804 Book Reviews

Moneclonal AntlbodllEdited by J. H. PETERS and H. BAUMGARTEN. 488~~. 1992. Springer Verlag, Berlin, DM 98.

This is one of the Springer Laboratory series and it provides excellent and full practical details for all the described procedures. The topics dealt with are: preconditions for hybridoma technology (experimental work with animals; legal aspects; equipment required; organization of work; estimation of costs); immunization techniques and pro- cedures; taking blood and isolating cells; cell culture; pro- duction of hybridomas; mass production of MAbs; purifying MAbs and producing antibody fragments; coup- ling MAbs; demonstration of MAbs (how to show and locate them); safety precautions at work. All labs working on MAbs should have this book; it will save time and money.

Biology of Plate~t-~tiv~ Growth Favor-sited by B. W~R~RK and C. SORG. 167~~. 1992. Karger, Base]. S.Fr 245, DM 293, $196.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) consists of two polypeptide chains (A and B) bonded by two disulphides. Its molecular weight is 30 kD. The B chain is similar to P28sis; the transforming protein of simian sarcoma virus. Blood platelets produce a number of growth regulating factors only one of which is PDGF. PDGF is mitogenic and can stimulate growth of connective tissue, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts. and elial cells. PDGF is released during blood coagulation. PDGF can be released from most tissue types (nerve, muscle, bone, cartilage, liver, lung, skin). It is involved in wound repair, atherosclerosis, glomeru- lonephritis, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. This book deals with PDGF purification and structure; PDGF genes and their regulation; PDGF receptors (it induces tyrosine phosphorylation of an 185,000 dalton receptor); signal transduction; its role in Y~YO; its role in the developing embryo; cell transformation; receptors in tumor cells.

Cytokine Therapy-Edited by D. W. GALVANI and J. C. CAWLEY. 193~~. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cam- bridge. E35 hardback, f15 paperback.

Cytokines are proteins which act via cell surface receptors to regulate and modify cell growth and maturation. This book deals with: erythropoietin (anemia); granulo- cyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (neutro~nia); Interleukin-I (radiation injury, cancer therapy, systemic infection); interleukin-2 (enhances cellular immune re- sponses); interleukin-3 (thrombopoiesis, leukopoiesis, ery- thropoiesis); interferon alpha (leukemia, Kaposis sarcoma); interferon gamma (immunomodulator); tumor necrosis fac- tor (cancer); the cytokine network.

Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting-Edited by A. RADBRUCH. 222~~. 1992. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 98.

It is possible to stain specific cell types with fluorescent labelled antibodies, and count and separate these cells from other cell types. Machines that would do this were invented in 1965 and the first commercial models became available in 1973. Since then there have been considerable technological developments and several thousand machines are in use throughout the world. This book describes the techniques used in: operation of a flow cytometer; conjugation of fluorochromes, haptens, and phycobiliproteins to anti- bodies; immunofluorescence; combined intracellular and surface staining; Scatchard analysis by flow cytometry; preparation and staining cells for high resolution DNA analysis; high resolution cell cycle analysis; cell activation; FACS galactosidase assay; ligand acidification; cell sorting preselection; magnetic cell sorting; flow sorters; sorting rare cells; chromosome sorting; large particle sorting; biological

and laser safety. Full practical details and useful hints (tips, tricks and troubleshooting) are given. This book will prove to be very useful in the lab.

Receptor Data for Biological Experiments, a Guide to Drag Selectivity.-Edited by H. N. DEEDS and J. C. A. VAN MEEL. 288~~. 1991. Ellis Horwood/Simon and Schuster, London. f66.50.

This book provides details of the number of different receptor-enzyme systems and their selectivity to a range of agonists and antagonists. The chapters deal with the recep- tor subtypes for: alpha adrenergic; beta adrenergic; nic- otinic; muscarinic; 5HT; dopamine; histamine; purines; vasopressin; bradykinin; endothelin; ANF, neuropeptides YIYY; angiotensin II; ACE; renin inhibitors; thrombin; ~b~nogen; PAF; VIP, neurokinins, CCK, bombesin; calci- tonin, CAMP, prostanoid; leukotrienes; protein kinases: calmodulin antagonists; calcium channel modulators (M); sodium channel M; potassium channel M; sodium counter transporters; H-K-ATPase inhibitors; GABA-A and BZD; GABA-B; EAA; cytokines; steroid hormones; G-proteins; receptors. For each chapter there are very useful tables giving agonists, antagonists, selectivity, affinity/potency for each of the receptor subtypes. This book will be extremely useful to all those working with receptors subtypes who wish to check on the use and dose of specific chemicals/drugs.

Protein Kinase C; Current Coocepts and Future Perspec- tives--Edited by D. S. LESTER and R. M. EPAND. 363~~. 1992. Ellis Ho~o~/Simon and Schuster. NY. f59.

Protein Kinase C (PKC) is a second messenger regulated protein kinase that plays a key role in the regulation of many cell processes. This book deals with: the PKC family (serineithreonine-specific kinases); lipid regulation; acti- vation by diacylglycerols and tumor promoters; PKC struc- ture and interaction with membranes; activity in micelles and vesicles; et&t on membrane properties; cooperativity; sustained cellular responses; reactions with intracellular components; the MARCKS protein-a PKC substrate that regulates cytoskeletal-membrane interactions: regulation of neuronal ionic channels by PKC; PKC and cellular trans- formations. This book provides a very useful detailed account of a ubiquitous important regulatory protein.

Multi~~i~na~ Approaches to Cholioesterase Functions- Edited by A. SCHAFFERMAN and B. VELAN. 293~~. 1992. Plenum Press, NY. $85.

The structure of the catalytic subunit of AChE has recently been resolved, There have also been major advances in the molecular genetics of AChE using recombinant DNA tech- noloev. The three dimensional structure of Torpedo AChE .,. and different enzymes sharing the common folding pattern have also been determined. The reviews are grouped into three main sections.

(1) Molecular polymorphism; (biosynthesis, binding to muscle cells, subunit assembly and glycosylation, genetic variation, butyryl ChE, nematode AChE, Drosophila AChE, insecticide resistant AChE).

(2) Structure-function relationshjp; (three dimens~o~i structure, sequence alignment, ammonium binding sites, labelling by platinum chloride, cryptic catalysis, functional domains, site directed mutagenesis).

(3) Physiological role and clinical applications; (AChE regulation, compartmentalization, neurogenesis, AChE as a modulatory neuroprotein, Alzheimer’s disease, effect of carbamates, autoimmunity, hemopoietic cell division, organophosphate toxicity).