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Retinoids part B. Cell differentiation and clinical applications. Methods in enzymology, vol. 190
ht. J. Biorhem.Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 515-516, 1992 Pergamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS xylenes; (2) recent research into the physiology of Mycobacterium leprae, (leprosy bacillus); (3) magnetotactic bacteria, microbiology, biomineralization, palaeomagnetism and biotechnology; (4) microbial stress proteins; (5) microbial anaerobic respiration, methanogenesis. sulphate, fumarate, oxides of nitrogen, other anaerobic oxidants.
Cytochromes c; Evolutionary, Structural and Physicochemical Aspects-G. R. MARE and G. W. PETTIGREW. 478 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 214. In 1987 the complementary volume, Cytochrome c; Eiological Aspects, was published. The present volume deals with stereochemical and physico-chemical properties of haems; spectroscopic studies of cytochromes (C); amino acid sequences of C-c 1 -8; structure of Class I C-c; structures of Class II, III and IV C-c; evolution; redox potentials; electron-transfer mechanisms. The family of C-cs is one whose structure. chemistry, biochemistry. function and evolution is the best known of all proteins, and the relevant information is presented in this book.
Gene Structure and Expression, 2nd edn_J. D. HAWKINS. 216 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Hardback $64.50, paperback $21.95. The first edition was published in 1985 and there have been rapid and important developments since then. The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as including the basic material. The chapters are on DNA; RNA; methodology; vectors used in work with recombinant DNA (plasmids, bacteriophages, yeast artificial chromosomes, viruses); production of genetically engineered protein; prokaryotic gene organization and expression; the operon concept; eukaryotic gene organization and expression; oncogenes; haemoglobin; proteins of the immune system; some gene families (collagen, P 450, serine proteases, lipoproteins. growth hormone family, glycoprotein hormones. polyproteins); mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; different and evolving genomes. The book will be useful to students and those wishing to get up to date in this subject.
Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology-Edited by G. M. BLACKBURN and M. J. GAIT. 446 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $115, paperback $49.95. This book is aimed at students and new research workers, though most research workers will find it useful. The chapters are on DNA and RNA structure; chemical synthesis; biosynthesis of nucleotides; DNA sequence information and transmission; RNA sequence information and transmission; covalent interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules; reversible interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules; interactions of nucleic acids with proteins; DNA sequence rearrangements and alterations. The text is well written, clearly laid out, with good illustrations, and the emphasis is on how the chemistry of nucleic acids explains the biology of nucleic acids.
lmmunoglobulin Genes-Edited by T. HONJO,F. W. ALT and T. H. RABBITTS.410 pp. 1989. Academic Press, London. f40. Once the structure of the immunogoblulins (I) had been determined, it was a relatively short step to the elucidation of the genetic systems controlling 1 synthesis and production. This volume reviews B-cell differentiation; roles of I in development and growth control of the B-lymphocyte lineage; long-term lymphoid cultures; the heavy-chant variable region locus; light-chain genes of the k type; 1 lambda genes; constant region genes of I and class switching; chicken I repertoire; I in lower vertebrates; 1 deficiencies; restrictive usage of I variable region; I in lymphoid neoplasms; chimeric I genes; regulation of the I mu chain; transgenic mouse I; I gene transcription: the J chain helper; the I superfamily. These studies provide models for exonintron organization, differential splicing, site-specific and region non-specific recombination, gene deletions and somatic mutations.
Retinoids Part B. Cell Differentiation and Clinical Applications. Methods in Enzymology, Vol. Is-Edited by L. PACKER. 488 pp. 1990. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. $69. Retinoic acid dramatically reduces DMBA-induced mouse skin tumor. A wide range of retinoids (R) have been tested for their effects on diploid and haploid cell lines. The most important developments have been in the use of R in the treatment of skin diseases and in cancer therapy, though the teratogenic effects of R have always to be kept in mind. The main sections of this volume are vitamin A mediated regulation of keratocyte differentiation; down-regulation of squamous cell-specific markers by R; effect of R on Sertoli cells; R and cell adhesion; R and epithelial differentiation; R inhibition of tumor cell growth; R and murine teratocarcinema; R binding proteins in embryonic carcinoma; acylCoA-retinal acyltransferase; R and rheumatoid arthritis; R and regenerating limbs; slow-release R; R-sensitive cells and cell lines; nutrition and R; antioxidant actions of R; pharmacokinetics of R; effect of R on sebaceous glands; R modulation of phorbol ester effects; photo-damaged skin; photo-aged skin; psoariasis; chemoprevention of cancer; toxicology of R.
Peptide Hormone Secretion; A Practical Approach-Edited by J. C. HUTTON and K. SIDDLE. 341 pp. 1990. IRL!Oxford University Press, Oxford. Paperback $60. The topics dealt with are peptide hormone purification: electrophoretic and immunoblotting methods; radioimmunoassay; immunometric methods; in vitro bioassay of peptide hormones; in situ hybridization for the localization and quantification of peptide mRNAs; localization of peptide hormones by light and electron microscopy; methods for the measurement of insulin secretion; cell biology of secretion; cell permeabilization; molecular biology of polypeptide hormone expression and biosynthesis; regu-
Advances in Microbial Physiology. Vol. 31-Edited by A. H. ROSEand D. W. TEMPEST. 311 pp. 1990. Academic Press, London. $95. The subjects reviewed in this volume plasmids, determinants of the catabolism
are: (1) the TOL of toluene and the 515
BOOK REVIEWS xylenes; (2) recent research into the physiology of Mycobacterium leprae, (leprosy bacillus); (3) magnetotactic bacteria, microbiology, biomineralization, palaeomagnetism and biotechnology; (4) microbial stress proteins; (5) microbial anaerobic respiration, methanogenesis. sulphate, fumarate, oxides of nitrogen, other anaerobic oxidants.
Cytochromes c; Evolutionary, Structural and Physicochemical Aspects-G. R. MARE and G. W. PETTIGREW. 478 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 214. In 1987 the complementary volume, Cytochrome c; Eiological Aspects, was published. The present volume deals with stereochemical and physico-chemical properties of haems; spectroscopic studies of cytochromes (C); amino acid sequences of C-c 1 -8; structure of Class I C-c; structures of Class II, III and IV C-c; evolution; redox potentials; electron-transfer mechanisms. The family of C-cs is one whose structure. chemistry, biochemistry. function and evolution is the best known of all proteins, and the relevant information is presented in this book.
Gene Structure and Expression, 2nd edn_J. D. HAWKINS. 216 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Hardback $64.50, paperback $21.95. The first edition was published in 1985 and there have been rapid and important developments since then. The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as including the basic material. The chapters are on DNA; RNA; methodology; vectors used in work with recombinant DNA (plasmids, bacteriophages, yeast artificial chromosomes, viruses); production of genetically engineered protein; prokaryotic gene organization and expression; the operon concept; eukaryotic gene organization and expression; oncogenes; haemoglobin; proteins of the immune system; some gene families (collagen, P 450, serine proteases, lipoproteins. growth hormone family, glycoprotein hormones. polyproteins); mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; different and evolving genomes. The book will be useful to students and those wishing to get up to date in this subject.
Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology-Edited by G. M. BLACKBURN and M. J. GAIT. 446 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hardback $115, paperback $49.95. This book is aimed at students and new research workers, though most research workers will find it useful. The chapters are on DNA and RNA structure; chemical synthesis; biosynthesis of nucleotides; DNA sequence information and transmission; RNA sequence information and transmission; covalent interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules; reversible interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules; interactions of nucleic acids with proteins; DNA sequence rearrangements and alterations. The text is well written, clearly laid out, with good illustrations, and the emphasis is on how the chemistry of nucleic acids explains the biology of nucleic acids.
lmmunoglobulin Genes-Edited by T. HONJO,F. W. ALT and T. H. RABBITTS.410 pp. 1989. Academic Press, London. f40. Once the structure of the immunogoblulins (I) had been determined, it was a relatively short step to the elucidation of the genetic systems controlling 1 synthesis and production. This volume reviews B-cell differentiation; roles of I in development and growth control of the B-lymphocyte lineage; long-term lymphoid cultures; the heavy-chant variable region locus; light-chain genes of the k type; 1 lambda genes; constant region genes of I and class switching; chicken I repertoire; I in lower vertebrates; 1 deficiencies; restrictive usage of I variable region; I in lymphoid neoplasms; chimeric I genes; regulation of the I mu chain; transgenic mouse I; I gene transcription: the J chain helper; the I superfamily. These studies provide models for exonintron organization, differential splicing, site-specific and region non-specific recombination, gene deletions and somatic mutations.
Retinoids Part B. Cell Differentiation and Clinical Applications. Methods in Enzymology, Vol. Is-Edited by L. PACKER. 488 pp. 1990. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. $69. Retinoic acid dramatically reduces DMBA-induced mouse skin tumor. A wide range of retinoids (R) have been tested for their effects on diploid and haploid cell lines. The most important developments have been in the use of R in the treatment of skin diseases and in cancer therapy, though the teratogenic effects of R have always to be kept in mind. The main sections of this volume are vitamin A mediated regulation of keratocyte differentiation; down-regulation of squamous cell-specific markers by R; effect of R on Sertoli cells; R and cell adhesion; R and epithelial differentiation; R inhibition of tumor cell growth; R and murine teratocarcinema; R binding proteins in embryonic carcinoma; acylCoA-retinal acyltransferase; R and rheumatoid arthritis; R and regenerating limbs; slow-release R; R-sensitive cells and cell lines; nutrition and R; antioxidant actions of R; pharmacokinetics of R; effect of R on sebaceous glands; R modulation of phorbol ester effects; photo-damaged skin; photo-aged skin; psoariasis; chemoprevention of cancer; toxicology of R.
Peptide Hormone Secretion; A Practical Approach-Edited by J. C. HUTTON and K. SIDDLE. 341 pp. 1990. IRL!Oxford University Press, Oxford. Paperback $60. The topics dealt with are peptide hormone purification: electrophoretic and immunoblotting methods; radioimmunoassay; immunometric methods; in vitro bioassay of peptide hormones; in situ hybridization for the localization and quantification of peptide mRNAs; localization of peptide hormones by light and electron microscopy; methods for the measurement of insulin secretion; cell biology of secretion; cell permeabilization; molecular biology of polypeptide hormone expression and biosynthesis; regu-
Advances in Microbial Physiology. Vol. 31-Edited by A. H. ROSEand D. W. TEMPEST. 311 pp. 1990. Academic Press, London. $95. The subjects reviewed in this volume plasmids, determinants of the catabolism
are: (1) the TOL of toluene and the 515