Lysosomal Pathways of Protein Degradation

From The Critics

Reviewer: David A. Hessinger, PhD(Loma Linda University)
Description: This up-to-date book covers the topic of protein degradation within lysosomes. Five of the seven chapters deal with lysosomal degradation of cellular proteins from different cellular sources or pathways, such as endocytosed and plasma membrane proteins, proteins from secretory pathways, proteins from membrane-bound organelles, proteins from cytoplasmic macromolecular aggregates (e.g., ribosomes), and "cytosolic" proteins.
Purpose: This book reviews the varieties of mechanisms by which lysosomes take up and degrade proteins of intracellular origin. This is worthwhile effort, especially since considerable recent attention has been given to advances in the ubiquitin/proteosome pathway of protein degradation. Thus, the interplay and relationship of the "classical" lysosomal pathway to the proteosomal pathway is particularly timely.
Audience: Although the author, a noted authority in the field, does not specify his intended audience, it is obvious from its inclusion as a unit in the Molecular Biology Intelligence series that the intended audience is biomedical scientists (researchers and graduate students). This book should also appeal to clinical specialists dealing with diabetes, cancer, and liver disease.
Features: Recent advances on specific aspects of protein degradation are presented against a background of classical studies. Chapters include sections dealing with an overview of the topic, a description of the methods used, and a brief discussion of possible directions for future research. Explicitly or implicitly embedded in each chapter are discussions of the specific mechanisms employed and their regulation. The introduction goes beyond the level of most popular current cell biology and biochemistry texts in the description and discussion of the topic of lysosomes and is particularly worthwhile for students. Figures are graphs of relevant data or diagrams depicting processes. Although the figures are black-and-white, they generally complement the text. The presence of an index may be helpful to some readers.
Assessment: The book is well written, which aids in maintaining reader interest. Suitable and ample references are provided. This book should be especially useful to researchers and students wishing to get up to speed in this field.