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The biochemistry of plants — a comprehensive treatise
Cell Biology
International
Reports,
Vol. 12, No. 1, January
The Biochemistry of Plants - a comprehensive P.K. Stumpf and E.E. Conn Editors in Chief Volume 9 Lipids: Structure and function 363 pages Academic Press, 1987. This volume is an excellent addition Stumpf.
1988
73
treatise
P.K. Stumpf editor to the series
In 1980 volume 4 appeared on the same topic,
by Conn and and volume
9 has been commissioned to be complementary to the earlier Great care,
has obviously
been taken,
to prevent
volume.
unnecessary
duplication of information present in the previous volume and to highlight new significant developments made in the area. The book has 12 chapters which clearly show an increase in our understanding, at the molecular level, of the enzymology of lipid biosynthesis in plants. Such information is crucial for the future application of recombinant DNA technology to crop improvement _ The first
chapter,
of acyl lipids,
gives
methods required
working with concerning
a
biochemistry.
lipoxygenase
lipases
and considers
Chapter 4, by Huang, is
the practical
problems of
them and the developments which have been made their
kept (deliberately
properties, ?) short
the reader to more extensive recently.
of acyl carrier
isolation
In chapter protein
and expression.
of saturated and it
fatty
is a pity
Chapter 5
acids has been
he has not referred
reviews which he has written 6 Ohlrogee describes
in lipid
have been made in elucidating its Chapter 8, by Stymne and Stobart, experimental
and determination
overview of the chemical In chapter 3 Vick and
in depth.
by Stumpf, on the biosynthesis
topic
on analysis
good systematic
for lipid
Zimmerman discuss concerned with
by Pollard,
system for studying
metabolism structure presents
on this
the central
role
and advances which and expression. an exciting
triacylglycerol
biosynthesis Joyard and Deuce
in
which one can actually see the lipid grow. review galactolipid biosynthesis and elegantly point to the necessity of using immunological methods for assessment of purity of membrane fractions _ In chapter 11 Kolattukudy describes his
74
Cell Biology
research on lipid-derived normal exacting manner.
International
Reports,
defensive
polymers
Vol. 12, No. 1, January
1988
and waxes in his
This last chapter contains information the cDNA and genomic DNA for cutinase - the only cloning data presented in the book. Like all constraints execute it.
such expositions of putting
together
it
suffers
of
from the normal
an idea and the time taken to
cDNA data is now available for lipoxygenase and acyl carrier protein, however despite the lack of this the book is well written and gives a good overview. Perhaps the next volume should be called Lipids: molecular biology! Whilst reviewing the book my two and a half year old niece had occasion to explore the use of a pencil I had foolishly left out. She enthusiastically
highlighted
certain
chapters!
I said it
was
the only book I had and asked her what to do. She replied “well get another book”, my advice to those who are serious about plant biochemistry “well
and think
get another
they already have a number of books is book” - this one is well worthwhile.
Dr. A.R. SLARAS UNILEVER RESEARCH PROTEIN CHEMISTRY
International
Reports,
Vol. 12, No. 1, January
The Biochemistry of Plants - a comprehensive P.K. Stumpf and E.E. Conn Editors in Chief Volume 9 Lipids: Structure and function 363 pages Academic Press, 1987. This volume is an excellent addition Stumpf.
1988
73
treatise
P.K. Stumpf editor to the series
In 1980 volume 4 appeared on the same topic,
by Conn and and volume
9 has been commissioned to be complementary to the earlier Great care,
has obviously
been taken,
to prevent
volume.
unnecessary
duplication of information present in the previous volume and to highlight new significant developments made in the area. The book has 12 chapters which clearly show an increase in our understanding, at the molecular level, of the enzymology of lipid biosynthesis in plants. Such information is crucial for the future application of recombinant DNA technology to crop improvement _ The first
chapter,
of acyl lipids,
gives
methods required
working with concerning
a
biochemistry.
lipoxygenase
lipases
and considers
Chapter 4, by Huang, is
the practical
problems of
them and the developments which have been made their
kept (deliberately
properties, ?) short
the reader to more extensive recently.
of acyl carrier
isolation
In chapter protein
and expression.
of saturated and it
fatty
is a pity
Chapter 5
acids has been
he has not referred
reviews which he has written 6 Ohlrogee describes
in lipid
have been made in elucidating its Chapter 8, by Stymne and Stobart, experimental
and determination
overview of the chemical In chapter 3 Vick and
in depth.
by Stumpf, on the biosynthesis
topic
on analysis
good systematic
for lipid
Zimmerman discuss concerned with
by Pollard,
system for studying
metabolism structure presents
on this
the central
role
and advances which and expression. an exciting
triacylglycerol
biosynthesis Joyard and Deuce
in
which one can actually see the lipid grow. review galactolipid biosynthesis and elegantly point to the necessity of using immunological methods for assessment of purity of membrane fractions _ In chapter 11 Kolattukudy describes his
74
Cell Biology
research on lipid-derived normal exacting manner.
International
Reports,
defensive
polymers
Vol. 12, No. 1, January
1988
and waxes in his
This last chapter contains information the cDNA and genomic DNA for cutinase - the only cloning data presented in the book. Like all constraints execute it.
such expositions of putting
together
it
suffers
of
from the normal
an idea and the time taken to
cDNA data is now available for lipoxygenase and acyl carrier protein, however despite the lack of this the book is well written and gives a good overview. Perhaps the next volume should be called Lipids: molecular biology! Whilst reviewing the book my two and a half year old niece had occasion to explore the use of a pencil I had foolishly left out. She enthusiastically
highlighted
certain
chapters!
I said it
was
the only book I had and asked her what to do. She replied “well get another book”, my advice to those who are serious about plant biochemistry “well
and think
get another
they already have a number of books is book” - this one is well worthwhile.
Dr. A.R. SLARAS UNILEVER RESEARCH PROTEIN CHEMISTRY