- Email: [email protected]
Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, vol. 3. Advances with Zonal Rotors
18
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, vol. 3. Advances with Zonal Rotors Edited by Erid Reid. Longman, 1973. Pp 273. £3.00. This is the third volume in a series of reasonably priced collections of short articles on Analytical Biochemistry compiled by the Wolfson Bioanalytical Centre of the University of Surrey. The second volume ("Preparati~,e Techniques") was reviewed in an earlier issue of this journal (BiochemicalEducation, 1973, l, 83). In his introduction to the present volume, Dr. Reid refers to the first volume in the series ("Separations with Zonal Rotors") and explains that this volume complements the earlier one. However the cross-references to volume 1 are minimal and this book, which is based on a Symposium held in December 1971, is useful and comprehensive enough to stand in its own right. For the uninitiated, the zonal rotor is a device for doing large scale zonal separations, normally employing sucrose gradients. The rotor is essentially a cylinder rotating on its axis and containing a radial gradient. A sample introduced into a central region of the gradient sediments and fractions form annuli in the body of the gradient. Resolution is greater than in a conventional swinging-tube rotor and the capacities of the rotors (up to 11) are considerable. Of the 30 articles in this book, it is difficult to select highlights for a short review. However the theoretical discussion of zone stability by Meuwissen justifies the book in itself as it is an important contribution to the central problem of preparative centrifucation. Steensgard's papers illustrate the application of theoretical considerations, in particular the hydrodynamic parameters of multi-component systems, to separatory problems. The potential use of flow-through zonal rotors for harvesting particles from dilute suspension is of importance. The papers by G.B. Cline and his colleagues nicely illustrate the technique. His work with Elaine M. Ryel, reported in this book, on the purification of insect viruses should be of interest to any virologist. Altogether a worthwhile addition to any biochemical library and a useful and convenient treatise for university teachers of molecular biology to acquaint themselves with an important preparative and analytical technique. J.H. Parish
Somatic Cell Hybridization: studies on genetics and development By Richard L. Davidson. Pp. 38. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. 1973. $1.00 (paperback). This Essay is No. 3 in a series of "Modules in Biology" which is an interesting publishing enterprise. Each Module is an original publication and appears first as a separate module. Most Modules will be reissued at least once in a collection such as the series of volumes entitled "Current Topics in Biology"; many modules will appear in several collections. Apart from the Module under review there are several that should be of real value to biochemists, such as "Regulation of messenger RNA translation in development; the critical role of transfer RNA by J. llan", and "Mitochondria: Molecular biology, genetics and development by H.R. Mahler". The author of the module on somatic cell hybridization has made valuable contributions to this exciting field with B. Ephrussi and others. He provides in a few well-illustrated pages a good account of the methodology and achievements of the technique and an indication of its future potential. Somatic cell hydridization refers to the fusion of somatic cells of different types, resulting in the formation of a single cell which contains the genetic complements of the "parental" cells. When the chromosome complements of the parental cells are incor-
January 1974 Vol. 2 No. 1
porated into a single nucleus after fusion, the new mononucleate cell is called a hybrid. One can use cells of different species and the hybrids can survive and multiply. A study of homologous enzymes may be used as examples of in-built genetic markers. Thus malate dehydrogenase has been studied in Syrian hamster x mouse hybrids. Each parental cell makes one form of MDH and the migration rates of the mouse and hamster enzymes are sufficiently different that the parental forms can be separated by electrophoresis. In fact three enzymes are found, one from each pare.nt .and one made up of subunits from each. Thus one obtains not only information on gene activity but also evidence on enzyme structure. In addition to hybrids that multiply one may also obtain fusion of cells in which the nuclei do not fuse. These cells are called heterokaryons and these are particularly valuable for the study of the events that occur soon after fusion and to examine the activities of the two nuclei. Harris and his colleagues have exploited the potential of these heterokaryons. The essay contains extensive references to the literature and must be counted esse,tial reading for anyone interested in the field. At the published price, it should result in many converts. P.N. Campbell
Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence By E. Fredericq and C. Houssier. Clarendon Press: Oxford University Press. £7.00. Pp 219. (1973). "Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence" is the latest in the series "Monographs in Physical Biochemistry" which aims to introduce final year undergraduates in biochemistry and chemistry, graduate students, and research scientists to physical biochemistry. In this series, accounts will be given of the application of a number of physico-chemical methods to the study of mactomolecules of biological significance. The electro-optical methods described in this volume can generate information, for example, about the dynamics of the motion of macromolecules in solution, the distribution of charged groups within molecules or complexes, the internal flexibility of macromolecules, and the mechanisms of macromolecular association-dissociation phenomena. Although these methods have been discussed in a number of review articles in recent years, this is by far the most detailed exposition to date. The theoretical sections introduce the reader gently into the subject, and care has obviously been taken to ensure that the mathematics should not overpower the student biochemist. The experimental sections are similarly thoughtfully and thoroughly presented, with many of those useful details which are usually omitted in published papers. The authors point out that one of the major barriers to the wider use of electro-optical methods is the lack of a suitable commercially-available instrument, and they seek to remedy the situation somewhat by describing in detail the adaption of a manual spectrophotometer. Many applications of Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence to biological systems are discussed relating, for example, to nucleic acids, viruses, fibrous and globular proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic polypeptides. Overall this book is extremely well written and well presented, and will be considerable value to research workers interested in the dynamics of macromolecules. However, as a source of general information for students of biochemistry, it is probably too physically-oriented and specialised, and at £7 for 200 pages is somewhat pricey. A. Suggett Unilevel Research, Cotworth/Welwyn Laboratory, Bedford, U.K.
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, vol. 3. Advances with Zonal Rotors Edited by Erid Reid. Longman, 1973. Pp 273. £3.00. This is the third volume in a series of reasonably priced collections of short articles on Analytical Biochemistry compiled by the Wolfson Bioanalytical Centre of the University of Surrey. The second volume ("Preparati~,e Techniques") was reviewed in an earlier issue of this journal (BiochemicalEducation, 1973, l, 83). In his introduction to the present volume, Dr. Reid refers to the first volume in the series ("Separations with Zonal Rotors") and explains that this volume complements the earlier one. However the cross-references to volume 1 are minimal and this book, which is based on a Symposium held in December 1971, is useful and comprehensive enough to stand in its own right. For the uninitiated, the zonal rotor is a device for doing large scale zonal separations, normally employing sucrose gradients. The rotor is essentially a cylinder rotating on its axis and containing a radial gradient. A sample introduced into a central region of the gradient sediments and fractions form annuli in the body of the gradient. Resolution is greater than in a conventional swinging-tube rotor and the capacities of the rotors (up to 11) are considerable. Of the 30 articles in this book, it is difficult to select highlights for a short review. However the theoretical discussion of zone stability by Meuwissen justifies the book in itself as it is an important contribution to the central problem of preparative centrifucation. Steensgard's papers illustrate the application of theoretical considerations, in particular the hydrodynamic parameters of multi-component systems, to separatory problems. The potential use of flow-through zonal rotors for harvesting particles from dilute suspension is of importance. The papers by G.B. Cline and his colleagues nicely illustrate the technique. His work with Elaine M. Ryel, reported in this book, on the purification of insect viruses should be of interest to any virologist. Altogether a worthwhile addition to any biochemical library and a useful and convenient treatise for university teachers of molecular biology to acquaint themselves with an important preparative and analytical technique. J.H. Parish
Somatic Cell Hybridization: studies on genetics and development By Richard L. Davidson. Pp. 38. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. 1973. $1.00 (paperback). This Essay is No. 3 in a series of "Modules in Biology" which is an interesting publishing enterprise. Each Module is an original publication and appears first as a separate module. Most Modules will be reissued at least once in a collection such as the series of volumes entitled "Current Topics in Biology"; many modules will appear in several collections. Apart from the Module under review there are several that should be of real value to biochemists, such as "Regulation of messenger RNA translation in development; the critical role of transfer RNA by J. llan", and "Mitochondria: Molecular biology, genetics and development by H.R. Mahler". The author of the module on somatic cell hybridization has made valuable contributions to this exciting field with B. Ephrussi and others. He provides in a few well-illustrated pages a good account of the methodology and achievements of the technique and an indication of its future potential. Somatic cell hydridization refers to the fusion of somatic cells of different types, resulting in the formation of a single cell which contains the genetic complements of the "parental" cells. When the chromosome complements of the parental cells are incor-
January 1974 Vol. 2 No. 1
porated into a single nucleus after fusion, the new mononucleate cell is called a hybrid. One can use cells of different species and the hybrids can survive and multiply. A study of homologous enzymes may be used as examples of in-built genetic markers. Thus malate dehydrogenase has been studied in Syrian hamster x mouse hybrids. Each parental cell makes one form of MDH and the migration rates of the mouse and hamster enzymes are sufficiently different that the parental forms can be separated by electrophoresis. In fact three enzymes are found, one from each pare.nt .and one made up of subunits from each. Thus one obtains not only information on gene activity but also evidence on enzyme structure. In addition to hybrids that multiply one may also obtain fusion of cells in which the nuclei do not fuse. These cells are called heterokaryons and these are particularly valuable for the study of the events that occur soon after fusion and to examine the activities of the two nuclei. Harris and his colleagues have exploited the potential of these heterokaryons. The essay contains extensive references to the literature and must be counted esse,tial reading for anyone interested in the field. At the published price, it should result in many converts. P.N. Campbell
Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence By E. Fredericq and C. Houssier. Clarendon Press: Oxford University Press. £7.00. Pp 219. (1973). "Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence" is the latest in the series "Monographs in Physical Biochemistry" which aims to introduce final year undergraduates in biochemistry and chemistry, graduate students, and research scientists to physical biochemistry. In this series, accounts will be given of the application of a number of physico-chemical methods to the study of mactomolecules of biological significance. The electro-optical methods described in this volume can generate information, for example, about the dynamics of the motion of macromolecules in solution, the distribution of charged groups within molecules or complexes, the internal flexibility of macromolecules, and the mechanisms of macromolecular association-dissociation phenomena. Although these methods have been discussed in a number of review articles in recent years, this is by far the most detailed exposition to date. The theoretical sections introduce the reader gently into the subject, and care has obviously been taken to ensure that the mathematics should not overpower the student biochemist. The experimental sections are similarly thoughtfully and thoroughly presented, with many of those useful details which are usually omitted in published papers. The authors point out that one of the major barriers to the wider use of electro-optical methods is the lack of a suitable commercially-available instrument, and they seek to remedy the situation somewhat by describing in detail the adaption of a manual spectrophotometer. Many applications of Electric Dichroism and Electric Birefringence to biological systems are discussed relating, for example, to nucleic acids, viruses, fibrous and globular proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic polypeptides. Overall this book is extremely well written and well presented, and will be considerable value to research workers interested in the dynamics of macromolecules. However, as a source of general information for students of biochemistry, it is probably too physically-oriented and specialised, and at £7 for 200 pages is somewhat pricey. A. Suggett Unilevel Research, Cotworth/Welwyn Laboratory, Bedford, U.K.