewhat arbitrary d~,,ision leaves Part HI to deal with macromolecular assemblies. This section couF,~ advantageously have been extended to include micellar systems, vesicles, etc. In summary, this book provides a very valuable and timely overview of developments and different facets of on-going researc~ in biochemistry to which scattering techniques are being applied. The Editors and the Royal Society of Chemistry are to be congratulated on their achievement. One can hope that the Cambridge meeting will be followed by others at regular intervals and that the results will be similarly disseminated. Wyn Brown
(Institute of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 532, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden)
Prokaryot|c Structure and Function: a New Perspective.
Society for General Microbiology, Symposium 47, Edited by S. Mohan, C Dew and JJ1. Cole (Cambridge University Press, 1992). The symposium took place at the University of Edinburgh in April of 1991, and this recently published volume consists of 15 contributions dealing with regulation of synthesis and assembly of 'structural components of the bacterial cell. The editors define the approach as a reexamination of structure-function-regulation relationships starting from the centre of the bacterium and working outwards. The new perspective mentioned in the title refers to data, now available through DNA technology, regarding the organization and DNA sequence, as well as regulation of the genes, directing the synthesis of various structural components. In starting from the centre, there is an article on "Evolution and basic features of gene and genome structure" by W. Ford Doolittle, Wan [,am and Leo Schalk-