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The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual - Student's Guide to Techniques

b y J W Z u b r i c k , J o h n W i l e y & Sons, N e w Y o r k , 1992. p p 366. 15.95 ISBN 0-471-57504-6 This laboratory manual is the third edition of a student's guide to techniques and safety procedures in a chemistry laboratory and contains many additions to earlier editions, and much of the sound advice, good practice and common sense contained in this text applies with equal force to experiments taking place in biochemistry laboratories. The first Chapter emphasises the absolute importance of safety features and is based on 15 general guidelines to practical work and attitudes to work; the second explains the importance of keeping suitable notebooks. The remaining Chapters cover many topics including hints on dealing with jointware, and the hazards associated with them, Pasteur pipettes, syringes and needles, drying agents, crystallisation techniques and determination of melting points, extraction procedures and washing, sources of heat, distillation and reflux. Details of many types of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are included. Problems associated with microscale variations of many procedures are also covered in this edition. Throughout, the topics are dealt with in a refreshingly clear writing style, indeed with many attempts at humour to lighten what are essentially extremely serious topics. Hopefully, therefore, readers of this user-friendly manual, aimed particularly at students, might give this text the full attention it deserves. N M Packter

Gene Structure and Transcription (Second Edition)

T r e v o r B e e b e e a n d Julian B u r k e . p p 89. I R L Press at O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y Press. 1992 ISBN 0-19-963317-7 The book belongs to the concisely written 'In Focus' series and includes references at the end of chapters, an index, a list of abbreviations and a glossary. Gene Structure and Transcription is an updated version of the first edition by the same authors. Individual sections have been revised due to rapid changes in the field. There is substantial addition to the coverage of RNA processing and eukaryotic D N A binding proteins, since these areas above all are ones where there has been rapid progress. The book consists of four chapters: (1) Gene structure and transcription machinery in prokaryotes, (2) Regulation of transcription in prokaryotes, (3) Gene structure and transcription machinery in eukaryotes, and (4) Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Chapter 1 deals with the conservation of D N A sequences from the start of R N A synthesis and the signaling of termination by hairpin and loop structures of transcribed RNA. We have to become familiar with longer sequence elements (boxes) beside the three-letter genetic code of structural genes. The prokaryotic R N A polymerase 'core' enzyme turned out to consist of five polypeptides. Earlier we did not know about the omega subunit. In chapter 2 examples of gene regulation are recounted. These examples represent different ways in which bacteria regulate their own genes. Although, prokaryotic genes are regulated primarily at the D N A level, there are exceptions, when the expression is dictated by the amount of gene products already present in cells, ie regulation at the level of translation. The third chapter points out that the organization of eukaryotic genes differs significantly from that in prokaryotes. At the gross level, the fact that eukaryotic genes are distributed on several chromosomes rather than one has important con-

sequences for gene regulation. The concept of operon does not apply in eukaryotes, and polycistronic m R N A is rare or nonexistent. Eukaryotic genes are often interspersed between lengthy non-coding D N A sequences. A further difference is that protein-coding genes are split (exons, introns) with the consequence of genes being of enormous size. Alternatively, eukaryotic genes may be modular, individual exons specifying particuliar functions reflected as protein domains, exons are available for reshuffling, and thus new combinations of exons may occur facilitating the rapid evolution of new proteins. Finally, the nuclear membrane separates processes of transcription and translation in space and time which has also implications for the control of gene expression. Chapter 4 deals with the regulation of transcription in eukaryotes which occurs at a variety of levels. Proteins can interact either to stimulate or to repress activity of a particular gene. Unlike prokaryotes changes occur via differential usage of promoter, termination and splice sequences+ and the editing of R N A in various tissues to produce different mRNAs from the same gene. In such a busy research scene as gene structure and transcription where new information is emerging constantly, the authors do not expect that text can stay up to date for long. Their way to get around this is to write a relatively short text (89 pages), concentrating on the most significant changes in research, and which can be updated quickly and regularly. The authors have accomplished these aims pointing out the similarities and differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, making distinctions between structural aspects and regulation. References have been omitted deliberately from the body of the text, but list of a comprehensive set of review at the end of each chapter allows easy access to primary sources. The idea of authors suggesting the text as a bed-time reading is not a bad one. However, those interested in gene expression may enjoy reading and not fall asleep so soon. Gaspar Banfalvi

Cellular Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins II

E d i t e d by J F G l a t z a n d G J van d e r Vusse. p p 205. K l u w e r , D o r d r e c h t , N e t h e r l a n d s . 1993. D M 3 0 5 ISBN 0-7923-2395-5

Cellular Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins reports the proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins. While some of the papers are concerned with quite distinct classes of fatty acid binding proteins, the largest number discuss various aspects of the family characterised by a 10-stranded 13barrel structure that has been located in a variety of tissues in vertebrates and insects. The structures have been characterised by crystallography and, in solution, by NMR. They appear to have comparatively weak ligand specificity and their precise biological functions remain open to speculation. The commonality of structure with the cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins suggests both a protective and promotive role and an involvement with the supply, sequestration, traffic and utilisation of sparingly soluble ligands that are concerned with inter alia, the control of gene expression. They may exert a protective function on the heart, with evidence that their release from ischaemic heart muscle may be diagnostic of myocardial infarction. The volume will doubtless be of value to research workers in a field that is highly specialised and at a highly speculative stage. Publishers of stereo pictures should take note that most people's eyes are less than 70 mm apart, certainly not as much as 80!
A C T North

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 22(3) 1994