198 Book Reviews

orientation and data from the literature. The second edition has maintained this high standard by providing a series of new multi-authored integrative reviews on the major topics of membrane structure and function. The main title of the series is a little too restrictive since many of the topics covered (cytoskeletal proteins, gramicidin transmembrane channel, control of ionic channels, calcium induced potas- sium transport, sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane, cell coupling, membrane fluidity, the acetylcholine receptor and the beta adrenergic receptor) are concerned with the present knowledge of the structures and functions of membranes, external membranes, rnitochondrial membranes, chloroplast membranes and their enzyme activities (mitochrondrial oxidative phosphorylation, cytochrome oxidase, the cyto- chromes, ubiquinol, ADP/ATP carrier, the transferases, etc.)

This second edition is strongly recommended as the best available synoptic review of what is known about membranes.

Receptor mediated targeting of drags. NATO AS1 series A. Life Sciences. Volume IQ-Edited by G. GREOORIALXS, G. POSTE, J. SENIOR and A. TROUET. 491 pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. $79.50.

If a drug can be bound to a ligand that recognizes and binds to the receptor surface on the target organ i.e. cancer cells, the drug can be given in lower effective concentrations and the side effects may be reduced. This volume contains the papers presented at a symposium held in Greece and discusses the use of monoclonal antibodies and liposomes as the targeting systems. Problems such as the delivery and release of the drug from the conjugate, the non toxicity of the conjugate and tissue barriers are discussed. Some success has been obtained with the linking of daunorubicin (DNR) to serum albumin through a tetrapeptide arm. This conju- gated molecule was more effective than DNR alone in the treatment of murine leukemia. Similar success was obtained by linking the antimalarial drug primaquine to asialofetuin, a glycoprotein selectively taken up by hepatocytes. The conjugate was significantly more effective against the hepatic stage of malaria. This book provides a valuable guide to this important new stage in the biochemistry of drug design.

Advaaces in myocardiology. Volume &-Edited by N. S. DHALLA and D. J. HEARSE. 669 pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. 579.50.

This symposium volume covers all the basic aspects of cardiac physiology, i.e. the role of calcium and calcium antagonists, phospholipids, nucleotides, beta adrenergic blocking agents, ischaemic-reperfusion injury, NMR studies and the role of the Na-K ATPase. The papers are grouped in four main sections: physiological aspects of heart function; metabolic aspects of heart function; patho- physiological aspects of heart dysfunction; and pharma- cological aspects of heart disfunction. Each paper is pre- ceded by a short abstract and has a reference list with full titles of quoted papers. The volume is well produced and, in addition to giving a clear picture of the research front

on myocardiology, shows the methodology and present thinking about the function and dysfunction of muscle.

Biochemistry of lipids and membranes- Edited by D. E. VANCE and J. E. VANCE. 593 pp. 198.5. Benjamin/Cummings, Menlo Park; Addison-Wesley, Wokingham. E34.95.

This multi-authored volume has two objectives: to provide an advanced textbook in lipid and membrane biochemistry; and to provide a clear summary for research workers in these fields. It does both of these well. The chapters deal with: cholesterol, evolution of structure and function; physical properties and functional roles of lipids in mem- branes; lipid metabolism; oxidation of fatty acids; fatty acid synthesis; fatty acid desaturation and chain elongation; metabolism of triglycerides; phospholipid metabolism; either-linked glycerolipids; phospholipase; eicosanoids; sphingolipids; metabolism of cholesterol and lipoproteins; lipid assembly into cell membranes; and assembly of proteins into membranes.

The chapters are well written, clearly illustrated, with a selected bibliography, and four to five problems per chapter (answers given at the back). This book is recommended reading for those who wish to go beyond the basic biochem- istry textbooks and wish to have further insight into the dynamic role of lipids in the cell.

Drags a&Hog lipid metabolism (VIII). Advances ia experi- mental medicine sod biology. Volume ltI3-Edited by D. KRITCHEVSKY, W. L. HOLMES and R. PAOL~X. 502 pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. $72.50.

This volume contains papers presented at the 8th inter- national symposium on drugs affecting lipid metabolism. New developments are presented on: receptors for lipo- proteins; measurement, structure and genetics of hpo- proteins; cellular biology of atherosclerosis, non-invasive assessment of atherosclerosis; hypolipidemic drugs (aryl- oxyacetic acid derivatives); and dietary factors affecting lipoproteins. The information presented shows our in- creased understanding of the molecular biology of Iipidemia and the resulting atherosclerosis and cardiac failure.

Glycosylated hemoglobins. Methods of aaalysis sod clinical applications. Clinical and biochemical analysis series, Volume W-E. C. ABRAHAM. 238 pp. 1985. Dekker, New York. $59.75 (USA), S71.50 (elsewhere).

In diabetics, where the serum glucose level is relatively high, there is a tendency for the hemoglobin to be non- enzymatically glycosylated. The hexose can be linked to the amino terminal groups of the beta chains, the alpha chain amino terminus and the eta amino groups of the lysyl residues. Ten different glycosylated Hb have been identified. The glycosylated Hb levels reflect the average glucose concentration in the serum for the past 2-3 months. This book describes: the structure and function of the glycosylated Hb; the isolation and determination of their concentration; their presence in diabetes and hemolytic disease; and the glycosylation of other body proteins (albumin, lipoproteins. RBC, nerve proteins, collagen, lens crystallins, insulin and osteocalcin).