102

methods in the previous editions are significantly updated. As

the authors state, some of the methods have been simplified
from standard research protocols, but adequate references are
given to standard methods in such cases.
The experiments and techniques cover both in vivo and in
vitro technologies. In the former category are the experiments
on conventional meiotic and mitotic analysis, complementation,
mutant selection, and exploitation of nonsense suppressor
mutants. More recent techniques are represented by transformation, gene replacement, gene cloning by complementation,
the use of lacZ gene fusions in studies of expression and
regulation, and the production of electrophoretic karyotypes by
CHEF and O F A G E methods and their use in gene assignment.
The technical detail given is such that any worker in a
reasonably well-founded laboratory should be able to reproduce
the experiments. The range of experiments included is such that
anyone wishing to study many aspects of genetics can do so.
Although some of the experiments do require fairly sophisticated apparatus, others illustrating a number of important
genetic principles could be carried out with far simpler equipment, and would be applicable to undergraduate practical
classes.
Alan Radford

Enzymes
by J e a n P e l m o n t . pp 605. Presses Universitaires de
G r e n o b l e , France. 1989. FF 198
ISBN 2-7061-0363 9
Very few books on enzymes have been written in the French
language. This book by Professor Jean Pelmont is a major and
impressive one, as it associates precision in the description of
structure and function of enzymes and a real concern for
pedagogy. It seems as though the author has in mind two
questions: what is essential for teaching a particular topic and
what is the clearest way to explain it? The book is devoted to
students in the French "Licences" or "Masteries" (Maitrises) of
Biochemistry or Biology. The main objective is to focus the role
of enzymes as proteins but the book avoids being a formal
treatise on enzymoiogy.
There are 28 chapters which may be classified in four sections.
The first part (chapters 1-9) deals with the general properties of
proteins. The description is very classical, from primary to
quaternary structures, but the author emphasizes some very
recent developments (eg secondary structure prediction, molecular biology of fibronectin including alternative splicing,
integrins and the role of RGDS sequences, zinc fingers, etc). A
special chapter is devoted to membrane proteins (structure,
function, lipid-protein interaction). This part ends with a
chapter on protein excretion.
The second part concerns fundamental enzymology (chapters
10-17), dealing mainly with enzyme activity and the role of
effectors. A special chapter, well-documented, is devoted to
allostery and is preceded by a description of structure-function
relationships of haemoglobin. The following chapters (18-22)
dealt with more specialized topics in enzymology such as enzyme
phosphorylation, enzyme modifications, site labelling, propeptides, multienzyme complexes etc. The last part (chapters 23-28)
describes the properties of various classes of enzymes: dehydrogenases, Fe-S proteins, cytochromes, oxygenases, dismutases
and ATPases.
The book is very enjoyable, illustrated with many computerproduced drawings, some of them amusing rendering reading
easy. Developments are very progressive and associate basic
biochemistry with recent findings. An end-of-page bibliography
sums up the most interesting and up-to-date papers concerning
the various sections.
BIOCHEMICAL

EDUCATION

19(2)

1991

This book will be of importance to biochemical students and

scientists with interest in structure-function relationships of
enzymes. The original way in which the material is presented
makes it a major text, both for its content and for its pedagogical
approach. In the blurb, the book is announced as a relaxed and
friendly one, in spite of the complexity of the subject. The best
tribute that can be paid to the author is to say that he completely
succeeded in this challenge.
J M Wallach

Gel Eiectrophoresis of Nucleic Acids A Practical

Approach (Second Edition)
E d i t e d by D R i c k w o o d and B D H a m e s . pp 311. I R L
Press, at O x f o r d University Press, Oxford. 1990. 22.50
ISBN 0-19-963083-6
This new expanded second edition reflects new developments in
this rapidly expanding field. Besides updated chapters on the
electrophoresis of RNA, D N A (one and two dimensional) and
nuclear proteins, it includes new chapters on pulsed field
electrophoresis, gel retardation analysis, footprinting, and purification of synthetic oligonucleotides. Nucleic acid sequencing
techniques now appear in a companion volume in this series.
Useful appendices include tables of nucleic acid molecular
weight markers and suppliers of specialist items for electrophoresis (mostly in the UK and USA). Each chapter is introduced by basic considerations followed by detailed experimental protocols: these are set out more clearly than in the first
edition. Discussion of apparatus, precautions, variations of basic
techniques is included in each section. The new chapters should
be particularly helpful to those who have not yet used these
techniques. Judging by the wear and tear of the first edition of
this volume in my own laboratory, this new edition is sure to be
much used and appreciated by anyone wishing to use these
techniques.
W Fitschen