224

Scrapie and Mad Cow Disease

by G D Hunte r . pp 115. Vantage Press, New York , 1993. $14.95 ISBN 0 - 5 3 3 - 1 0 2 3 0 - 8

This little book describes the author's experience as a research scientist who worked in an agricultural research institute from 1961 until his retirement in 1986. He writes in a rather informal style concerning his own work but manages to incorporate many interesting facts about the clinical symptoms and infecti~;e agent of scrapie and the role of similar agents in the causation of Bovine Spongiform Encepahlopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans.

The story is told in a disarming manner with some amusing character studies of the scientists involved. I think the author must have been inspired by the many political diaries presently on the market. Nevertheless, having read the book I feel more secure in answering questions about BSE.

As the author says it is amazing that in these days of spectacular advances based on molecular biology that we cannot be certain of the nature of the infective agent, named "prion" (proteinaceous infective particle) by Stanley Prusiner and in particular whether or not a nucleic acid is involved in its replication. It is well established that such prions may be transmitted both between individuals of the same species of animal and, with greater difficulty, between different species. Thus it is not possible to say with certainty that the prion for BSE could not infect humans, but it seems unlikely in normal circumstances.

I can recommend this book to those who are interested in the "prion" diseases and to those who would like to know more about life as a research worker with all its frustrations and compensations.

Peter N Campbell

Bioquimica Cuantitativa II: Cuestiones Sobre Meta- bolismo (Quantitative Biochemistry II: Questions on Metabolism)

By Jos6 M Macarul la , Aida Mar ino and Albe r to Maca- rulla, pp 442. Editorial Rever t6 , Espana , Madrid. 1992 (in Spanish) ISBN 8 4 - 2 9 1 - 7 3 4 3 - 9

Both students and teachers of biochemistry have long been privileged to have excellent general textbooks. Recently, several of these 'classics' have been beautifully re-edited so that their status as course backbones is unlikely to be in jeopardy. However, for the average student, aesthetics considerations are usually secondary to the more earthly urgency to perform well in the exams, and students frequently complain of the lack of opportunity for improvement of their problem-solving skills. Tutorials are often less frequent than they should be, a situation which becomes critical in poorer universities. In that respect, short answer questions found in standard textbooks may be good enough for self-assessment but do not give much clue as to the analytical steps required to solve the problems.

Cuestiones sobre Metabolismo, the second volume of the series Bioquimica Cuantitativa, aims to satisfy this requirement. Its core is made up of what its authors call 'resolved questions'. These are step-by-step, in extenso solutions of typical biochem- ical questions which are smoothly inserted in a general descrip- tion of the respective topic. The result is easily readable, highly instructive and lacks the dryness so characteristic of books designed exclusively for self-testing.

The volume is organized in a rather classical manner, with an attractive layout and is enriched with plenty of illustrations. It

begins with bioenergetics and enzymes, with the key role of ATP as energetic currency acknowledged with a full chapter. Degrad- ative and synthetic pathways are well covered, following by a long section about the transmission of genetic information, and finishing with an integrative overview of human metabolism. The information is presented succinctly and clearly and the questions are relevant.

I did not like, however, the section on enzyme kinetics. The once popular but error-prone double-reciprocal plots is used excessively whereas more robust graphical analyses such as the Eadie-Hofstee or Dixon plots are only mentioned. I found no reference to computer-aided analysis which today is the most accurate method of obtaining kinetic parameters.

The shortcomings of this book are that it presents biochem- istry as a finished story. It gives the impression that all is clear and understood; that there is nothing else to be done or discovered. I think that this perspective is wrong and could deter potential researchers from our field. In this respect, reference to 'risky' and exciting research currently undertaken could be useful. Protein structure and targeting, immunology, membrane transport and the new developments in signal transduction are examples of 'hot ' fields which might be included.

Altogether, this volume is a valuable contribution to self-study aids and would be a good companion for biochemical students who wish to work in Spanish.

Felipe Barros

Cellular Calcium: A Practical Approach

Edi ted by J G M c C o r m a c k and P H Cobbold . pp 400. Oxford Universi ty Press, Oxford . 1991. £35

ISBN 0 - 1 9 - 9 6 3 1 3 0 - 1

Cellular Calcium is a volume in the Practical Approach Series. This edition describes the current techniques used for measuring calcium levels in cells. Current methodology favoured for studies with cytosolic calcium ligands, for example calmodulin, and for studies with major membrane-bound calcium transporting pro- teins is also given.

Each of the 16 chapters is written by a different contributor, who, according to the Preface, has experience in performing the methods described within that particular chapter. Thus, the chapters are written from the viewpoint of someone carrying out the experiment. Most chapters provide a brief introduction to the methodology involved and include a working description of any instrumentation used, including basic concepts underlying calibration where appropriate. Protocols are set out in a

comprehensive step-by-step format and the author frequently describes typical results and explains how to interpret data. In most chapters the author also describes the pitfalls of the techniques and gives ways of overcoming these.

The first six chapters deal with different methods for detecting calcium. There is a chapter devoted to each of the following detection methods: fluorescent indicators, photoproteins, namely aequorin, metallochromic indicators, macro- and micro- electrodes, the use of NMR measurements to detect calcium by fluorine labelled indicators, and X-ray microanalysis. The book is not limited to bench experimental work since there is also a chapter dealing with computer programmes and simulations for calcium buffering.

The next three chapters outline ways to study the major cytosolic calcium ligands: troponin C, calmodulin and annexins. Basic molecular biological techniques are covered for the expression of calmodulin in bacterial vectors and subsequent manipulation in mouse C127 cells and the fungus, A nidulans. These methods could also be adapted for the expression of other genes.

BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 21(4) 1993