Progress in Nucleic Acid Research and Molecular Biology, Vol. 66

British Medical Journal

Full of interest not only for the molecular biologist—for whom the numerous references will be invaluable—but will also appeal to a much wider circle of biologists, and in fact to all those who are concerned with the living cell.

Eugene A. Davidson

This latest volume in a long-running series includes ten authoritative reviews on diverse subjects concerned with aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. "It is intended as a review for active investigators. "Researchers in this area are the audience. "Several of the articles are interrelated: the role of PriA in replication and recombination, genetic diseases of DNA repair, recombinational repair and RecA, and genetic disorders which lead to genomic instability and cancer. Aspects of development are discussed in chapters on retinoic acid and pituitary development. Additionally, syndecan expression and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are discussed. Each article is accompanied by a useful, detailed bibliography and can serve as a reference source and up-to-date compilation of work in the noted areas. "Investigators working in these areas will want access to this material. The volume would be improved if the editor had provided some prefatory remarks linking related materials and providing an overall theme.

Howard H. Sky-Peck

This is an up-to-date review of the state-of-the-art in research of the structure and function of large molecules such as proteins, RNA, DNA, viruses, ferritin, and various subjects related to replication and control of living organisms. "The purpose is to review a number of research areas dealing with molecular biology of nucleoproteins, nucleic acids, and interaction both in vivo and in vitro. "The volume is directed at those individuals working in the area of macromolecules, their structure and functions. The articles are aimed at biochemists, molecular biologists working in these fields, and graduate students learning the subject in class or laboratory. "Included are discussions of global gene regulation in E.coli; the structure and function of eukaryotic nuclear RNase and its ability to self-splice and cleave various t-RNAs; feritin, a multimeric iron-storage protein and its regulation of synthesis coupled with iron concentration that affects m-RNA; and the effect of parvoviruses and other linear DNA genome viruses causing changes in DNA structure in insects and vertebrates. "I enjoyed this book. It is an excellent review of a number of interesting topics. However, I would criticize the lack of sufficient diagrams to describe the three-dimensional structures in relation to function. There is, unfortunately, no glossary to interpret the many acronyms used in the various articles. In spite of this, I highly recommend this book for libraries and scientific personnel working in the field.

Philip M. Sass

This volume is a compilation of disparate, apparently unrelated chapters that cover a wide range of topics, including nucleic acid structure, gene expression of the malic enzyme, antisense technology, and control of translational stop signals in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. "The book does not contain a preface and it is unclear what the purpose of the book is. "With no preface, the book also lacks a discussion of the target audience for which the book is intended. However, the target audience for this book is very limited, because the book lacks a coherent theme. "The various chapters are well written and for the most part very informative. For example, there is a very interesting theoretical discussion on the intricacies of the mechanics of translational stop codons. "I would recommend purchase of this book only by libraries, because the book contains chapters that cover so many different topics.

From The Critics

Full of interest not only for the molecular biologist — for whom the numerous references will be invaluable — but will also appeal to a much wider circle of biologists, and in fact to all those who are concerned with the living cell.

Booknews

Volume 44 of the series comprises seven articles on structure and action of mammalian ribonuclease (angiogenin) inhibitor; bacterial adenylyl cyclases; initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II--a multi-step process; regulation of repair of alkylation damage in mammalian genomes; cell delivery and mechanisms of action of antisense oligonucleotides; enzyme organization in DNA precursor biosynthesis; and identification and characterization of novel substrates for protein tyrosine kinases. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From The Critics

Reviewer: Eugene A Davidson, PhD(Georgetown University School of Medicine)
Description: The nine chapters in this latest review volume cover a broad variety of topics ranging from a discussion of ATP-dependent restriction enzymes to a class of mammalian transposons.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide reviews of selected topics in nucleic acid research.
Audience: Investigators wishing to stay current in these areas will wish to use this volume, which should be in the medical or science library.
Features: Each of the presentations is authoritatively written, contains a brief summary, and is accompanied by an extensive and current bibliography. The only chapter not concerned with DNA-RNA and related material is one on myelin basic protein 22, a transmembrane protein within which mutations are associated with peripheral neuropathies.
Assessment: This volume maintains the high standards of its predecessors but, as with many of its type, suffers from the lack of a coordinating prefatory chapter and a failure to present related topics in an integrated fashion.

From the Publisher

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES
"Full of interest not only for the molecular biologist—for whom the numerous references will be invaluable—but will also appeal to a much wider circle of biologists, and in fact to all those who are concerned with the living cell."
—-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL

3 Stars from Doody