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Protein structure; New approaches to disease and therapy
Book Reviews The Thymus--M. A. Ritter and I. N. Crisp. 85pp. 1992. IRL Press, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Paperback $13.95. This short "in focus" review provides an up-to-date account of the thymus. The thymus provides the milieu within which cells of the T lymphocyte lineage can develop, proliferate, mature, generate their antigen receptor repertoire and at a population level become MHC restricted and tolerant to self. The review deals with structure and development; thymocyte populations and dynamics; the T cell repertoire; thymic microenvironment; unresolved questions [commitment of progenitor cells; control of TCR gene arrangements; role of lymphokines; function of stromal cells; timing of clonal deletion; positive selection]. A very useful review. Chemical Communication; the Language of Pheromones-W. C. Agosta. 179pp. 1992. Scientific American/W. H. Freeman, New York. $32.95 Pheromones (Greek "pherein" to carry; "hormon" exciting) [P] are widely found in the animal kingdom. This book deals with the molecular chemistry of P; navigating by P; alarms and allurements; cooperation and deception; shifting function and chemical masquerades; mammalian complexities; human attraction. P can cause abortion in mice, sexual arousal in pigs, menstrual synchrony in humans. The social environment contains many chemicals that provide signals that are received and detected at very low concentrations subconsciously and consciously. It is the basis of the billion dollar perfume industry. This excellently produced book will interest and delight most readers and could be a first rate birthday present. Pulsed Field Gel Eieetrophoresis; Protocols, Methods and Theories--Edited by M. Burmeister and L. Ulanovsky. 481pp. 1992. Humana Press, New Jersey/John Wiley, London. £60.00. Different powerful techniques are used to improve the gel electrophoresis separation of molecules that have similar molecular weights. These include periodic field inversion, contour clamped homogenous electric fields, orthogonal field alteration, transverse alternating fields, rotating fields, and pulsed field. These techniques can give better separations, sharper bands and cleaner lanes. They are described here with practical details of how to carry them out, together with their applications to the separation of mammalian genome DNA; separation of intact chromosomes; bacterial genome mapping; protozoan genomes; yeast genomes; lamda libraries; and the theoretical basis for these improved methods. Protein Structure; New Approaches to Disease and Therapy--Max Perutz. 326pp. 1991. W. H. Freeman, New York. Hardcase £32.95; paperback £21.95. This readable well-illustrated book describes: X-ray diffraction without tears; how proteins recognize each other; how proteins recognize genes in health and disease; how drugs
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recognize proteins and nucleic acids; drugs made to measure; how mutations can impair protein function; how gene technology can improve protein function; from tomato virus to tumour and influenza viruses; cytokines, growth and differentation; some medically important structures; benefits to medicine past and future. Most scientists, young and old, will find the book very instructive and enjoyable. Protein Stability and Protein Stabilization Through Protein Engineering--Y. Nosoh and T. Sekignchi. 223pp. 1991. Ellis Horwood/Prentice Hall, New Jersey. A change in the amino acid sequence in a protein can lead to reduction in protein stability producing temperature sensitive mutants. Site directed mutagenesis has given a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms of protein function and protein stability. This should allow production of designer proteins with required functions and improved stability. This book deals with protein structure and architecture; protein stability; stable proteins; chemical and physical improvements of stability; in aqueous and non aqueous media; biological modifications of stability. Plant Protein Engineering--Edited by P. R. Shewry and S. Gutteridge. 346pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £55.00. Plants are a major source of protein and the applications of genetic engineering should enable increased yields of specific proteins. This book deals with expression of eukaryotic proteins; detection and analysis of recombinant proteins; analyses of plant metabolism; legume seed storage proteins; wheat gluten proteins; synthesis of zeins; structure of thaumatin and other sweet proteins; barley chymotrypsin inhibitor 2; redesigning ricin for therapeutic purposes; herbicide resistant P450 mono oxygenases; B. thuringiensis endotoxins; novel plant proteins and peptides. Many interesting peptides and proteins are produced by plants; it is now just a matter of getting them into commercial production. This is the first in a series of volumes on plant and microbial biotechnology. Copy Editing; the Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers, 3rd edn--Judith Butcher. 471pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £19.95. Most writers of scientific papers and articles have a word processor system or desk top publishing software to enable them to produce papers, reviews, grant applications, hand outs, class practical sheets, manuscripts for books. This fully revised edition of"Copy-Editing" is very useful in dispelling the mysteries of preparing typescripts, illustrations, how to read proofs, house styles, preliminary pages, indexes, references, science and maths books, checklists. This book was first published in 1975 and the second edition was in 1981. It has been reprinted seven times which indicates that it is a best seller. Besides being a very useful book it is an interesting and informative read. Every Departmental library should have one. It will improve your standard of (printed) reproduction.
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recognize proteins and nucleic acids; drugs made to measure; how mutations can impair protein function; how gene technology can improve protein function; from tomato virus to tumour and influenza viruses; cytokines, growth and differentation; some medically important structures; benefits to medicine past and future. Most scientists, young and old, will find the book very instructive and enjoyable. Protein Stability and Protein Stabilization Through Protein Engineering--Y. Nosoh and T. Sekignchi. 223pp. 1991. Ellis Horwood/Prentice Hall, New Jersey. A change in the amino acid sequence in a protein can lead to reduction in protein stability producing temperature sensitive mutants. Site directed mutagenesis has given a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms of protein function and protein stability. This should allow production of designer proteins with required functions and improved stability. This book deals with protein structure and architecture; protein stability; stable proteins; chemical and physical improvements of stability; in aqueous and non aqueous media; biological modifications of stability. Plant Protein Engineering--Edited by P. R. Shewry and S. Gutteridge. 346pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £55.00. Plants are a major source of protein and the applications of genetic engineering should enable increased yields of specific proteins. This book deals with expression of eukaryotic proteins; detection and analysis of recombinant proteins; analyses of plant metabolism; legume seed storage proteins; wheat gluten proteins; synthesis of zeins; structure of thaumatin and other sweet proteins; barley chymotrypsin inhibitor 2; redesigning ricin for therapeutic purposes; herbicide resistant P450 mono oxygenases; B. thuringiensis endotoxins; novel plant proteins and peptides. Many interesting peptides and proteins are produced by plants; it is now just a matter of getting them into commercial production. This is the first in a series of volumes on plant and microbial biotechnology. Copy Editing; the Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers, 3rd edn--Judith Butcher. 471pp. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £19.95. Most writers of scientific papers and articles have a word processor system or desk top publishing software to enable them to produce papers, reviews, grant applications, hand outs, class practical sheets, manuscripts for books. This fully revised edition of"Copy-Editing" is very useful in dispelling the mysteries of preparing typescripts, illustrations, how to read proofs, house styles, preliminary pages, indexes, references, science and maths books, checklists. This book was first published in 1975 and the second edition was in 1981. It has been reprinted seven times which indicates that it is a best seller. Besides being a very useful book it is an interesting and informative read. Every Departmental library should have one. It will improve your standard of (printed) reproduction.