Signal Transduction

From The Critics

Reviewer: Rex Chisolm, PhD(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This book reviews the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for signal transduction in a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms as well as Drosophila, C. elegans and Paramecium. It consists of 16 current reviews by the leading researchers in the field.
Purpose: By providing reviews of a variety of signal transduction systems in model organisms amenable to genetic and molecular genetic manipulation, the authors hope to stimulate students and investigators interested in signal transduction process in higher systems. Because the model organisms represented in the reviews in this book have produced many important new results and insights into how cells sense their environment, this book has a good chance of contributing to this goal.
Audience: This book is intended for investigators interested in microbial systems as well as for students and investigators interested in the broad question of signal or sensory transduction. The book largely succeeds in this regard. The reviews are generally by leaders in the field, but they are easily accessible to students and postdoctoral fellows.
Features: This is an attractive and readable volume. The book makes good use of figures and diagrams to aid in understanding concepts presented in the text. Because the reviews are reasonably current, the cited literature is current though about mid-1992. In general, the appropriate papers are cited and this book should serve as a useful jumping off point for people interested in delving into the primary literature. The table of contents and index are also useful tools for finding topics of interest.
Assessment: This book should be quite useful. It would serve as an excellent basis for a graduate course in signal transduction in model organisms or as part of a course on signal transduction. It would be a valuable addition to any medical or science library, not to mention the personal libraries of graduate students and investigators interested in signal transduction.

Rex Chisolm

This book reviews the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for signal transduction in a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms as well as Drosophila, C. elegans and Paramecium. It consists of 16 current reviews by the leading researchers in the field. "By providing reviews of a variety of signal transduction systems in model organisms amenable to genetic and molecular genetic manipulation, the authors hope to stimulate students and investigators interested in signal transduction process in higher systems. Because the model organisms represented in the reviews in this book have produced many important new results and insights into how cells sense their environment, this book has a good chance of contributing to this goal. "This book is intended for investigators interested in microbial systems as well as for students and investigators interested in the broad question of signal or sensory transduction. The book largely succeeds in this regard. The reviews are generally by leaders in the field, but they are easily accessible to students and postdoctoral fellows. "This is an attractive and readable volume. The book makes good use of figures and diagrams to aid in understanding concepts presented in the text. Because the reviews are reasonably current, the cited literature is current though about mid-1992. In general, the appropriate papers are cited and this book should serve as a useful jumping off point for people interested in delving into the primary literature. The table of contents and index are also useful tools for finding topics of interest. "This book should be quite useful. It would serve as an excellent basis for a graduatecourse in signal transduction in model organisms or as part of a course on signal transduction. It would be a valuable addition to any medical or science library, not to mention the personal libraries of graduate students and investigators interested in signal transduction.

Booknews

Reviews current knowledge of molecular mechanisms for sensory transduction in a variety of microbial systems, as well as work done in nematodes and Drosophila. Intended for researchers studying microbial systems as well as investigators and students of signal transduction in more complex organisms who can learn from the paradigms and mechanisms conserved between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody