- Email: [email protected]
Organic and Biological Chemistry
Book
Reviews
395
its important properties with hormones. enzymes, ions, unicellular organisms. etc_ This chapter illustrates the methods of estraction. analysis and quantitation of heparin and of analogous mucopolysaccharides together with their chemical properties_ The last chapter (184 references) is concerned with the definition and
principles
of
field
desorption
mass
spectrome?
(FDJCS).
the
techniques
and operation of the method and its various appiicatlons, including the analysis aminoacids. peptides. lipids. bioof sugars. suiphates. nucleic acid derivatives, -4 paragraph is degenie amines. sterois and vitamins and other compounds_ dicated to the application of FDMS in the anal_vsis of pharmaceuticals and pharmacological metaboiites. This chapter also describes pyrolysis field absorption mass spectrometry which can be used for the analysis of compounds such as some poiysaccharides and entire unicellular organisms_ nucleic aminoacids. Ail of the topics covered are There are author and analytical subject indexes_ treated with the rigour and clarity of esposition that have become a byword for the whole series. which represents one of the best a\-aiiabie at present for those working in the large field of biochemical research_ L_
J_ Horr;~. Xew This
Organic anti York (Igig), text.
aimed
BioZogicaZ s_srri?g~ at
C/retnisfry. John \Viiey pp_, .s I5__30 / E. 10.~0
undergraduate
biology
SILVESTROSI
cE- Sons,
students,
covers
Chichester,
the
basic
aspects nected
of biological chemistry and some of the organic chemistry directly conwith major biological phenomena. After a brief introduction to organic chemist--. the author lists systematicaii>the various classes of molecules of biological interest I saturated and unsaturated h\;drocarbons. alcohols. ethers and phenols. mercaptans and amines. aldehydes and ketones and carbosyiic acids and their derivatives. One chapter Three is dedicated to synthetic polymers and another to optical isomerism_ chapters follow- in which the properties of the three major classes of organic fats and proteins) are compounds of biochemical interest (carbohydrates, described_ The second part of the book is concerned with the metabolism of organic compounds and inciudes chapters on enzymes and their [email protected] mechanisms, nucleic amino-acids and the mechanisms of the hereditary transmission, and extra-cellular body fluids and their major chemico-physical properties_ The third part includes chapters on biochemical energetics (most important phosphates involved in energy mobilization in the body. respiratory chains, The last chapter explains metabolism of carbohydrates. fats and proteins)_ with a description of the ~Aous classes of nuthe basic principles of nutrition. The test ends with two tritive substances and their energy characteristics. chemistry and the other on appendices. one on the basic principles of general the R/S families on absolute configuration. In addition to a brief summary of the sound covered. each chapter includes a list of well selected references (roughly ten per chapter) and several problems, the answers the subject indes.
to
which
are
given
at
the
end
of
the
book.
just
before
390
Book
Reviews
It is the reviewer’s opinion that this book, aimed at students coming into contact with biochemistry for the first time, is well thought out as regards the exposition of the topics covered (the diagrams are particularly clear). Both in the general treatment, and especially in the appendix on general chemistry, there is very little space dedicated to energy argulnents ; indeed there is no Nevertheless, on the whole, the book succeds discussion of thermodynamics. in fulfulling its aims and is to be recommended. L. SILVESTRONX
I\‘. HUGI~ES, .4sjmYs of Bio~h,~~sics, John \\‘illey cE:Sons, Chichester, Sew (1978). s11+3hr pp., $ 20.35 f $2. 11.95
York
In this book some representative topics in biophysics are presented in a brief introductor>- manner. The seemingly very wide scope of the book is arranged so as to give to the reader the impression of the increasingly higher level of organization of living matter as an important principle of the living state. .%fter giving some introductory remarks on cell structure, the author decribcs several techniques for studying macromolecules, their components and subcellular components, especially S-ray difiraction, electron microscopy, centrifugation and spectroscopic methods. Then the structurr and the bchax.iour of biolt~gica.1 macromolecules are briefly discussed. Soil!e details are given of enzyme behaviour and nucleic acid beha\-ior. Membrane properties and transmembrane phenomena are discussed, with an esample of acti1.e transport in rctl blood cells. The importance of artificial mcmbra~~cs and tllcir use as models are csplaincd, the transfer of inivrmation in ;I nruron Ccl1 is discussed and thcb theories of conduction in the ason are cc~mparcd. The important cticcts 01 radiation on li\ring matter arc trcatctl in the nest chapter. I’hysical analysis of some important physiological phenomena such ns muscle contraction, heart action, hearing, x-ision and salt and water transport in the gut are treated in final chapters, The last chapter discusses the origin of living matter and modern subject of electroenginrering. In an appendix su~,‘g’cstions for four experiments arc given that will help in under5tantling the most important topics of the book. The book is written in a clear, easily rcxlal)le style. ‘1’11~diagrams are well designed, and the mathematics is confined ttr higher calculus. The tlisadvantage of the book is its ver!. wide scope, limiting intli\~itlual chapters to 20 pages or less. Hence only a general introduction to the subject can be given. Sex-ertlieless, the book contains good itlcns and u-ill provitlc ~tiill~il;~tio~i for further study, which is ma~lc pwsil ?1e i:v n \;-Cl1 dim.~~,~& sci~~t.cd i~iMicqyapli~*. The bc10k will be hcll)lul to a witlca range ()I’ rc;~~lcrs \\-it11a Iimitctl lanc~wIcclgc of bicJlog!*, ph!5ic,s ant1 chcnii5tr~ as an intrc~tlucticln 10 the main pr~~l)lc~tns Of modern bioph\‘sics. I’.
VA~ISXTX
Reviews
395
its important properties with hormones. enzymes, ions, unicellular organisms. etc_ This chapter illustrates the methods of estraction. analysis and quantitation of heparin and of analogous mucopolysaccharides together with their chemical properties_ The last chapter (184 references) is concerned with the definition and
principles
of
field
desorption
mass
spectrome?
(FDJCS).
the
techniques
and operation of the method and its various appiicatlons, including the analysis aminoacids. peptides. lipids. bioof sugars. suiphates. nucleic acid derivatives, -4 paragraph is degenie amines. sterois and vitamins and other compounds_ dicated to the application of FDMS in the anal_vsis of pharmaceuticals and pharmacological metaboiites. This chapter also describes pyrolysis field absorption mass spectrometry which can be used for the analysis of compounds such as some poiysaccharides and entire unicellular organisms_ nucleic aminoacids. Ail of the topics covered are There are author and analytical subject indexes_ treated with the rigour and clarity of esposition that have become a byword for the whole series. which represents one of the best a\-aiiabie at present for those working in the large field of biochemical research_ L_
J_ Horr;~. Xew This
Organic anti York (Igig), text.
aimed
BioZogicaZ s_srri?g~ at
C/retnisfry. John \Viiey pp_, .s I5__30 / E. 10.~0
undergraduate
biology
SILVESTROSI
cE- Sons,
students,
covers
Chichester,
the
basic
aspects nected
of biological chemistry and some of the organic chemistry directly conwith major biological phenomena. After a brief introduction to organic chemist--. the author lists systematicaii>the various classes of molecules of biological interest I saturated and unsaturated h\;drocarbons. alcohols. ethers and phenols. mercaptans and amines. aldehydes and ketones and carbosyiic acids and their derivatives. One chapter Three is dedicated to synthetic polymers and another to optical isomerism_ chapters follow- in which the properties of the three major classes of organic fats and proteins) are compounds of biochemical interest (carbohydrates, described_ The second part of the book is concerned with the metabolism of organic compounds and inciudes chapters on enzymes and their [email protected] mechanisms, nucleic amino-acids and the mechanisms of the hereditary transmission, and extra-cellular body fluids and their major chemico-physical properties_ The third part includes chapters on biochemical energetics (most important phosphates involved in energy mobilization in the body. respiratory chains, The last chapter explains metabolism of carbohydrates. fats and proteins)_ with a description of the ~Aous classes of nuthe basic principles of nutrition. The test ends with two tritive substances and their energy characteristics. chemistry and the other on appendices. one on the basic principles of general the R/S families on absolute configuration. In addition to a brief summary of the sound covered. each chapter includes a list of well selected references (roughly ten per chapter) and several problems, the answers the subject indes.
to
which
are
given
at
the
end
of
the
book.
just
before
390
Book
Reviews
It is the reviewer’s opinion that this book, aimed at students coming into contact with biochemistry for the first time, is well thought out as regards the exposition of the topics covered (the diagrams are particularly clear). Both in the general treatment, and especially in the appendix on general chemistry, there is very little space dedicated to energy argulnents ; indeed there is no Nevertheless, on the whole, the book succeds discussion of thermodynamics. in fulfulling its aims and is to be recommended. L. SILVESTRONX
I\‘. HUGI~ES, .4sjmYs of Bio~h,~~sics, John \\‘illey cE:Sons, Chichester, Sew (1978). s11+3hr pp., $ 20.35 f $2. 11.95
York
In this book some representative topics in biophysics are presented in a brief introductor>- manner. The seemingly very wide scope of the book is arranged so as to give to the reader the impression of the increasingly higher level of organization of living matter as an important principle of the living state. .%fter giving some introductory remarks on cell structure, the author decribcs several techniques for studying macromolecules, their components and subcellular components, especially S-ray difiraction, electron microscopy, centrifugation and spectroscopic methods. Then the structurr and the bchax.iour of biolt~gica.1 macromolecules are briefly discussed. Soil!e details are given of enzyme behaviour and nucleic acid beha\-ior. Membrane properties and transmembrane phenomena are discussed, with an esample of acti1.e transport in rctl blood cells. The importance of artificial mcmbra~~cs and tllcir use as models are csplaincd, the transfer of inivrmation in ;I nruron Ccl1 is discussed and thcb theories of conduction in the ason are cc~mparcd. The important cticcts 01 radiation on li\ring matter arc trcatctl in the nest chapter. I’hysical analysis of some important physiological phenomena such ns muscle contraction, heart action, hearing, x-ision and salt and water transport in the gut are treated in final chapters, The last chapter discusses the origin of living matter and modern subject of electroenginrering. In an appendix su~,‘g’cstions for four experiments arc given that will help in under5tantling the most important topics of the book. The book is written in a clear, easily rcxlal)le style. ‘1’11~diagrams are well designed, and the mathematics is confined ttr higher calculus. The tlisadvantage of the book is its ver!. wide scope, limiting intli\~itlual chapters to 20 pages or less. Hence only a general introduction to the subject can be given. Sex-ertlieless, the book contains good itlcns and u-ill provitlc ~tiill~il;~tio~i for further study, which is ma~lc pwsil ?1e i:v n \;-Cl1 dim.~~,~& sci~~t.cd i~iMicqyapli~*. The bc10k will be hcll)lul to a witlca range ()I’ rc;~~lcrs \\-it11a Iimitctl lanc~wIcclgc of bicJlog!*, ph!5ic,s ant1 chcnii5tr~ as an intrc~tlucticln 10 the main pr~~l)lc~tns Of modern bioph\‘sics. I’.
VA~ISXTX