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Muscle Contraction and Cell Motility: molecular and cellular aspects.
235
Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics, 31(1993) 235-239 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lmsanne
JEC BB 01592 Book reviews
Muscle Contraction and Cell Motility: molecular and cellular aspects. H. Sugi (Ed.) (Harvo). Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1992, ISBN 3-540-54542-5, xii + 264 pp., $129.00. This volume is actually the twelfth in the series Aduances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology. As such, it represents a successful attempt at enabling the interested reader to apprehend the state of the art in the fields of muscle contractility and cell mobility. The chosen authors are experts, and the editor has done a good job in forging a consistent and easily understandable style. The type font is easily legible. The illustration quality is also excellent, and the examples chosen amply reinforce the textual material, making the task of the reader relatively easy. Every chapter has a very extensive list of references which will lead the more than casual reader deeper. The text is divided into eight chapters. The first three deal with the activation and regulation of contraction in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, respectively. The ionic basis of excitation and the basic contractile processes are very well explained. The role of Ca*+ ions in excitation and control of tone is particularly well covered for all three muscle types, as are the molecular interactions with the ion during contraction. Regulatory proteins are also amply handled. The book is worth its price for these three chapters alone for the budding myologist. Chapter 4 examines the microstructure of the muscle cell through the evolutionary process. Along the way, the author covers the structural variations in a wide variety of species and muscle types, illustrating the range of possibilities for organization of the various filaments, tubules, etc. in mollusks through insects, to vertebrates. He also demonstrates how the variability of structure alters function. This chapter is a must for the comparative myologist. Chapter 5 gives the reader an in-depth discussion of the molecular mechanisms involved in actin-myosin dynamic interactions, including energetics, enzymatic kinetics, and their relationship to possible structural characteristics of actin and myosin molecules. The discussion is complex, but clearly presented and closely argued. It covers all of the recent theoretical models. Chaoters nnd hncir fnr I.--vIyInmnehae r___L 6 _ through 8 ermlnre ------------- mnlenllnr -______--_1Iv-” _-_ ---XT---- the structwal movement and cytoplasmic streaming, ciliary and flagellar motility, and the intracellular mechanisms inherent in mitosis and cytokinesis. These three chapters also have a great deal of information about molecular and/or biochemical mechanisms. Chapter 6 covers a much larger field in terms of the range of organismal types than
236
do Chapters 7 and 8, going from slime molds through amoebae, to plants and animals. Hence, the treatment is general, using specific examples. Chapters 7 and 8 are highly specialized and tightly focused, and the discussion is concomitantly restricted to the structures and molecular activities related to cilia/flagellae and to _*_ cnromosomai movementjspmdie dynamics and cytokinesis. Tliese iast three chapters are an excellent introduction to the structure and function of intracellular motile elements. The coverage is thorough, and relates laboratory studies to the real world in exemplary fashion. In sum, I highly recommend this text to any biologist interested in molecular mechanisms of movement, and to the portions of the engineering and biophysical world with similar interests. STEPHEN
D. SMITH Lexington, KY
Biological Effects of Static Magnetic Fields: A Review. N.J. Simon, International Cryogenic Materials Commission, Boulder, CO, 1992, ISBN l-881160-04-1, 284 pp., $50.00 (paperback). N.J. Simon has written an excellent and comprehensive review of research in the field of biological effects of static magnetic fields. The author’s background includes a Ph.D. from Harvard in Physics, and a later B.A. degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado. The book contains 12 chapters, beginning with an exceptionally useful introduction which covers necessary background materials for understanding the rest of the book, and a remarkably perceptive assessment of the validity of experiments to date. This section clearly demonstrates the steps necessary to produce a valid experiment. The rest of the book includes chanters c ---- on: orientation of macromolecules and membranes; chemical reactions; enzyme activity; genetic studies; embryogenesis, development and morphology; physiology; behavior; geomagnetic orientation and navigation; medical and therapeutic applications; epidemiological and occupational exposure studies; and a final Precis and Conclusions. N.J. Simon appears to have missed very little which could be of interest to a scientist interested in the study of static magnetic field effects in biological systems. The review, although not totally comprehensive, is thorough, and brings the reader up to the current state of our understanding. The author does an especially good job of making the theoretical considerations readable as well as comprehensible. Conclusions are presented in such a way that one never has the impression that the a,,thnr ;r hdno C11” ..UCaI”I I” “““‘b
,+~,,,,a&. U”~“‘UC’“.
l-kc= Iinnf r~~cnninrr in c.l~wn.~~ti.rax, r.1n.z~ .anA All” n111” “I ~“UU”~~~.~~ IU ul”uJY LlllU
+ha s.c..G;~... Cllcl Ir*,L.vv
is done in sufficient depth to allow the reader to reach conclusions as well as to assess the validity of those of the author. The paper is of good quality, and the typeface is large and easy to read. The reproduction of tables and line drawings is excellent, but the reproduction of
Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics, 31(1993) 235-239 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lmsanne
JEC BB 01592 Book reviews
Muscle Contraction and Cell Motility: molecular and cellular aspects. H. Sugi (Ed.) (Harvo). Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1992, ISBN 3-540-54542-5, xii + 264 pp., $129.00. This volume is actually the twelfth in the series Aduances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology. As such, it represents a successful attempt at enabling the interested reader to apprehend the state of the art in the fields of muscle contractility and cell mobility. The chosen authors are experts, and the editor has done a good job in forging a consistent and easily understandable style. The type font is easily legible. The illustration quality is also excellent, and the examples chosen amply reinforce the textual material, making the task of the reader relatively easy. Every chapter has a very extensive list of references which will lead the more than casual reader deeper. The text is divided into eight chapters. The first three deal with the activation and regulation of contraction in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, respectively. The ionic basis of excitation and the basic contractile processes are very well explained. The role of Ca*+ ions in excitation and control of tone is particularly well covered for all three muscle types, as are the molecular interactions with the ion during contraction. Regulatory proteins are also amply handled. The book is worth its price for these three chapters alone for the budding myologist. Chapter 4 examines the microstructure of the muscle cell through the evolutionary process. Along the way, the author covers the structural variations in a wide variety of species and muscle types, illustrating the range of possibilities for organization of the various filaments, tubules, etc. in mollusks through insects, to vertebrates. He also demonstrates how the variability of structure alters function. This chapter is a must for the comparative myologist. Chapter 5 gives the reader an in-depth discussion of the molecular mechanisms involved in actin-myosin dynamic interactions, including energetics, enzymatic kinetics, and their relationship to possible structural characteristics of actin and myosin molecules. The discussion is complex, but clearly presented and closely argued. It covers all of the recent theoretical models. Chaoters nnd hncir fnr I.--vIyInmnehae r___L 6 _ through 8 ermlnre ------------- mnlenllnr -______--_1Iv-” _-_ ---XT---- the structwal movement and cytoplasmic streaming, ciliary and flagellar motility, and the intracellular mechanisms inherent in mitosis and cytokinesis. These three chapters also have a great deal of information about molecular and/or biochemical mechanisms. Chapter 6 covers a much larger field in terms of the range of organismal types than
236
do Chapters 7 and 8, going from slime molds through amoebae, to plants and animals. Hence, the treatment is general, using specific examples. Chapters 7 and 8 are highly specialized and tightly focused, and the discussion is concomitantly restricted to the structures and molecular activities related to cilia/flagellae and to _*_ cnromosomai movementjspmdie dynamics and cytokinesis. Tliese iast three chapters are an excellent introduction to the structure and function of intracellular motile elements. The coverage is thorough, and relates laboratory studies to the real world in exemplary fashion. In sum, I highly recommend this text to any biologist interested in molecular mechanisms of movement, and to the portions of the engineering and biophysical world with similar interests. STEPHEN
D. SMITH Lexington, KY
Biological Effects of Static Magnetic Fields: A Review. N.J. Simon, International Cryogenic Materials Commission, Boulder, CO, 1992, ISBN l-881160-04-1, 284 pp., $50.00 (paperback). N.J. Simon has written an excellent and comprehensive review of research in the field of biological effects of static magnetic fields. The author’s background includes a Ph.D. from Harvard in Physics, and a later B.A. degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado. The book contains 12 chapters, beginning with an exceptionally useful introduction which covers necessary background materials for understanding the rest of the book, and a remarkably perceptive assessment of the validity of experiments to date. This section clearly demonstrates the steps necessary to produce a valid experiment. The rest of the book includes chanters c ---- on: orientation of macromolecules and membranes; chemical reactions; enzyme activity; genetic studies; embryogenesis, development and morphology; physiology; behavior; geomagnetic orientation and navigation; medical and therapeutic applications; epidemiological and occupational exposure studies; and a final Precis and Conclusions. N.J. Simon appears to have missed very little which could be of interest to a scientist interested in the study of static magnetic field effects in biological systems. The review, although not totally comprehensive, is thorough, and brings the reader up to the current state of our understanding. The author does an especially good job of making the theoretical considerations readable as well as comprehensible. Conclusions are presented in such a way that one never has the impression that the a,,thnr ;r hdno C11” ..UCaI”I I” “““‘b
,+~,,,,a&. U”~“‘UC’“.
l-kc= Iinnf r~~cnninrr in c.l~wn.~~ti.rax, r.1n.z~ .anA All” n111” “I ~“UU”~~~.~~ IU ul”uJY LlllU
+ha s.c..G;~... Cllcl Ir*,L.vv
is done in sufficient depth to allow the reader to reach conclusions as well as to assess the validity of those of the author. The paper is of good quality, and the typeface is large and easy to read. The reproduction of tables and line drawings is excellent, but the reproduction of