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Microscopy, optical spectroscopy and macroscopic techniques methods in molecular biology vol 22
219
Biochemistry, Second Edition by L A M o r a n , K G Scrimageour, H R H o r t o n , R S Ochs and J D R a w n . pp 1311. Neil Patterson Publishers, distributed by Prentice Hall Inc. 1994. $70 ISBN 0-13-814443-5 This is a well-written and handsomely-illustrated textbook of Biochemistry that should prove useful in courses at a variety of levels and for which a condensed ("principles") text is inappropriate. Its organization is conventional, proceeding from protein chemistry via enzymology to metabolism and, finally, biological information. On the other hand, its history and its authorship are distinctly unconventional: of the five authors, the first two listed above are described in the Preface as actually having written the book, whereas the remaining three were authors of previous texts that were, in some fashion, progenitors of the present one, having served as sources of "information, ideas and narrative". In addition, drafts of seven chapters were actually written by six other scholars (whose names are listed on page v but neither on the title page nor at the beginnings of the respective chapters), so that this project is distinguished by authors that did not write, and writers not considered to be authors. The history of the book is likewise somewhat confusing. It is presented as the second edition of Rawn's 1989 book, but retains little save inclusion of a number of stereoscopic illustrations of molecular structures. On the other hand, it appears much more like a greatly-enlarged version of the 1993 Principles of Biochemistry by the same collection of authors. Perhaps the publisher found it unseemly to have produced the short version before the long one, a concern that appears unfounded as both versions possess many virtues. Whereas principles of global organization do not set this textbook apart from most others in its market, the clarity of its writing and the appropriateness of its illustration program do. Difficult areas are presented in a fashion that should be accessible to most students. For instance, the discussion of the mechanism of enzyme catalysis is uncommonly complete and lucid, particularly so because it considers the elements of catalysis in a quantitative fashion. Because the book is relatively encyclopedic, it enjoys the luxury of completeness and, in the case of enzyme mechanisms among others, this completeness leads to the impression of satisfactory closure, rather than a mere heaping-up of detail. Enzymes are described in three chapters (a total of 133 pages). The last of these is devoted entirely to coenzymes, a topic that is often (and inappropriately) treated in an ad hoc basis and spread out all over the metabolic sections of other texts. Similarly, I would single out the discussion of bioenergetics as setting this book apart from much of its competition. Again, the writing is clear, perhaps because the chemiosmotic viewpoint is set forth prior to discussion of the respiratory chain and phosphoryl-transfer enzymology, giving these topics a solid context. It is also pleasant to encounter an account of chemiosmosis finally devoid of any lingering sense that the theory is just a bit disreputable. And finally, it is extremely pleasant to discover in this book, the abandonment of the integral 'theoretical' ATP/O ratios which have been the source of so much confusion over the years and which, like much folly, has a way of persisting in textbooks. The remainder of the book seems equally clear and timely. I would point to the sections on DNA-binding proteins and on DNA repair as particularly felicitious examples of the marriage of text and illustration, and of the appropriate incorporation of the most recent material. The success of textbooks seldom depends upon such peripheral features as lists of readings, chapter-end problem sets, and glossaries, but here it is interesting that such things appear to be 'taken seriously. The readings are well-chosen and mostly quite
BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
22(4) 1994
recent and the lists are helpfully arranged by subject. Chapter problems, a dictionary of biochemical terms, chapter summaries and various other odds-and-ends are placed in a separate 'Biochemistry Resource Book' which is provided with the text at no additional cost. Indeed, the resource book even includes a pair of spectacles to be used in viewing the stereoscopic illustrations mentioned above. In addition, professors who adopt the book may receive a computer disk supplement that allows manipulation of biochemically-interesting three-dimensional structures, so that these can also be made available to students. Clearly, purchase of a thirteen-hundred page textbook is only the beginning. Finally, I should confess to some doubts about the value of many of the stereoscopic illustrations (especially if special spectacles are required) and even about the utility of the manipulatable molecular structures on disk, although, clearly, the publisher places great store in such features. I think that students will benefit more from the high quality of writing and the excellent and apt illustrations. The authors (whoever they may be) have made difficult topics clear and have brought interest to areas, for example, in metabolism, where others have seldom managed to do so. This appears to me to be a very useful book. John L Howland
Microscopy, Optical Spectroscopy and Macroscopic Techniques Methods in Molecular Biology Vol 22 E d i t e d by C Jones, B Mulley and A H T h o m a s . pp 251. T h e H u m a n a Press, T o t o w a , NJ. 1994. $49.50 ISBN 0-89603-232-9 This book has four sections: (1) Microscopy; (2) Scattering and Sedimentation; (3) Colorimetric Methods and (4) Optical Spectroscopy, each of these sections containing 3-5 short chapters. I would not want to get into an argument as to whether these really are the techniques of molecular biology, but I would argue with the blurb on the back cover that claim that this "superb s u r v e y . . , is designed for the practising biochemist or biologist who wants to use the technique but lacks the experience". I rather doubt that this book will give you 'the experience' required to make much progress with FTIR or equilibrium centrifugation or CD. What it will do is give you a start: after that the best thing is to consult a professional user. In fact, there is not much more here than is to be found in any of a dozen standard texts, although there may be some advantage in having the various techniques collected together. It is not a very clear advantage to me, and there is no common thread running through the volume. The various chapters give some theory (some more than others) and some experimental detail, but even those who still want to do ultracentrifugation on the new Beckman machine will do better with the manufacturer's literature. What was most seriously lacking, for me, was a comprehensive view of what information was available by the use of the various techniques. This is not one of the better volumes in this series. It attempts the impossible and fills the gap on the shelf between volumes 21 and 23. It may be of use for lecturers preparing lectures and students writing essays, but these are better served by books that set problems to give practice. A Burley
Biochemistry, Second Edition by L A M o r a n , K G Scrimageour, H R H o r t o n , R S Ochs and J D R a w n . pp 1311. Neil Patterson Publishers, distributed by Prentice Hall Inc. 1994. $70 ISBN 0-13-814443-5 This is a well-written and handsomely-illustrated textbook of Biochemistry that should prove useful in courses at a variety of levels and for which a condensed ("principles") text is inappropriate. Its organization is conventional, proceeding from protein chemistry via enzymology to metabolism and, finally, biological information. On the other hand, its history and its authorship are distinctly unconventional: of the five authors, the first two listed above are described in the Preface as actually having written the book, whereas the remaining three were authors of previous texts that were, in some fashion, progenitors of the present one, having served as sources of "information, ideas and narrative". In addition, drafts of seven chapters were actually written by six other scholars (whose names are listed on page v but neither on the title page nor at the beginnings of the respective chapters), so that this project is distinguished by authors that did not write, and writers not considered to be authors. The history of the book is likewise somewhat confusing. It is presented as the second edition of Rawn's 1989 book, but retains little save inclusion of a number of stereoscopic illustrations of molecular structures. On the other hand, it appears much more like a greatly-enlarged version of the 1993 Principles of Biochemistry by the same collection of authors. Perhaps the publisher found it unseemly to have produced the short version before the long one, a concern that appears unfounded as both versions possess many virtues. Whereas principles of global organization do not set this textbook apart from most others in its market, the clarity of its writing and the appropriateness of its illustration program do. Difficult areas are presented in a fashion that should be accessible to most students. For instance, the discussion of the mechanism of enzyme catalysis is uncommonly complete and lucid, particularly so because it considers the elements of catalysis in a quantitative fashion. Because the book is relatively encyclopedic, it enjoys the luxury of completeness and, in the case of enzyme mechanisms among others, this completeness leads to the impression of satisfactory closure, rather than a mere heaping-up of detail. Enzymes are described in three chapters (a total of 133 pages). The last of these is devoted entirely to coenzymes, a topic that is often (and inappropriately) treated in an ad hoc basis and spread out all over the metabolic sections of other texts. Similarly, I would single out the discussion of bioenergetics as setting this book apart from much of its competition. Again, the writing is clear, perhaps because the chemiosmotic viewpoint is set forth prior to discussion of the respiratory chain and phosphoryl-transfer enzymology, giving these topics a solid context. It is also pleasant to encounter an account of chemiosmosis finally devoid of any lingering sense that the theory is just a bit disreputable. And finally, it is extremely pleasant to discover in this book, the abandonment of the integral 'theoretical' ATP/O ratios which have been the source of so much confusion over the years and which, like much folly, has a way of persisting in textbooks. The remainder of the book seems equally clear and timely. I would point to the sections on DNA-binding proteins and on DNA repair as particularly felicitious examples of the marriage of text and illustration, and of the appropriate incorporation of the most recent material. The success of textbooks seldom depends upon such peripheral features as lists of readings, chapter-end problem sets, and glossaries, but here it is interesting that such things appear to be 'taken seriously. The readings are well-chosen and mostly quite
BIOCHEMICAL
EDUCATION
22(4) 1994
recent and the lists are helpfully arranged by subject. Chapter problems, a dictionary of biochemical terms, chapter summaries and various other odds-and-ends are placed in a separate 'Biochemistry Resource Book' which is provided with the text at no additional cost. Indeed, the resource book even includes a pair of spectacles to be used in viewing the stereoscopic illustrations mentioned above. In addition, professors who adopt the book may receive a computer disk supplement that allows manipulation of biochemically-interesting three-dimensional structures, so that these can also be made available to students. Clearly, purchase of a thirteen-hundred page textbook is only the beginning. Finally, I should confess to some doubts about the value of many of the stereoscopic illustrations (especially if special spectacles are required) and even about the utility of the manipulatable molecular structures on disk, although, clearly, the publisher places great store in such features. I think that students will benefit more from the high quality of writing and the excellent and apt illustrations. The authors (whoever they may be) have made difficult topics clear and have brought interest to areas, for example, in metabolism, where others have seldom managed to do so. This appears to me to be a very useful book. John L Howland
Microscopy, Optical Spectroscopy and Macroscopic Techniques Methods in Molecular Biology Vol 22 E d i t e d by C Jones, B Mulley and A H T h o m a s . pp 251. T h e H u m a n a Press, T o t o w a , NJ. 1994. $49.50 ISBN 0-89603-232-9 This book has four sections: (1) Microscopy; (2) Scattering and Sedimentation; (3) Colorimetric Methods and (4) Optical Spectroscopy, each of these sections containing 3-5 short chapters. I would not want to get into an argument as to whether these really are the techniques of molecular biology, but I would argue with the blurb on the back cover that claim that this "superb s u r v e y . . , is designed for the practising biochemist or biologist who wants to use the technique but lacks the experience". I rather doubt that this book will give you 'the experience' required to make much progress with FTIR or equilibrium centrifugation or CD. What it will do is give you a start: after that the best thing is to consult a professional user. In fact, there is not much more here than is to be found in any of a dozen standard texts, although there may be some advantage in having the various techniques collected together. It is not a very clear advantage to me, and there is no common thread running through the volume. The various chapters give some theory (some more than others) and some experimental detail, but even those who still want to do ultracentrifugation on the new Beckman machine will do better with the manufacturer's literature. What was most seriously lacking, for me, was a comprehensive view of what information was available by the use of the various techniques. This is not one of the better volumes in this series. It attempts the impossible and fills the gap on the shelf between volumes 21 and 23. It may be of use for lecturers preparing lectures and students writing essays, but these are better served by books that set problems to give practice. A Burley