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Metals in biological systems
Book Reviews damage in cancer; ox idants.
modulation
of carcinogenesis
by anti-
Hypoxia, Metabolic Acidosis and the Circulatiorr-Edited by A. I. ARIEFF. 215 pp. 1992. Oxford University Press, New York. f45. American Physiological Society Clinical Physiology Series. T11e heart, lungs, and blood vessels are affected by hypoxia (IQ to differing extents. This volume discusses; circulatory regulation during H; regulation of myocardial blood flow; acid base status and blood lactate at extreme altitude; effects ot H on normal and hypertrophied hearts; pathophysiology of defects in lactate disposal; acidosis and pulmonary circula:ion; pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis with H; effects of SCdium bicarbonate on myocardial metabolism; alkalinizing atents for treatment of cardiac arrest; therapy of lactate at idosis-alternatives to sodium bicarbonate. M acromolecular Crystallography with Synchrotron Radiation. By J. R. HELLIWELL. 595 pp. 1992. Cambridge Universi y Press, Cambridge. $165. Tie three advantages of using synchrotron radiation (SR) fc r X-ray analysis of crystal structure are: (1) The high intensity, variable wave length (polychromatic), finely collimated beam can be used in the Laue method where the crystal is not rotated and the broad band of wavelengths at high intensity allow a very large number of reflections to be recorded in a short time. This can be used for quantitative st ucture analysis, kinetic studies and the analysis of structural perturbations. (2) The variable wave length can be used fc r phase determination of metalloproteins or derived prote ns. (3) Diffuse scattering is more easily measured and can bc used to study molecular flexibility. This book deals with; tt e fundamental of macromolecular crystallography; sources a~ d properties of SR; SR instrumentation; monochromatic d; ta collection; SR Laue method; diffuse X-ray scattering; vi riable wave length; applications to viruses and ribosomes. A very interesting account of an important development. Nutritional Biochemistry 4: 1 pp. 1992. Cambridge
of the Vitamins By D. A. BENDER. University Press, f55.
T iere is much still to be understood about the role of vi .amins and their mechanism of action. For example why should thiamin deficiency result in fatal neuritis and heart fatlure; riboflavin deficiency result in cracking of the skin of the lips and tongue; niacin deficiency result in photosensitive dermatitis, and depressive psychosis? Why is thiamin defici:ncy in the Far East associated with peripheral neuritis w iilst in the U.S.A. it has mainlv CNS effects? This book s~,rveys in detail the chemistry, metabolism, requirements aid recommendations, role in nutrition and health, deficis:ncy diseases, pharmacology, toxicity, of each of the vi amins in turn. A very useful detailed scientific book. Metals in Biological Systems. By M. J. KENDRICK, M. T. MAY, M. J. PLISHKA and K. D. ROBINSON. 183 pp. 1992. Ellis H >rwood/Prentice Hall. New York. T’iis book provides the bio-inorganic chemistry approach to the study of the metal systems. In most systems the ground st,tte of the catalyst is altered sterically or electronically to yit:ld a higher energy state. This ground state is close to the activated complex so that one can overcome the activation barrier without lowering the energy of activation. The enstatic state shows an increase in energy of the ground state, called the strain energy. The chapters deal with structural
621
and physical methods of characterizing metal centers in nature; the role of the different elements in biological systems; calcium, magnesium, sodium, cobalt, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, aluminium, chromium, zinc, nickel; drugs containing inorganic elements (Ag, Hg, Au, B, Ca, Co, Cu, F, Fe, Gd, Li, N, Pt. Sn, Tc). Inducible Plant Proteins; their Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Edited by J. L. WRAY. Society for Experimental Biology Seminar Series No. 49. 309 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. f45, $89.95. The use of antisense RNA to downregulate the synthesis of specific target enzyme is discussed in this volume in relation to nitrate reduction, heat shock proteins, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and fruit ripening. In many cases induction of a protein is due to activation of gene expression as measured by the increased steady state levels of mRNA but in some cases, such as nitrogen reductase, post transcriptional events are important. Other topics discussed are metal binding proteins, phosphate starvation inducible enzymes and proteins; inducibility of glutamine synthetase molecular biology of CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism); ethylene synthesis and fruit ripening; induction of nodulin genes and root nodule symbiosis; molecular biology of the anaerobic response; cold inducible enzymes. The Design of Drugs to Macromolecular Target-Edited by C. BEDDELL. 287 pp. 1992. Wiley, Chichester, U.K. f60. Routine screening, chemical insight and intuition, background knowledge, intelligence, perseverance and luck, still play a major role in the development of new drugs. The development of X-ray analysis of receptor structures, and computer modelling has given a more rational method for the design of new drugs. This volume discusses; the role of macromolecules in drug action; ligand fitting methodology; compounds designed to bind to haemoglobin; drug interactions with target enzymes of known structure; multiple modes of binding of thyroid hormones and other iodothyronines to human plasma transthyretin; computer modelling of drug-DNA intercalative interactions; crystallographic investigations of glycolytic enzymes from Trypanosoma 4esign of new sleeping sickness drugs; drug discovery and invention-some approaches compared. Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy; Focus on GABA-B Receptors-Edited by C. MARESCAUX, M. VERGNES and R. BERNASCONI. 198 pp. 1992. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 110. Supplement 35 to Journal of Neural Transmission. The most dramatic forms of epilepsy are those involving the motor cortex when the patient shows violet convulsions. However all areas of the cortex can be subject to abnormal electrical activity and the state of epilepsy that follows can be sensory, associational, or behavioural. This volume deals mainly with absence seizures. Absence seizures (AS) are a sudden interruption of activity, a vacant stare, inability to answer questions, and no subsequent recollection of events that occurred during the seizure. The attack usually lasts from 3-10 sec. The topics discussed in this volume are; pharmacological models of AS in rodents; the tottering mouse as a model; rats that show genetic AS; cortical thalamic lesions in rats with genetic AS; role of the thalamic reticular nucleus; responses to NMDA; inhibitory control of the substantia nigra; 2-DG mapping the rat cortex during genetic AS; role of GABA and GABA-B receptors; GABA-B antagonists [CGP 353481; GABA receptors in rats with genetic AS.
modulation
of carcinogenesis
by anti-
Hypoxia, Metabolic Acidosis and the Circulatiorr-Edited by A. I. ARIEFF. 215 pp. 1992. Oxford University Press, New York. f45. American Physiological Society Clinical Physiology Series. T11e heart, lungs, and blood vessels are affected by hypoxia (IQ to differing extents. This volume discusses; circulatory regulation during H; regulation of myocardial blood flow; acid base status and blood lactate at extreme altitude; effects ot H on normal and hypertrophied hearts; pathophysiology of defects in lactate disposal; acidosis and pulmonary circula:ion; pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis with H; effects of SCdium bicarbonate on myocardial metabolism; alkalinizing atents for treatment of cardiac arrest; therapy of lactate at idosis-alternatives to sodium bicarbonate. M acromolecular Crystallography with Synchrotron Radiation. By J. R. HELLIWELL. 595 pp. 1992. Cambridge Universi y Press, Cambridge. $165. Tie three advantages of using synchrotron radiation (SR) fc r X-ray analysis of crystal structure are: (1) The high intensity, variable wave length (polychromatic), finely collimated beam can be used in the Laue method where the crystal is not rotated and the broad band of wavelengths at high intensity allow a very large number of reflections to be recorded in a short time. This can be used for quantitative st ucture analysis, kinetic studies and the analysis of structural perturbations. (2) The variable wave length can be used fc r phase determination of metalloproteins or derived prote ns. (3) Diffuse scattering is more easily measured and can bc used to study molecular flexibility. This book deals with; tt e fundamental of macromolecular crystallography; sources a~ d properties of SR; SR instrumentation; monochromatic d; ta collection; SR Laue method; diffuse X-ray scattering; vi riable wave length; applications to viruses and ribosomes. A very interesting account of an important development. Nutritional Biochemistry 4: 1 pp. 1992. Cambridge
of the Vitamins By D. A. BENDER. University Press, f55.
T iere is much still to be understood about the role of vi .amins and their mechanism of action. For example why should thiamin deficiency result in fatal neuritis and heart fatlure; riboflavin deficiency result in cracking of the skin of the lips and tongue; niacin deficiency result in photosensitive dermatitis, and depressive psychosis? Why is thiamin defici:ncy in the Far East associated with peripheral neuritis w iilst in the U.S.A. it has mainlv CNS effects? This book s~,rveys in detail the chemistry, metabolism, requirements aid recommendations, role in nutrition and health, deficis:ncy diseases, pharmacology, toxicity, of each of the vi amins in turn. A very useful detailed scientific book. Metals in Biological Systems. By M. J. KENDRICK, M. T. MAY, M. J. PLISHKA and K. D. ROBINSON. 183 pp. 1992. Ellis H >rwood/Prentice Hall. New York. T’iis book provides the bio-inorganic chemistry approach to the study of the metal systems. In most systems the ground st,tte of the catalyst is altered sterically or electronically to yit:ld a higher energy state. This ground state is close to the activated complex so that one can overcome the activation barrier without lowering the energy of activation. The enstatic state shows an increase in energy of the ground state, called the strain energy. The chapters deal with structural
621
and physical methods of characterizing metal centers in nature; the role of the different elements in biological systems; calcium, magnesium, sodium, cobalt, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, aluminium, chromium, zinc, nickel; drugs containing inorganic elements (Ag, Hg, Au, B, Ca, Co, Cu, F, Fe, Gd, Li, N, Pt. Sn, Tc). Inducible Plant Proteins; their Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Edited by J. L. WRAY. Society for Experimental Biology Seminar Series No. 49. 309 pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. f45, $89.95. The use of antisense RNA to downregulate the synthesis of specific target enzyme is discussed in this volume in relation to nitrate reduction, heat shock proteins, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and fruit ripening. In many cases induction of a protein is due to activation of gene expression as measured by the increased steady state levels of mRNA but in some cases, such as nitrogen reductase, post transcriptional events are important. Other topics discussed are metal binding proteins, phosphate starvation inducible enzymes and proteins; inducibility of glutamine synthetase molecular biology of CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism); ethylene synthesis and fruit ripening; induction of nodulin genes and root nodule symbiosis; molecular biology of the anaerobic response; cold inducible enzymes. The Design of Drugs to Macromolecular Target-Edited by C. BEDDELL. 287 pp. 1992. Wiley, Chichester, U.K. f60. Routine screening, chemical insight and intuition, background knowledge, intelligence, perseverance and luck, still play a major role in the development of new drugs. The development of X-ray analysis of receptor structures, and computer modelling has given a more rational method for the design of new drugs. This volume discusses; the role of macromolecules in drug action; ligand fitting methodology; compounds designed to bind to haemoglobin; drug interactions with target enzymes of known structure; multiple modes of binding of thyroid hormones and other iodothyronines to human plasma transthyretin; computer modelling of drug-DNA intercalative interactions; crystallographic investigations of glycolytic enzymes from Trypanosoma 4esign of new sleeping sickness drugs; drug discovery and invention-some approaches compared. Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy; Focus on GABA-B Receptors-Edited by C. MARESCAUX, M. VERGNES and R. BERNASCONI. 198 pp. 1992. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 110. Supplement 35 to Journal of Neural Transmission. The most dramatic forms of epilepsy are those involving the motor cortex when the patient shows violet convulsions. However all areas of the cortex can be subject to abnormal electrical activity and the state of epilepsy that follows can be sensory, associational, or behavioural. This volume deals mainly with absence seizures. Absence seizures (AS) are a sudden interruption of activity, a vacant stare, inability to answer questions, and no subsequent recollection of events that occurred during the seizure. The attack usually lasts from 3-10 sec. The topics discussed in this volume are; pharmacological models of AS in rodents; the tottering mouse as a model; rats that show genetic AS; cortical thalamic lesions in rats with genetic AS; role of the thalamic reticular nucleus; responses to NMDA; inhibitory control of the substantia nigra; 2-DG mapping the rat cortex during genetic AS; role of GABA and GABA-B receptors; GABA-B antagonists [CGP 353481; GABA receptors in rats with genetic AS.