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Nucleic acid chemistry
591 genesis. Research workers will find, in an easily readable form, a lot of modem data and references on oxidation systems and free radicals. C Bonne
bolite, depending on the author's field of interest. It appears clearly that a complete understanding of its biological role is to be achieved. Altogether, this book represents a wealth of information about almost any aspect of adenosine research. It can be recommended to those who desire a thorough introduction to the subject, and as a reference source for researchers already acquainted with the matter. C Vidal
Mechanisms of Receptor-Mediated Generation of Ionic Signals in Rat Thymocytes and Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells (Physiochemical Biology Reviews/Vol 10, Part 1), edited by AS Gukovskaya, VP Zinchenko, Harwood Academic Publ, 1990, p 98, $ 49.00.
The book Mechanism of receptor-mediated generation of ionic signals.., by Gukovskaya and Zinchenko reviews the authors's work and does not attempt to present a general survey of the field. The authors present a detailed analysis of the variations in intracellular calcium and pH which occur upon activation of thymocytes with mitogenic lectins and Ehrlich tumor celts with ATP. They have used multiple pharmacological tools and fluorometric techniques to investigate receptor mediated ionic signals. The authors both reproduce classicals results from other experimental systems and present interesting new findings on changes in ion fluxes which follow receptor activation. They also draw an interesting parallel between the properties of the calcium triggered by ATP in Ehrlich tumor cells and by mitogens in thymocytes. Thus, the aim of the book series, which is to make available to English readers papers by Soviet experts, is partially reached. However, most of the result section can only be understood by specialists in the field of pharmacology of signal transduction since little space is used to present the system and the drugs
Nucleic Acid Chemistry, Part 4, edited by LB Townsend, R Smart Tipson, John Wiley and Sons, 1991, xii + p 411, £55.15.
The Nucleic Acid Chemistry is part 4 of a series on synthetic
used. One would also have appreciated greater reference to results obtained using electrophysiological techniques to examine the properties of ionic channels in these and similar cells. As a conclusion, this book contains much data useful to researchers in the field, but might be difficult for non-specialists.
methods and techniques used in the field of nucleosides and nucleotides. This series started in 1978 with the first two volumes which became rapidly an essential reference book for organic and medicinal chemists involved in the nucleic acid chemistry. As mentioned in the subtitle, this volume presents a selection of preparations of various heterocyclic, carbohydrate, nucleoside and (poly)nucleotide derivatives, along with some experimental procedures for useful reagents intermediates and instrumental or analytical techniques and applications. The main characteristic of this volume, as for the previous ones, is that all the articles are written by authors expert on the topics, who either originated these methods or used them extensively in their laboratories. The detailed procedures are therefore directly useful for the chemist: each compound is clearly described by its preparation, physical and spectroscopic data, with an accompanying short bibliography and references. This book is a straightforward cost-effective way to obtain immediately the most up-to-date information and should be recommended to every laboratory interested in this important area of bio-urganic chemistry.
D Choquet
T Huynh-Dinh
Adenosine and Adenosine Receptors, edited by M Williams, Humana Press, 1990, xii + p 516, £ 79.70.
Luminescence Techniques in Chemical and Biochemical Analysis, Practical spectroscopy series, volume 12, edited by WRG Baeyens, D De Keukeleire, K Korkidis, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1991, p 654.
Since adenosine was first recognized to be a hypotensive agent over 50 years ago, significant advance has been made during the last two decades in understanding the mechanisms of its multiple actions on cardiovascular system, fat cells, immune responses, respiratory and brain functions. The present volume covers a very large spectrum of basic and clinical research on adenosine: characterization of receptors and binding sites; signal transduction mechanisms; electrophysinlogical actions; sites and mechanisms of formation and release. A very positive aspect of this book is that it gives a broad view of the multiple actions of adenosine which can be classified as hormone, neuromodulator, protective or retaliatory meta-
About one book dealing with organic and biological fluorescence is published every year, but the most popular ones are not necessarily the most recent: Parker (1968), Birks (1970) or Lacowicz (1983) are 'classics'. The 12th volume of the 'Practical Spectroscopy" series published by Marcel Dekker provides, however a needed synthesis for analytical applications. 50 authors selected for their experience in well-established techniques as well as in their most recent developments have indeed chosen a practical and exhaustive point of view for this presentation. The book is not overcharged by theoretical developments,
bolite, depending on the author's field of interest. It appears clearly that a complete understanding of its biological role is to be achieved. Altogether, this book represents a wealth of information about almost any aspect of adenosine research. It can be recommended to those who desire a thorough introduction to the subject, and as a reference source for researchers already acquainted with the matter. C Vidal
Mechanisms of Receptor-Mediated Generation of Ionic Signals in Rat Thymocytes and Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells (Physiochemical Biology Reviews/Vol 10, Part 1), edited by AS Gukovskaya, VP Zinchenko, Harwood Academic Publ, 1990, p 98, $ 49.00.
The book Mechanism of receptor-mediated generation of ionic signals.., by Gukovskaya and Zinchenko reviews the authors's work and does not attempt to present a general survey of the field. The authors present a detailed analysis of the variations in intracellular calcium and pH which occur upon activation of thymocytes with mitogenic lectins and Ehrlich tumor celts with ATP. They have used multiple pharmacological tools and fluorometric techniques to investigate receptor mediated ionic signals. The authors both reproduce classicals results from other experimental systems and present interesting new findings on changes in ion fluxes which follow receptor activation. They also draw an interesting parallel between the properties of the calcium triggered by ATP in Ehrlich tumor cells and by mitogens in thymocytes. Thus, the aim of the book series, which is to make available to English readers papers by Soviet experts, is partially reached. However, most of the result section can only be understood by specialists in the field of pharmacology of signal transduction since little space is used to present the system and the drugs
Nucleic Acid Chemistry, Part 4, edited by LB Townsend, R Smart Tipson, John Wiley and Sons, 1991, xii + p 411, £55.15.
The Nucleic Acid Chemistry is part 4 of a series on synthetic
used. One would also have appreciated greater reference to results obtained using electrophysiological techniques to examine the properties of ionic channels in these and similar cells. As a conclusion, this book contains much data useful to researchers in the field, but might be difficult for non-specialists.
methods and techniques used in the field of nucleosides and nucleotides. This series started in 1978 with the first two volumes which became rapidly an essential reference book for organic and medicinal chemists involved in the nucleic acid chemistry. As mentioned in the subtitle, this volume presents a selection of preparations of various heterocyclic, carbohydrate, nucleoside and (poly)nucleotide derivatives, along with some experimental procedures for useful reagents intermediates and instrumental or analytical techniques and applications. The main characteristic of this volume, as for the previous ones, is that all the articles are written by authors expert on the topics, who either originated these methods or used them extensively in their laboratories. The detailed procedures are therefore directly useful for the chemist: each compound is clearly described by its preparation, physical and spectroscopic data, with an accompanying short bibliography and references. This book is a straightforward cost-effective way to obtain immediately the most up-to-date information and should be recommended to every laboratory interested in this important area of bio-urganic chemistry.
D Choquet
T Huynh-Dinh
Adenosine and Adenosine Receptors, edited by M Williams, Humana Press, 1990, xii + p 516, £ 79.70.
Luminescence Techniques in Chemical and Biochemical Analysis, Practical spectroscopy series, volume 12, edited by WRG Baeyens, D De Keukeleire, K Korkidis, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1991, p 654.
Since adenosine was first recognized to be a hypotensive agent over 50 years ago, significant advance has been made during the last two decades in understanding the mechanisms of its multiple actions on cardiovascular system, fat cells, immune responses, respiratory and brain functions. The present volume covers a very large spectrum of basic and clinical research on adenosine: characterization of receptors and binding sites; signal transduction mechanisms; electrophysinlogical actions; sites and mechanisms of formation and release. A very positive aspect of this book is that it gives a broad view of the multiple actions of adenosine which can be classified as hormone, neuromodulator, protective or retaliatory meta-
About one book dealing with organic and biological fluorescence is published every year, but the most popular ones are not necessarily the most recent: Parker (1968), Birks (1970) or Lacowicz (1983) are 'classics'. The 12th volume of the 'Practical Spectroscopy" series published by Marcel Dekker provides, however a needed synthesis for analytical applications. 50 authors selected for their experience in well-established techniques as well as in their most recent developments have indeed chosen a practical and exhaustive point of view for this presentation. The book is not overcharged by theoretical developments,