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The Amino Sugars. The Chemistry and Biology of Compounds Containing Amino Sugars. Vol. IIB. Metabolism and Interactions
CARBOHYDRA-IE RESEARCH
125
Book review
The Amino Sugars. The Chemistry and Biology of Compounds Containing Amino Sugars. Vol. IIB. Metabolism and Interactions: edited by E. A. BALAZS and R. W. JEANLOZ,Academic Press Inc., New York and London, 1966, xviii + 5 13 pages, !§22.00.
This book, which appeared towards the end of 1966, reminds one of a recently discovered, lost manuscript; it may have been up to date when written, but was out
of date when found. This is demonstrated by a remark of one of the authors in a footnote: “I have attempted to treat the immunochemistry of amino sugars comprehensively up to and including 1963. The delay in publication of this tome and the rapid progress in many of the areas of research covered have made it impossible to refer to original work (in&din g that from my laboratory) which became known after the summer of 1964”.* Also, the Editors apologize in the preface for the failure of Volume I to appear before Volume II; this situation is disturbing to the reader, because references to Volume I appear in the text of Volume IIB. The book, which is essentially a collection of review articles, gives extensively documented, authoritative surveys ofeach subject treated. An unusual feature is the combined bibliography and author index of 87 pages containing 2900 references, which makes location of specific references very convenient. The 14 chapters cover: Metabolism of amino sugars; Metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (rhe latest name for polysaccharides that contain amino sugars); Metabolism of glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and glycolipids; Effect of steroid hormones on glycosaminoglycans of target
connective tissues; Hexosaminidases; Neuraminidases; Enzymes degrading glycosaminoglycans; Sulfatases of glycosaminoglycans; Activation and inhibition of enzymes by polyanions containing amino sugars; Chemical and physical changes of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins caused by oxidation-reduction systems and radiation:
Interaction of polyanions with blood components; Immunochemistry; Interaction between glycoproteins and viruses; and Interaction of amino sugars and amino sugarcontaining macromoleculas with viruses, cells, and tissues. The structure of the book could be improved, and, indeed, it does not permit the presentation of overall, unifying perspectives. Thus, chapter 13 of Volume I is to
At this point in the review we have taken the liberty of deleting a paragraph dealing mainly with the book-publishing industry as, in our opinion, it would not have been helpful to the reader in appraising the book. D. HORTON AND R. S. TIPSON. *Editorial nore.
CarbchpA Res., 6 (1968) IX-126
126
BOOKREVIEW
deal with blood-group substances, yet a proposed genetic pathway for their biosynthesis is given, with inadequate explanation, in the chapter on the m&abolism of glycoproteius and glycolipids. The chapter on immunochemistry deal+ so thoroughly with blood-group substances that one wonders what will be left for treatment in Volume I; a comprehensive discussion of the entire subject in one place would have heen desirable and much more informative. The book will prove extremely useful for locating work on compounds con-
taining amino sugars, on their biological activities, and on the enzymes that catalyze attack on them, together with relatively limited comments and interpretations. ELVIN A. KAJSAT (Nkw Curbohyd. Res., 6 (1968) X25-126
York)
125
Book review
The Amino Sugars. The Chemistry and Biology of Compounds Containing Amino Sugars. Vol. IIB. Metabolism and Interactions: edited by E. A. BALAZS and R. W. JEANLOZ,Academic Press Inc., New York and London, 1966, xviii + 5 13 pages, !§22.00.
This book, which appeared towards the end of 1966, reminds one of a recently discovered, lost manuscript; it may have been up to date when written, but was out
of date when found. This is demonstrated by a remark of one of the authors in a footnote: “I have attempted to treat the immunochemistry of amino sugars comprehensively up to and including 1963. The delay in publication of this tome and the rapid progress in many of the areas of research covered have made it impossible to refer to original work (in&din g that from my laboratory) which became known after the summer of 1964”.* Also, the Editors apologize in the preface for the failure of Volume I to appear before Volume II; this situation is disturbing to the reader, because references to Volume I appear in the text of Volume IIB. The book, which is essentially a collection of review articles, gives extensively documented, authoritative surveys ofeach subject treated. An unusual feature is the combined bibliography and author index of 87 pages containing 2900 references, which makes location of specific references very convenient. The 14 chapters cover: Metabolism of amino sugars; Metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (rhe latest name for polysaccharides that contain amino sugars); Metabolism of glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and glycolipids; Effect of steroid hormones on glycosaminoglycans of target
connective tissues; Hexosaminidases; Neuraminidases; Enzymes degrading glycosaminoglycans; Sulfatases of glycosaminoglycans; Activation and inhibition of enzymes by polyanions containing amino sugars; Chemical and physical changes of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins caused by oxidation-reduction systems and radiation:
Interaction of polyanions with blood components; Immunochemistry; Interaction between glycoproteins and viruses; and Interaction of amino sugars and amino sugarcontaining macromoleculas with viruses, cells, and tissues. The structure of the book could be improved, and, indeed, it does not permit the presentation of overall, unifying perspectives. Thus, chapter 13 of Volume I is to
At this point in the review we have taken the liberty of deleting a paragraph dealing mainly with the book-publishing industry as, in our opinion, it would not have been helpful to the reader in appraising the book. D. HORTON AND R. S. TIPSON. *Editorial nore.
CarbchpA Res., 6 (1968) IX-126
126
BOOKREVIEW
deal with blood-group substances, yet a proposed genetic pathway for their biosynthesis is given, with inadequate explanation, in the chapter on the m&abolism of glycoproteius and glycolipids. The chapter on immunochemistry deal+ so thoroughly with blood-group substances that one wonders what will be left for treatment in Volume I; a comprehensive discussion of the entire subject in one place would have heen desirable and much more informative. The book will prove extremely useful for locating work on compounds con-
taining amino sugars, on their biological activities, and on the enzymes that catalyze attack on them, together with relatively limited comments and interpretations. ELVIN A. KAJSAT (Nkw Curbohyd. Res., 6 (1968) X25-126
York)