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Recent books GangIiuaIdes and Cancer, edited by H.F. Oettgen. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheirn. 1989. XVI, pp. 368, Hardcover, DM 186.00 Research in recent years has established that in certain types of human cancer gangliosides and other glycolipids are expressed in large amounts. Consequently, approaches to cancer therapy are being developed, where these compounds serve as targets. In this book, leading experts in the field assess the present status of ganglioside research in oncology, immunology, cell biology and biochemistry. Subjects covered are: ganghoside structure and function, modulation of receptor function and proteinkinase C activity by gangliosides, altered expression of glycolipids expression in cells of the immune system, effects on immune functions, treatment of cancer patients with monoclonal antibodies recognizing ganghosides, and construction of immunogenic vaccines with gangliosides expressed in human cancers.
Peptides Hormones as Prohormones, Processing, Biological Activity, Pharmacology, edited by Jean Martinez. EIlis Horwood Ltd., Chichester. 1989. pp. 364, f 45.00 Peptides and peptide hormones are currently a “hot” topic in many areas of scientific investigation, and the editor of this new book is a wellknown figure in peptide reserch inchrding the well-estabhshed concept of hormones derived from prohormones. In this volume, Dr Martinez has collated the research findings of some of the world’s leading experts in peptide processing to show the importance of fragment “by-products” created during cleavage as the consequences of peptide processing and emphasises their importance in terms of overall pharmacological activity. The coverage ranges across a wide spectrum of peptides and related peptides, showing the results and biologica importance of fragments which may be quite different to that of the “parent”: some of these peptide fragments (or amino acids), usually liberated at the site of action of the parent hormone, are shown to be involved in a process whose goal
is the generation of even smaller fragments with even more diversified biological importance. The book draws attention to the suggested prohormone nature of peptide hormones in order to emphasise the importance of the general mechanisms for processing, as well as the biological and pharmacological consequences.
Characterization of Proteins, edited by Felix Franks. The Humana Presse Inc., Publishers. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1988. pp. 561, f 65.80 Characterization of Proteins is Felix Franks’s unique tutorial on the isolation, separation, characterization, and stabilization of proteins. This useful benchside companion offers a comprehensive study of many aspects of protein technology, from classifications of protein function to the processin of proteins for clinical, agricultural, and industrial use. Practical gtu3 ehnes . for these new methodologies, along with background information, are provided in a clear, concise manner. Chapters-contributed by an outstanding international panel of experts-explore a wide variety of topics, including: *description and classification of proteins *structure-function relationships *protein hydration *characteristics of proteins and peptides in situ *membrane receptors *protein and peptide hormones *liquid chromatography and electrophoresis l monoclinal and polyclonal antibodies *large-scale method for protein separation and isolation “processing of plant proteins +mctional attributes of protein isolates in foods Franks’s original, highly practical approach to Chmzcterization of Proteins makes this volume an especially valuable handbook for everyone involved in protein studies.