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Lipids in plants and microbes
135
T I B S - March 1985
Special aspects of lipid metabolism Lipids in Plants and Microbes
by J. L. Harwood and N. J. Russell, George Allen & Unwin, 1984. £19.50/ US$12.95 hbk, £7.95 pbk (ix +162pages) ISBN O04574021 6 hbk, 004574022 4 pbk Biochemistry textbooks normally have two or three chapters on lipids. The lipid biochemistry covered which is common to animals, plants and microbes includes some aspects of fatty acid synthesis and degradation, some aspects of glycerolipid biosynthesis and some aspects of isopentenoid metabolism. The special topics covered typically include ketosis, inherited disorders of ganglioside metabolism, hypercholesterolemia and steroid hormones. The student interested in the special aspects of lipid metabolism in plants and microbes must search elsewhere. Lipids in Plants and Microbes is addressed to 'advanced undergraduates and postgraduates in biology, biochemistry, environmental science, microbiology and plant science'. It is intended to supplement biochemistry textbooks which tend to concentrate on animal lipids. After a short introduction, there are five chapters dealing with the following: major lipid types in plants and microorganisms, Distribution of lipids, Biosynthesis, Degradation, and Lipid functions. For each chapter there is suggested further reading, mostly in review articles. The authors are experienced researchers in the areas of plant and microbial lipids. The material ranges from the basic understanding of lipids to current interests in research laboratories.
Although the book is primarily addressed to students, researchers will find interesting aspects of lipid metabolism discussed in this book. It is clear that the advanced undergraduate or postgraduate would profit from this book, not only on the first reading but also as a reference resource. Allowing for the small size of the book, the coverage is comprehensive. Inevitably in a book of this size, knowledgeable readers may feel that some subjects are treated in insufficient detail, while readers inexperienced in the subject matter may sometimes be puzzled by the lack of explanation. Is the fact that the topics of plant and microbial lipids are left out of standard biochemistry textbooks sufficient justification for a book on the subject? Does this book represent an uneasy coalition of underdogs? In some instances the presentation of studies on microbes and plants makes very good sense. A comparison of the lipid metabolism in higher plants and cyanobacteria provides interesting insights into the hypothesis of the symbiotic origin of the chloroplast and suggests changes that have taken place during evolution. Another example is the comparative study of fatty acid synthesis in which it becomes apparent that the system in higher plants is prokaryotic in nature. A further example would be the important discovery of the glyoxalate cycle in higher plants which was a direct consequence of the study of the same pathway in bacteria. In spite of such similarities and useful comparisons, this book demonstrates with even greater clarity the diversity of structures and the differences in lipid metabolism of plants
and microbes. One wonders whether the reader searching for information on microbes will skip over the sections on plant lipids and vice versa - it would be a mistake to do so. The absence of material on plant and microbial lipids from standard biochemistry textbooks can be rationalized on the grounds of space limitation and an assessment of the interests of the majority of readers. However, I would judge it to be an advantage to know the biochemistry of the three groups of organisms and this small book can confer that advantage on students of plant and microbial lipids. This is not a book which will entice an uncommitted reader. The second chapter on Major Lipid Types is essentially a compendium, a vocabulary for the understanding of the rest of the book. It is a necessary section which may be used for reference, after the first reading of the book. Although there are suggestions for further research sprinkled throughout the book, the last chapter on lipid functions is probably the most exciting to read. The authors express the hope that the book will whet the reader's appetite for further research and I believe they will succeed in this goal. Lipids in Plants and Microbes presents a good balance between conciseness and comprehensiveness. It is up to date, it fills a niche left vacant by standard textbooks and it is reasonably priced. Students will welcome it. J. BRIAN MUDD
ARCO Plant Cell Research Institute, 6560 Trinity Court, Dublin, California 94568, USA.
T I B S - March 1985
Special aspects of lipid metabolism Lipids in Plants and Microbes
by J. L. Harwood and N. J. Russell, George Allen & Unwin, 1984. £19.50/ US$12.95 hbk, £7.95 pbk (ix +162pages) ISBN O04574021 6 hbk, 004574022 4 pbk Biochemistry textbooks normally have two or three chapters on lipids. The lipid biochemistry covered which is common to animals, plants and microbes includes some aspects of fatty acid synthesis and degradation, some aspects of glycerolipid biosynthesis and some aspects of isopentenoid metabolism. The special topics covered typically include ketosis, inherited disorders of ganglioside metabolism, hypercholesterolemia and steroid hormones. The student interested in the special aspects of lipid metabolism in plants and microbes must search elsewhere. Lipids in Plants and Microbes is addressed to 'advanced undergraduates and postgraduates in biology, biochemistry, environmental science, microbiology and plant science'. It is intended to supplement biochemistry textbooks which tend to concentrate on animal lipids. After a short introduction, there are five chapters dealing with the following: major lipid types in plants and microorganisms, Distribution of lipids, Biosynthesis, Degradation, and Lipid functions. For each chapter there is suggested further reading, mostly in review articles. The authors are experienced researchers in the areas of plant and microbial lipids. The material ranges from the basic understanding of lipids to current interests in research laboratories.
Although the book is primarily addressed to students, researchers will find interesting aspects of lipid metabolism discussed in this book. It is clear that the advanced undergraduate or postgraduate would profit from this book, not only on the first reading but also as a reference resource. Allowing for the small size of the book, the coverage is comprehensive. Inevitably in a book of this size, knowledgeable readers may feel that some subjects are treated in insufficient detail, while readers inexperienced in the subject matter may sometimes be puzzled by the lack of explanation. Is the fact that the topics of plant and microbial lipids are left out of standard biochemistry textbooks sufficient justification for a book on the subject? Does this book represent an uneasy coalition of underdogs? In some instances the presentation of studies on microbes and plants makes very good sense. A comparison of the lipid metabolism in higher plants and cyanobacteria provides interesting insights into the hypothesis of the symbiotic origin of the chloroplast and suggests changes that have taken place during evolution. Another example is the comparative study of fatty acid synthesis in which it becomes apparent that the system in higher plants is prokaryotic in nature. A further example would be the important discovery of the glyoxalate cycle in higher plants which was a direct consequence of the study of the same pathway in bacteria. In spite of such similarities and useful comparisons, this book demonstrates with even greater clarity the diversity of structures and the differences in lipid metabolism of plants
and microbes. One wonders whether the reader searching for information on microbes will skip over the sections on plant lipids and vice versa - it would be a mistake to do so. The absence of material on plant and microbial lipids from standard biochemistry textbooks can be rationalized on the grounds of space limitation and an assessment of the interests of the majority of readers. However, I would judge it to be an advantage to know the biochemistry of the three groups of organisms and this small book can confer that advantage on students of plant and microbial lipids. This is not a book which will entice an uncommitted reader. The second chapter on Major Lipid Types is essentially a compendium, a vocabulary for the understanding of the rest of the book. It is a necessary section which may be used for reference, after the first reading of the book. Although there are suggestions for further research sprinkled throughout the book, the last chapter on lipid functions is probably the most exciting to read. The authors express the hope that the book will whet the reader's appetite for further research and I believe they will succeed in this goal. Lipids in Plants and Microbes presents a good balance between conciseness and comprehensiveness. It is up to date, it fills a niche left vacant by standard textbooks and it is reasonably priced. Students will welcome it. J. BRIAN MUDD
ARCO Plant Cell Research Institute, 6560 Trinity Court, Dublin, California 94568, USA.