This volume 34 in the series Current Topics in Cellular Regulation has broadly scattered content. It contains chapters on multicatalytic and 26S proteases, calponin, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the interaction between a signal protein (CheY) and the flagellar motor in bacteria, nitric oxide biology, glutathione homeostasis, and finally, protein folding. The book series describes the development of research in the regulation of the cellular metabolism. The present issue is the 1996 update. All chapters are written by highly competent experts in their fields, with great precision and very detailed. The target readership are active researchers in the particular areas covered by the book, such as enzymologists and molecular cell biologists. High quality half-tone illustrations of experimental details and diagrammatic presentations of metabolic processes support the written text throughout the chapters. Each chapter is accompanied by an extensive reference list and the book contains a detailed but not too long index. The chapters are between 20 and 30 pages long, with the exception of the last part on protein folding by R. Jaenicke, which spans over almost 100 pages. This article is worth an issue on its own and would be motivation enough to purchase the book. Unfortunately, it focuses a bit too much on the author's and his scholars' own research activities. However, it is written in a highly enthusiastic style, rarely found in expert literature, and invites the reader to join this booming research area by picturing both its ups and downs in a lively manner. This book is highly recommended.
This is volume 35 in a series of reviews on a variety of topics related to cellular regulation. There is no preface to the volume as a whole, but each chapter has an introductory paragraph or two. The topics are rather wide-ranging and they represent areas of current interest. To varying degrees, each chapter meets its goals. The reviews/chapters are written for nonspecialists in the field. Most of the authors are well-known researchers in their field. The illustrations are of moderate quality and quantity, but they are not of central importance in any one chapter. Each chapter has a thorough and up-to-date list of references. This volume would be of moderate interest to someone not actively involved in the research fields discussed in each of the eight chapters. There are many other sources where an interested reader could find more complete coverage of the information presented here. The writing style and clarity varies widely from chapter to chapter, and as a result, one or two chapters are difficult to read. This book is likely to attract a limited readership in a library.
"Timely...High standard of writing... It is to be highly recommended." —QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
"The articles are well written and have excellent bibliographies. Biochemists whose major interests include enzymology, control of metabolic pathways, or organelle and membrane synthesis should find this book thought-provoking and well worth their time." —AMERICAN SCIENTIST
"Like its predecessors, this volume is essential in any biochemical library." —QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
"[This volume] lives up to the standards of quality that have come to be expected and all authors have provided reviews that clearly demonstrate insight and a willingness to be provocative and speculative... It is strongly recommended. Libraries serving the biological research community should give this volume high priority." —ASM NEWS
Reviewer: Juergen Mollenhauer, PhD, DSc (Rush Medical College of Rush University)
Description: This volume 34 in the series Current Topics in Cellular Regulation has broadly scattered content. It contains chapters on multicatalytic and 26S proteases, calponin, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the interaction between a signal protein (CheY) and the flagellar motor in bacteria, nitric oxide biology, glutathione homeostasis, and finally, protein folding.
Purpose: The book series describes the development of research in the regulation of the cellular metabolism. The present issue is the 1996 update. All chapters are written by highly competent experts in their fields, with great precision and very detailed.
Audience: The target readership are active researchers in the particular areas covered by the book, such as enzymologists and molecular cell biologists.
Features: High quality half-tone illustrations of experimental details and diagrammatic presentations of metabolic processes support the written text throughout the chapters. Each chapter is accompanied by an extensive reference list and the book contains a detailed but not too long index.
Assessment: The chapters are between 20 and 30 pages long, with the exception of the last part on protein folding by R. Jaenicke, which spans over almost 100 pages. This article is worth an issue on its own and would be motivation enough to purchase the book. Unfortunately, it focuses a bit too much on the author's and his scholars' own research activities. However, it is written in a highly enthusiastic style, rarely found in expert literature, and invites the reader to join this booming research area by picturing both its ups and downs in a lively manner. This book is highly recommended.
