Camp. B&hem. Physiol. Vol. IOOA, No. 3, pp. 173-774, 1991 Pergarnon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain

BOOK REVIEWS

The Cytoskeietoo and Cell Motility-By T. M. PRESTON, C. A. KING and J. S. HYAMS. 202~~. 1990. Blackie/Chapman and Hall, London. Hardback $69.95. Paperback $29.50. Elsewhere, cloth $83.95. Paperback $35.50.

The last ten years have seen tremendous advances in our understanding of cell motility, cellular organization and control of movements within cells. This book describes the molecular components of the cytoskeleton (actin, actin binding proteins, myosin, microtubules, intermediate filaments, tektins, lamins); movement within cells (axonal transport, protozoan intracellular motility, movement of pigment cells, plant cytoplasmic streaming); mitosis; cilia and flagella; crawling movements; cell surface motility; contractile phenomena. A very interesting and useful book.

Parallels in Cell to Cell Junctions in Plants and Animals- Edited by A. W. ROBARDS, W. J. LUCAS, J. D. PITTS, H. J. JONGSMA and D. C. SPRAY. 283~~. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 178. NATO ASI series H. Cell Biology Vol. 46.

The cell to cell junctions in plants (plasmodesmata) and animals (gap junctions) allow molecules of similar size to pass, and some proteins in the plasmodesmata cross react immunologically with those in gap junctions. This book reviews the role of these junctions to act as a gating mechanism controlling communication and function between cells in plants and animals.

Activation and Desensitisation of Transducing Pathways- Edited by T. M. KONIJN, M. D. HOUSLAY and P. J. M. VAN HAAS~ERT. 320~~. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 188. NATO AS1 Series H. Cell Biology Vol. 44.

Many transducing pathways involve second messenger systems. This book considers those involved in chemotaxis and chemosensing; cyclic nucleotide coupled systems [glucagon, luteinising hormone, protein kinase]; inositol phospholipid coupled systems [insulin, purinergic linked phospholipase C]; G protein activation; cGMP phospho- diesterase in retinal rods; auxin coupled systems; regulation of the desensitization of the nicotinic AChR; thyroid function; neuronal secretion. These systems allow greater control and increase/decrease of the amplification processes in transduction.

Programmed Cell Death in Tumours and Tissues-I. D. bWEN and S. M. BCWEN. 268~~. 1990. Chapman and Hall, London. U.S.A. $85. Elsewhere $102.

Cell death can be genetically programmed or be caused by accident and injury. Various enzymes such as hydrolases, acid phosphatase, lysosomal acid phosphatase, aspartate amino transferase, adenyl cyclase can be involved. In tumour cell death there can be involvement of cytokines, natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic lymphocytes, interferons, inter- leukins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), colony stimulating factors, and granulocyte macrophage stimulating factor. The book also deals with histological techniques for demonstrating cell death using light and electron microscopy.

Tumor Suppressor Genes--Edited by G. KLEIN. 273~~. 1990. Marcel De.kker, New York. U.S.A. and Canada $99.75. Elsewhere $119.50.

Normal surrounding cells may suppress tumor cell growth. Mutation, partial deletion, chromosomal trans- location and amplification, can alter the production of growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal transmitting proteins, transcription factors, and DNA binding proteins [myc, myb], and so produce tumor growth. Oncogenes can block specific steps in the maturation process. There are also anti-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, or emergenes that can oppose tumorigenic behavior at various levels. Somatic hybridization of normal cells with malignant cells showed that the normal genome can restore the responsiveness of the tumor cells to growth control. The normal alleles of genes can counteract the genesis of retinoblastoma, Wilms tumor and osteosarcoma. These topics are all well described in the present book.

Drug Discovery; a Casebook ad Analysis--R. A. MAXWELL and S. B. ECKHARDT. 438~~. 1990. Humana Press, Clifton, NJ. $79.50.

The various twists and turns that led to the discovery of specific drugs are often forgotten. This book gives the background to the discovery and development of important drugs such as propanolol, captopril, verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem, chlorothiazide, furosemide, azathioprine, cyclo- sporine, chlorpromazine, haloperidol, imipramine, iproniazid, lithium, diazepam, L-dopa, carbamazine, indomethacin, penicillamine, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, cyclo- phosphamide, succinyl choline, halothane, fentanyl, nalox- one, albuterol, beclomethasone, cimetidine, chenodeoxy- cholic acid. These drugs have generated revenues of tens of billions of dollars! There is also an analysis of the events that led to the discovery and development of these drugs that should prove useful in future work. Although history does not repeat itself, research workers often make the same or similar mistakes.

Enzyme Hadbook 1. Class 4: Lyases-Edited by D. SCHOMBLJRG and M. SALZMANN. 810~~. 1990. Springer, Berlin. Loose leaf binder DM 248.

This series of volumes provides the data on classified groups of enzymes. The sheets are arranged according to EC number. Each enzyme is given its systematic and common names, types of reactions, substrates, products, inhibitors, cofactors, kinetic data, pH, temperature range, origin, purification, molecular data, storage conditions, and cross references to structure data banks FIR/MIPS code]. Fur- ther literature references to that enzyme are given. A very useful systematic source of information.

Protein Structure, Prediction and De&n--Edited by J. KAY, G. LUNG and D. OXXJTHORPE. 158~~. 1990. Portland Press, London. $80. Biochemical Society Symposium 40.

The topics discussed in this volume are; composer-a rule based approach to modelling protein structure; secondary

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