Methods in protein sequence analysis

Methods in protein sequence analysis

226 TIBS -June 1983 Advances in protein sequencing Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis edited by Marshall Elzinga, The Humana Press, Inc., 1982. £...

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226

TIBS -June 1983

Advances in protein sequencing Methods in Protein Sequence Analysis

edited by Marshall Elzinga, The Humana Press, Inc., 1982. £46.00 (xxv + 589pages) ISBN 0 896 03038 5 This book contains the proceedings of a conference on methods in protein sequence analysis which can, in general, be recommended to researchers interested in this field; specialists in particular will find this book very useful. Since protein sequencing techniques have not advanced as rapidly as DNA sequencing (certainly in terms of accuracy, the number of sequence steps, speed, amount of material, etc. ), several principal developments have been expected. This book partly reflects the above aspects and at least indicates the directions in which future developments may lead. One of the approaches was seen in the fine tuning of the Edman degradation method; for example by using fluorescent reagents and the use of partial gas phase reagents, including

the design of a new sequenator. Several new modifications of the Edman degradation were shown also for extending the number of degradation steps and minimizing the quantity of protein needed to obtain a correct sequence. Apart from the Edman degradation, two principal approaches for protein sequencing were discussed: the use of restriction proteases and mass spectrometry. The latter method starts to become convincing as a generally applicable tool for protein sequencing with or without conventional techniques such as enzymatic degradation and/or the PTH method. The recent development of 'Fast Atom Bombardment' mass spectrometry may provide highly accurate sequences of peptides (molecular weights less than 3 000-4 000) on the nmol level. The high-pressure (performance) liquid chromatography techniques were well documented in peptide separation methods as well as in the identification of amino acid derivatives after Edman

Useful introduction to intraovarian control Intraovarian Control Mechanisms (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Vol. 147)

edited by Cornelia P. Channing and Sheldon J. Segal, Plenum Press, 1982. $49.50 (USA and Canada) $59.40 (elsewhere) (ix + 392 pages) 1SBN 0 306 41030 3 The control of fertility and population growth have been high on the priority lists of grant-giving bodies for some years, and one of the fastest-growing areas of research in reproductive biology recently has been the appreciation that locally produced proteins and peptides may control gonadal function. There have been a number of symposium collections devoted to this subject within the last four or five years, and lntraovarian Control Mechanisms falls into this category, being a compilation of articles presented at a conference at Bellagio in 1981. The introduction to the book states that 'Leaders in this field were invited and asked

to vigorously discuss the subject of intraovarian control mechanisms'. The authors are, indeed, eminent leaders in the field: however, most of these same authors have contributed to one or more of the other recent publications on this topic, giving one a distinct feeling ofd~jd vu in some places. Moreover, rather than a 'vigorous discussion' of the subject, the picture which emerges from the book is a hazy and very fluid 'state of the art' snapshot, with the authors seeming constantly confounded by a lack of solid, concrete data. This is due in large part to the practical and experimental difficulties which such work often entails, and the articles do give the reader a fascinating and valuable insight into some of the directions that a line of research has taken, of the progress made, and of the problems and frustrations encountered on the way. Of the twenty-one articles, six were concemed with the purification, properties and role of inhibin (or gonadostatin), a substance about which there seems to be little agreement, other than that it may play a role

degradation. As expected, DNA sequencing in combination with terminal protein sequencing was described in an educational way to those not familiar with this field. Again I should mention that the book gives good coverage to a wide range of subjects of current tendencies in protein chemistry and may indicate the leading principles in protein sequencing in the near future. Because of the variety of articles and the many references attached to them, this book will be useful to researchers in this field. Apart from scientific symbols (and this point may not be specific for this book), the variety of letter types includes several that are too small and unclear; this makes reading of articles in general and figures and tables in particular rather uncomfortable. Some of the articles from the poster sessions were badly presented, having poor, and in some cases no, references at all. A. TSUGITA European Molecular Biology Laborato~, 6900 Heidelberg, FRG.

in the regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland, and that its molecular weight (depending on the source and method of preparation) lies between 5 000 and 200 000. Four articles outline current research on the inhibition and maturation of the oocyte: three papers describe the properties of inhibitors of gonadotrophin binding and cell activation which can be partially purified from aqueous gonadal extracts; and two articles characterize the intragonadal actions of luteinizinghormone-releasing hormone and its agonists. The style of contributions inevitably ranges from the general overall view to articles with a high novel scientific content, and most are easy to read. The book will be of interest to those working in the fields of reproductive biology and fertility, and would be a useful introduction to a very interesting and important field. T. A. BRAMLEY

Departmentof Obstetricsand Gynaecology,Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 9EW, UK.