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Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 116, Protein Lipidation Protocols. Edited by Michael H. Gelb. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 1999, 240 pp
Analytical Biochemistry 285, 281 (2000) All articles available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
BOOK REVIEWS High-Resolution Chromatography—A Practical Approach. Edited by Paul Millner. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1999. 307 pp. The first third of the text is devoted to general principles of chromatography with chapters on separation mechanisms, microbore columns (i.e., columns ⬍1 mm), detectors, and capillary electrophoresis. Surprisingly little coverage is given to the more conventional analytical HPLC methods using 2- to 4-mm-diameter columns. While specific examples are given for many macromolecules, no coverage is given to the quantitative HPLC analysis of small molecules (amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleic acid, small peptides, fatty acids). While these introductory chapters might be of limited use to the undergraduate student just starting a career in analytical biochemistry, they are too superficial to be useful to the specialist.
The remaining two-thirds of the text addresses the use of affinity chromatography for preparative applications. Specific chapters cover the use of lectins (mostly oligosaccharides), nucleotides, peptides, drugs, Ca 2⫹-binding proteins, and DNA-binding proteins, all of which are bonded to the stationary phase. In the chapter on proteins bonded to the stationary phase, excellent coverage is given to both the commercially available chemically activated stationary phases and detailed steps of how to carry out the linking chemistry for a wide variety of functional groups. In short, the text should be of considerable use to those wishing to enter the area of affinity chromatography, but it would be of little use to those seeking a broad coverage of HPLC methods for biochemistry. John K. Baker Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fort Worth, Texas doi:10.1006/abio.2000.4758
Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 116, Protein Lipidation Protocols. Edited by Michael H. Gelb. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 1999, 240 pp. Protein Lipidation Protocols is a compilation of 17 chapters written by experts in the field describing methods for study of the lipid modifications of proteins. This form of posttranslational modification occurs in a few thousand proteins and serves to target proteins to cellular membranes, direct protein–protein interactions, and may stabilize protein structure. Investigators interested in the analysis of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) synthesis, distribution of GPIanchored proteins in cellular membranes, and carbohydrate components of GPI structures will find chapters on these topics useful. Those interested in examining protein prenylation through radiolabeling and fluorescence techniques, prenyltransferases activities, and the role of protein prenylation in signaling functions will also find this book useful. Finally, those interested in methods for preparation and assay of myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase,
metabolically labeling and analyzing acylated proteins, and examining an enzyme that cleaves fatty acyl groups from proteins will find the last few chapters of the book useful. There is a good mix of protein lipidation methodology using both mammalian cells and yeast. The introduction section and concluding remarks section found in each of the chapters provide cohesiveness to the book and an appropriate context in which the methodology is utilized. Readers will find the systematic description of methods, illustration of structures, tables, and figures, along with comments on optimizing the methods for use in other systems, very useful. Overall, this excellent book will facilitate studies on the lipidation of proteins. It should be useful to both beginning and experienced investigators in the field. George M. Carman Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey doi:10.1006/abio.2000.4759
0003-2697/00 $35.00 Copyright © 2000 by Academic Press All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
281
BOOK REVIEWS High-Resolution Chromatography—A Practical Approach. Edited by Paul Millner. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1999. 307 pp. The first third of the text is devoted to general principles of chromatography with chapters on separation mechanisms, microbore columns (i.e., columns ⬍1 mm), detectors, and capillary electrophoresis. Surprisingly little coverage is given to the more conventional analytical HPLC methods using 2- to 4-mm-diameter columns. While specific examples are given for many macromolecules, no coverage is given to the quantitative HPLC analysis of small molecules (amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleic acid, small peptides, fatty acids). While these introductory chapters might be of limited use to the undergraduate student just starting a career in analytical biochemistry, they are too superficial to be useful to the specialist.
The remaining two-thirds of the text addresses the use of affinity chromatography for preparative applications. Specific chapters cover the use of lectins (mostly oligosaccharides), nucleotides, peptides, drugs, Ca 2⫹-binding proteins, and DNA-binding proteins, all of which are bonded to the stationary phase. In the chapter on proteins bonded to the stationary phase, excellent coverage is given to both the commercially available chemically activated stationary phases and detailed steps of how to carry out the linking chemistry for a wide variety of functional groups. In short, the text should be of considerable use to those wishing to enter the area of affinity chromatography, but it would be of little use to those seeking a broad coverage of HPLC methods for biochemistry. John K. Baker Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fort Worth, Texas doi:10.1006/abio.2000.4758
Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 116, Protein Lipidation Protocols. Edited by Michael H. Gelb. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 1999, 240 pp. Protein Lipidation Protocols is a compilation of 17 chapters written by experts in the field describing methods for study of the lipid modifications of proteins. This form of posttranslational modification occurs in a few thousand proteins and serves to target proteins to cellular membranes, direct protein–protein interactions, and may stabilize protein structure. Investigators interested in the analysis of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) synthesis, distribution of GPIanchored proteins in cellular membranes, and carbohydrate components of GPI structures will find chapters on these topics useful. Those interested in examining protein prenylation through radiolabeling and fluorescence techniques, prenyltransferases activities, and the role of protein prenylation in signaling functions will also find this book useful. Finally, those interested in methods for preparation and assay of myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase,
metabolically labeling and analyzing acylated proteins, and examining an enzyme that cleaves fatty acyl groups from proteins will find the last few chapters of the book useful. There is a good mix of protein lipidation methodology using both mammalian cells and yeast. The introduction section and concluding remarks section found in each of the chapters provide cohesiveness to the book and an appropriate context in which the methodology is utilized. Readers will find the systematic description of methods, illustration of structures, tables, and figures, along with comments on optimizing the methods for use in other systems, very useful. Overall, this excellent book will facilitate studies on the lipidation of proteins. It should be useful to both beginning and experienced investigators in the field. George M. Carman Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey doi:10.1006/abio.2000.4759
0003-2697/00 $35.00 Copyright © 2000 by Academic Press All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
281