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Venoms
TIBS- May 1978 approach; are new concepts and principles involved in its presentation to the novice which must be fundamentally defined and systematically discussed. While I believe that there are, the present book, despite its title, does not reflect this possibility. Only here and there, notably in the article by H. Kuhn on 'Evolution', do we find evidence of this kind of approach. In the main this is a collection of topics in biophysics presented in a manner intended to provide enough background (in biology and in physics), to connect up with the stem of the reader's basic knowledge in these two areas. Whether successfully, however, will depend, more or less, upon whether the reader was more physically, or more biologically trained. I have the feeling that the book is kinder to the biologist although he too is likely to be left behind, quite ~apidly, in some, at least, of the presentations. I doubt whether for the physicist or. engineer the book will be the missing link to biology. It starts off with a discussion of cellular ultrastructure and then treats the composition and structure of nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. This is followed by a chapter devoted to methods (principles not experimental details). Strong emphasis is deservedly placed on X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, light scattering, etc. but while viscosity is not treated at all, an excessively large amount of space is devoted to the M6ssbauer effect. Molecular and atomic forces are then discussed in good detail and supplemented by an extensive presentation of energy transfer processes and the activated state. This leads naturally to a discussion of radiation effects and tracer (isotope) methods. The presentation of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics which follows is aimed mainly at chemical reactions and particularly the question of fast reactions is very well discussed. The next three chapters deal with enzymes, nucleic acids and membranes, respectively. Membranes in particular are very carefully treated. A chapter on sensory transduction, with emphasis on nerve conduction, structure of epithelia and molecular recognition, is followed by an extensive discussion of photobiophysics. Photosynthesis, energy conduction, photomorphogenesis and photoreceptors are all extensively presented. The next section deals with biomechanics. Muscular contraction, sap movement (in plants), swimming and the reception of sound, inter alia, are given extensive treatment. Next considered are the effects of a variety of fields, electrical, magnetic and gravitational. The final two sections deal with cybernetics and evolution.
119 Some of these chapters are excellent, and the book is beautifully produced. The index seems to be adequate. There are, to my mind, serious gaps, but what has been put together is satisfactory. However, the literature quoted is mainly that before 1975, so that the book in general may be taken to reflect the thinking of the first half of this decade. It is my feeling that this will be a book which will be nice to own - for a few years - until progress has overtaken it. In addition you have to know German. A. SlLBERBERG
A. Silberberg is Professor o f Biorheology and Macromolecular Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot. Israel.
Venoms V e n o m s : Chemistry and Molecular Biology
by Anthony T. Tu,publishedby John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1977. $43.- (£24.50) (x + 560 pages)
It is a pleasure to turn over the pages of this volume and its general format is attractive. When reading it, however, one is rapidly faced with the problem of the credibility of some of the data. I doubt, for example, that Haux and his colleagues will agree with the structure of apamin given on p. 504. Although it is immediately apparent that the inclusion of the third disulfide bridge in the peptidic backbone of this neurotoxic component of bee venom is a mistake, other errors may prove more difficult to find. This is the case on p. 461 where the author claims, after misinterpreting the data on the purification of toxins from three scorpions (Miranda et al., 1970), that 'scorpion venoms have higher toxin contents than do snake venoms'. If properly revised, I guess that Tu's book, will be very useful, at least for the references, to every one interested in venoms. I must confess that I am now quite convinced that the author was right when talking, in the introduction to his book, of a 'monumental task'. H. ROCHAT
Our knowledge of venoms has increased very rapidly during the last ten years. Thus, every attempt to present it in a concise way must be encouraged. However, as the task is a tremendous one, success may prove to be very hard, if not impossible to achieve, especially if one is the first to make this solo trip. Anthony Tu's book is divided into four sections, the first three dealing with snake venoms (456 pp.), the fourth with 'other venoms', that is, venoms of scorpions, spiders, bees, hornets, wasps, ants and gila monster (78 pp.). This unequal emphasis probably reflects the author's personal interests rather than the state of current knowledge in the field. The first three chapters concern the non-protein components, the enzymes, and the properties and actions of snake venoms. This may not seem very logical since enzymes play a role in the activity of snake venoms particularly in the case of Viperidae. In addition why does the author deal first with the binding of neurotoxins to acetylcholine receptors and, only later, with the chemistry and structural aspects of these proteins? The references for snake venoms are numerous and up-to-date but this is not the case for 'other venoms'. Moreover I have the feeling that all the references have been taken as gospel and given the same weight when it is common knowledge that both the best and the worst has been published on venoms: for example, I am doubtful about the presence of a toxin similar to Elapidae E-toxin in the venom of the Ethiopian Viperidae Echis carinatus.
H. Rochat is Professor of Biochemistry at the Laboratoire de Biochimie. Facult~ de M~decine, Secteur Nord, Marseille. France.
mcology as a
molecular
science I n t r o d u c t i o n to Ecological Biochemistry
by J.B. Harborne, published by Academic Press, London, 1977. £7.- (243 pages) This is a fascinating book. J.B. Harborne, that distinguished phytochemist from the University of Reading, presents an account of an exciting area for interdisciplinary study which is opening up on the boundaries of the molecular, biological and ecological sciences. Ecological biochemistry is introduced as that fusion of biochemistry with ecology which considers the molecular bases of plant and animal interactions in the natural environment. Others have termed this subject 'chemical ecology', and doubtless other names will also arise, reflecting various disciplinary starting points from which the subject may be approached. But the excitement is in the subject, not in its name. In his ambition to produce a general introduction for students of biology and biochemistry, the author has provided a well referenced, wide ranging text which will bring illumination and stimulus to many more. The book has its centre of gravity in the ecological aspects of plant biochemistry, with plant-insect and in-
119 Some of these chapters are excellent, and the book is beautifully produced. The index seems to be adequate. There are, to my mind, serious gaps, but what has been put together is satisfactory. However, the literature quoted is mainly that before 1975, so that the book in general may be taken to reflect the thinking of the first half of this decade. It is my feeling that this will be a book which will be nice to own - for a few years - until progress has overtaken it. In addition you have to know German. A. SlLBERBERG
A. Silberberg is Professor o f Biorheology and Macromolecular Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot. Israel.
Venoms V e n o m s : Chemistry and Molecular Biology
by Anthony T. Tu,publishedby John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1977. $43.- (£24.50) (x + 560 pages)
It is a pleasure to turn over the pages of this volume and its general format is attractive. When reading it, however, one is rapidly faced with the problem of the credibility of some of the data. I doubt, for example, that Haux and his colleagues will agree with the structure of apamin given on p. 504. Although it is immediately apparent that the inclusion of the third disulfide bridge in the peptidic backbone of this neurotoxic component of bee venom is a mistake, other errors may prove more difficult to find. This is the case on p. 461 where the author claims, after misinterpreting the data on the purification of toxins from three scorpions (Miranda et al., 1970), that 'scorpion venoms have higher toxin contents than do snake venoms'. If properly revised, I guess that Tu's book, will be very useful, at least for the references, to every one interested in venoms. I must confess that I am now quite convinced that the author was right when talking, in the introduction to his book, of a 'monumental task'. H. ROCHAT
Our knowledge of venoms has increased very rapidly during the last ten years. Thus, every attempt to present it in a concise way must be encouraged. However, as the task is a tremendous one, success may prove to be very hard, if not impossible to achieve, especially if one is the first to make this solo trip. Anthony Tu's book is divided into four sections, the first three dealing with snake venoms (456 pp.), the fourth with 'other venoms', that is, venoms of scorpions, spiders, bees, hornets, wasps, ants and gila monster (78 pp.). This unequal emphasis probably reflects the author's personal interests rather than the state of current knowledge in the field. The first three chapters concern the non-protein components, the enzymes, and the properties and actions of snake venoms. This may not seem very logical since enzymes play a role in the activity of snake venoms particularly in the case of Viperidae. In addition why does the author deal first with the binding of neurotoxins to acetylcholine receptors and, only later, with the chemistry and structural aspects of these proteins? The references for snake venoms are numerous and up-to-date but this is not the case for 'other venoms'. Moreover I have the feeling that all the references have been taken as gospel and given the same weight when it is common knowledge that both the best and the worst has been published on venoms: for example, I am doubtful about the presence of a toxin similar to Elapidae E-toxin in the venom of the Ethiopian Viperidae Echis carinatus.
H. Rochat is Professor of Biochemistry at the Laboratoire de Biochimie. Facult~ de M~decine, Secteur Nord, Marseille. France.
mcology as a
molecular
science I n t r o d u c t i o n to Ecological Biochemistry
by J.B. Harborne, published by Academic Press, London, 1977. £7.- (243 pages) This is a fascinating book. J.B. Harborne, that distinguished phytochemist from the University of Reading, presents an account of an exciting area for interdisciplinary study which is opening up on the boundaries of the molecular, biological and ecological sciences. Ecological biochemistry is introduced as that fusion of biochemistry with ecology which considers the molecular bases of plant and animal interactions in the natural environment. Others have termed this subject 'chemical ecology', and doubtless other names will also arise, reflecting various disciplinary starting points from which the subject may be approached. But the excitement is in the subject, not in its name. In his ambition to produce a general introduction for students of biology and biochemistry, the author has provided a well referenced, wide ranging text which will bring illumination and stimulus to many more. The book has its centre of gravity in the ecological aspects of plant biochemistry, with plant-insect and in-