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Molecular aspects of cell biology
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Biochemistry by R H G a r r e t t a n d C M G r i s h a m . pp 1154. S a u n d e r s C o l l e g e Publishing: H a r c o u r t B r a c e , O r l a n d o , FL. 1995. £19.95 ISBN 0-03-009758-4 The latter half of this century has been characterized by an astounding rate of increase of our scientific understanding of living systems at cellular and molecular levels. Not only has this produced many benefits to human society but it also has contributed significant ways in which we look at ourselves, at all organisms in the biosphere, and at the biosphere itself. Since biochemistry has become the language of nearly all aspects of biology and a fundamental requirement for any understanding or discussion of life on Earth, it is not surprising that more and more students are studying biochemistry through courses taught in a large variety of biology, chemistry, life science or human science curricula. This makes the supply of well written textbooks a necessity. Garrett and Grisham's book is the latest such textbook to make its appearance. The arrival of a new textbook written by new authors is always an exciting event. It demands that the book be compared with those written by longer established authors while it holds out promise of novel and creative approaches to the presentation of topics which are well established and of the inclusion of novel or unusual material. Garrett and Grisham's book holds its own very well on these counts and is in fact better than some. Both authors of this very attractive and user-friendly book are at the University of Virginia. While Garrett is professor of biology, Grisham is professor of chemistry. Between them they have been teaching biochemistry within their disciplines for close to fifty years. The combination of their disciplinary backgrounds and diverse research interests find expression in a balanced and well integrated treatment of basic chemical and biological topics and of laboratory aspects and biological functions and applications. They write clearly, simply and with the learner in mind but, naturally, presuppose some knowledge of organic chemistry. While they focus on general principles, they are neither short nor too long on facts. Their historical approach to most topics emphasizes the evolution of biomolecular knowledge, the role of the availability of appropriate methodology, and the use of imaginative questioning in the elucidation of molecular problems. There are 33 chapters organized into four parts. The first deals with Molecular Components of Cells (10 chapters), the second with Enzymes and Energetics (6 chapters), the third with Metabolism and its Regulation (11 chapters) and the last with Genetic Information (6 chapters). These are uniformly written with flair and freshness and are profusely and colorfully illustrated. They are enriched by some sixty boxes of two types: Critical Developments in Biochemistry and A Deeper Look. There are some end-of-chapter questions and references for further reading. I am disappointed that Part V of this book (the last five chapters which deal with Molecular Aspects of Cell Biology) has been published separately as a paperback volume. The present book is incomplete without it. Enough space could have been found by better use of the 3 inch (7.5 cm) margin which is completely empty in a good 20% of pages, while quite a few margins contain only a dictionary item or a brief legend to a figure. Many of the smaller illustrations could have been moved from the text to these margins. Similarly, minor editing, removal of repetition, and slightly smaller spaces between end of sections and the following subheadings would also have contributed space so that the complete book need not have been appreciably larger than the present one. Absence of Part V denies the book such important aspects as Self-assembling Molecular Complexes, Membrane Transport, Muscle Contraction and Signal Transduction.
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 23(2) 1995
I was pleasantly surprised with how few things I found myself taking issue with. These included: errors of structure (eg the phytyl side chain of chlorophyll a, p 7; cycloserine, p 62); misstatements from lack of current information (eg the longest polypeptide contains up to 1800 residues, p 86; Marfan's syndrome is a collagen disorder, p 156; apo B-I(X) represented as a button on the surface of an LDL particle, p 794); a small number of misprints (pellagra is misspelt every time it is used on p 473); and some simple lapses (use of 'conformation' for 'configuration' in several places, and of 'cycles' for 'turns' in ~.oxidation, p 740 and elsewhere; identification of nucleosome with the octameric histone core structure, p 232 and p 233; involvement of debranching enzyme in breakdown of dietary glycogen and starch, p 671; and blank spaces for insulin and glucagon receptors, p 685 and p 772). That these should occur even though over 80 reviewers were involved in preparation of the text indicates how fallible an activity preparation of a textbook still is. That there are so few is a tribute to all those involved. This book deserves to be widely adopted. When the time comes for a second edition, I hope that Molecular Biology of the Cell will find its rightful place as an integral part of it. F Vella
Molecular Aspects of Cell Biology by R H G a r r e t t a n d C M G r i s h a m . p p 153. S a u n d e r s C o l l e g e P u b l i s h i n g , H a r c o u r t B r a c e , F o r t W o r t h . 1995 ISBN 0-03-007597-1 This constitutes Part V of the textbook by the same authors entitled Biochemistry (1995) about which I have already written (Biochem Educ 23 000, 1995). Although this little book can stand alone as a brief, lucid and up-to-date introduction to such topics in cell biology as the self-assembly of macromolecutar complexes, membrane transport, muscle contraction, the molecular basis of hormone action, and excitable membranes (with which its five chapters deal), it really is intended to complement and complete the four parts presented in the previous volume. This explains why the chapter numbering and pagination, for example, follow on from the other book. An index, glossary of terms and abbreviated answers to problems (also specific to the present five chapters) are included. As was to be expected, the writing, overall presentation and the art work (in its various forms) are impressive by their clarity and attractiveness. I found little that I would like to see changed or corrected: a couple of legends which are incomplete (p 1147, p 12{)9); four which need correction (on p 1148, gap junctions are shown as permitting transfer of nucleic acid and protein molecules; on p 1166, the spectrin repeat is represented as a five - - rather than a three - - helix cluster; on p 1168, connectin - - also known as titin - - is represented as enveloping the thick filaments of skeletal muscle; and on p 1178, the N to C direction of the orytocin sequence is reversed); and, similarly needing modification, a couple of sentences which relate to spectrin and connectin. None of these is really serious and they can easily be attended to in the second edition. Since about a quarter of the text pages contain empty or (almost empty) margins, and the 21 preliminary pages (preface, contents, etc) replicate what is already provided in the larger text, my argument for combining the two books is strengthened. Congratulations to all concerned in the production of this book (I mean these two books): authors; reviewers; illustrators; selectors of literary quotations, art work and micrographs; and the publishers. They have set themselves, and met, high standards. F Vella
Biochemistry by R H G a r r e t t a n d C M G r i s h a m . pp 1154. S a u n d e r s C o l l e g e Publishing: H a r c o u r t B r a c e , O r l a n d o , FL. 1995. £19.95 ISBN 0-03-009758-4 The latter half of this century has been characterized by an astounding rate of increase of our scientific understanding of living systems at cellular and molecular levels. Not only has this produced many benefits to human society but it also has contributed significant ways in which we look at ourselves, at all organisms in the biosphere, and at the biosphere itself. Since biochemistry has become the language of nearly all aspects of biology and a fundamental requirement for any understanding or discussion of life on Earth, it is not surprising that more and more students are studying biochemistry through courses taught in a large variety of biology, chemistry, life science or human science curricula. This makes the supply of well written textbooks a necessity. Garrett and Grisham's book is the latest such textbook to make its appearance. The arrival of a new textbook written by new authors is always an exciting event. It demands that the book be compared with those written by longer established authors while it holds out promise of novel and creative approaches to the presentation of topics which are well established and of the inclusion of novel or unusual material. Garrett and Grisham's book holds its own very well on these counts and is in fact better than some. Both authors of this very attractive and user-friendly book are at the University of Virginia. While Garrett is professor of biology, Grisham is professor of chemistry. Between them they have been teaching biochemistry within their disciplines for close to fifty years. The combination of their disciplinary backgrounds and diverse research interests find expression in a balanced and well integrated treatment of basic chemical and biological topics and of laboratory aspects and biological functions and applications. They write clearly, simply and with the learner in mind but, naturally, presuppose some knowledge of organic chemistry. While they focus on general principles, they are neither short nor too long on facts. Their historical approach to most topics emphasizes the evolution of biomolecular knowledge, the role of the availability of appropriate methodology, and the use of imaginative questioning in the elucidation of molecular problems. There are 33 chapters organized into four parts. The first deals with Molecular Components of Cells (10 chapters), the second with Enzymes and Energetics (6 chapters), the third with Metabolism and its Regulation (11 chapters) and the last with Genetic Information (6 chapters). These are uniformly written with flair and freshness and are profusely and colorfully illustrated. They are enriched by some sixty boxes of two types: Critical Developments in Biochemistry and A Deeper Look. There are some end-of-chapter questions and references for further reading. I am disappointed that Part V of this book (the last five chapters which deal with Molecular Aspects of Cell Biology) has been published separately as a paperback volume. The present book is incomplete without it. Enough space could have been found by better use of the 3 inch (7.5 cm) margin which is completely empty in a good 20% of pages, while quite a few margins contain only a dictionary item or a brief legend to a figure. Many of the smaller illustrations could have been moved from the text to these margins. Similarly, minor editing, removal of repetition, and slightly smaller spaces between end of sections and the following subheadings would also have contributed space so that the complete book need not have been appreciably larger than the present one. Absence of Part V denies the book such important aspects as Self-assembling Molecular Complexes, Membrane Transport, Muscle Contraction and Signal Transduction.
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 23(2) 1995
I was pleasantly surprised with how few things I found myself taking issue with. These included: errors of structure (eg the phytyl side chain of chlorophyll a, p 7; cycloserine, p 62); misstatements from lack of current information (eg the longest polypeptide contains up to 1800 residues, p 86; Marfan's syndrome is a collagen disorder, p 156; apo B-I(X) represented as a button on the surface of an LDL particle, p 794); a small number of misprints (pellagra is misspelt every time it is used on p 473); and some simple lapses (use of 'conformation' for 'configuration' in several places, and of 'cycles' for 'turns' in ~.oxidation, p 740 and elsewhere; identification of nucleosome with the octameric histone core structure, p 232 and p 233; involvement of debranching enzyme in breakdown of dietary glycogen and starch, p 671; and blank spaces for insulin and glucagon receptors, p 685 and p 772). That these should occur even though over 80 reviewers were involved in preparation of the text indicates how fallible an activity preparation of a textbook still is. That there are so few is a tribute to all those involved. This book deserves to be widely adopted. When the time comes for a second edition, I hope that Molecular Biology of the Cell will find its rightful place as an integral part of it. F Vella
Molecular Aspects of Cell Biology by R H G a r r e t t a n d C M G r i s h a m . p p 153. S a u n d e r s C o l l e g e P u b l i s h i n g , H a r c o u r t B r a c e , F o r t W o r t h . 1995 ISBN 0-03-007597-1 This constitutes Part V of the textbook by the same authors entitled Biochemistry (1995) about which I have already written (Biochem Educ 23 000, 1995). Although this little book can stand alone as a brief, lucid and up-to-date introduction to such topics in cell biology as the self-assembly of macromolecutar complexes, membrane transport, muscle contraction, the molecular basis of hormone action, and excitable membranes (with which its five chapters deal), it really is intended to complement and complete the four parts presented in the previous volume. This explains why the chapter numbering and pagination, for example, follow on from the other book. An index, glossary of terms and abbreviated answers to problems (also specific to the present five chapters) are included. As was to be expected, the writing, overall presentation and the art work (in its various forms) are impressive by their clarity and attractiveness. I found little that I would like to see changed or corrected: a couple of legends which are incomplete (p 1147, p 12{)9); four which need correction (on p 1148, gap junctions are shown as permitting transfer of nucleic acid and protein molecules; on p 1166, the spectrin repeat is represented as a five - - rather than a three - - helix cluster; on p 1168, connectin - - also known as titin - - is represented as enveloping the thick filaments of skeletal muscle; and on p 1178, the N to C direction of the orytocin sequence is reversed); and, similarly needing modification, a couple of sentences which relate to spectrin and connectin. None of these is really serious and they can easily be attended to in the second edition. Since about a quarter of the text pages contain empty or (almost empty) margins, and the 21 preliminary pages (preface, contents, etc) replicate what is already provided in the larger text, my argument for combining the two books is strengthened. Congratulations to all concerned in the production of this book (I mean these two books): authors; reviewers; illustrators; selectors of literary quotations, art work and micrographs; and the publishers. They have set themselves, and met, high standards. F Vella