BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
194
range of topics selected is very broad. It is good to see, for attention to examples of chloroplast mRNA containing poly(A)
example, chapters on Biosynthesis of Nucleotides (surely a very (p. 294). Some chapters assume too much background
neglected field), Proteinases, Proteinase Inhibitors, Lectins, and knowledge to be of use to a general reader. The chapter by
Tumour Formation: topics such as these are all too often Gordon on Tumour Formation is a particular example of this.
missing from the standard texts on gene expression or molecular Finally, two chapters are disappointing overall: Flashman &
biology.
Levings have not particularly aided our understanding of plant
Inevitably, with a large number of authors, and a wide range nucleases in their chapter (Chapter 2), choosing instead to deal
of topics, there is much variation in style and readability. For with restriction-enzyme analysis of plant DNAs, and Bruening’s
example the opening chapter (The Nuclear Genome: Structure concentration on a particular class of RNA virus does not do
and Function), by Thompson and Murray, is a highly informa- justice to the title of his chapter: Biochemistry of Plant Viruses.
tive, logically presented and very readable chapter; the chapters Surely a more general survey of all classes of plant virus would
by Guilefoyle (DNA and RNA Polymerases) and Edelman be more useful to the non-specialist reader?
(Nucleic Acids of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria) are also
Overall, however, these faults do not detract much from the
very readable. Several chapters, however, tend to be catalogues value of this very useful book, a book which I am indeed glad to
of facts, difficult to read straight through, but none the less own. Specialists in the field will find it informative and
informative.
interesting; plant biochemists working in other fields will find it
It would be a rare book indeed which did not have some faults, very helpful. It is also to be hoped that the motive of the series
and this volume does not achieve that degree of rarity. The time editors, namely to provide ‘a mechanism for the molecular
taken to bring the book out (two authors note that they biologist who works with E. coli, or the neuro-biochemist, to
submitted their manuscript in 1978) means that some state- become better informed about . . . the problems which the plant
ments are now outdated (such as Guilefoyle’s comments on cell provides . .’ will be fulfilled. However, if my own financial
the status of DNA polymerase$ in plants). There are some situation is a guide, it seems unlikely that the book will be
contradictions between chapters which should have been sorted purchased by those outside plant biochemistry. I would
out by the editor. For example, Flashman t Levings state that it therefore like to suggest that anyone who does not work with
has not yet been shown that plant chromatin is organized in a plants should seek this volume out in their library, and read as
nucleosome structure (p. 105), whereas Thompson t Murray many chapters as possible. They would certainly be better
give the DNA amounts associated with the nucleosomes in informed; they may even be surprised at what plants can do!
several plants (p. 59); Dyer t Leaver state that chloroplast
mRNA lacks poly(A) (p. 137), whereas Edelman draws
J. A. BRYANT
.
The Biochemistry of Plants: Volume 8, Photosynthesis
M. D. HATCH and N. K. BOARDMAN (Editors)
Academic Press, New York, 1981, pp. 521, f43.00
This is the last book in the series on the Biochemistry of Plants
and perhaps the most important in that it describes an area of
plant biochemistry for which there is no comparable animal
activity, photosynthesis. The aim of the series is to provide
current information for research workers in plant biochemistry,
and access to plant biochemistry for other biochemists, and for
higher-level students. It is not a series of research reviews, and
this volume works well for someone with interests in one area of
photosynthesis to keep up to date on other aspects of the
subject, and will be an excellent source book for teaching.
However, it may be less successful for the reader with little
background in the subject, who would be well advised to read
first one of the many introductory books on photosynthesis
which are available.
The book deals with both the biochemistry and biophysics of
photosynthesis covering all aspects of the process occurring in
the chloroplast. It does not attempt to relate these activities to
the physiology of the whole plant. Each chapter is written by
well-known scientists with active research interests in the subject
of the chapter, resulting in up-to-date (1979) authoritative
review.
The first third of the book deals with the composition of the
thylakoid membranes, organization of the pigments and
pigment-protein complexes in the thylakoids, energy trapping,
electron transport and ATP synthesis. The second part with
carbon dioxide fixation dealing in detail with the reductive
pentose phosphate pathway and the modifications of the C,
pathway and crassulacean acid metabolism. These are accompanied by chapters on photorespiration and the rather neglected,
other light-energy-dependent processes, such as sulphate and
nitrate reduction. The book is completed by chapters on
chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast biogenesis. It provides
comprehensive cover of the biochemistry of photosynthesis.
There is some lack of balance between the parts; an entire
chapter on phycobiliproteins seems out of place in a book
otherwise restricted to higher-plant photosynthesis; the chapter
on primary processes is much more detailed than that on overall
electron transport and ATP synthesis. It is surprising to find no
detailed model of the electron-transport chain, perhaps difficult
to produce in the face of much conflicting evidence, but it would
be very helpful in reading the first third of the book. These are
minor criticisms, and the book can be recommended as an
excellent and detailed account of the present status of the
biochemistry of photosynthesis.
M. C. W. EVANS
Brewing Science, Volume 2; Food Science and Technology: A Series of Monographs
J. R. A. POLLOCK (Editor)
Academic Press, London, 1981, pp. 666, E41
Over the years brewing science has made considerable advances
benefiting not only beer quality but also other technologies and
academic sciences in general. For instance, the Carlsberg
Laboratorium alone can claim, among its many discoveries,
credit for both the concept for pH and the Kjeldahl method for
estimating total nitrogen. The volume under review is the second
of a series of three edited by Dr. J. R. A. Pollock reviewing
recent research in Brewing Science. It is written with brewing
scientists in mind and contains ten contributions from distin1982
.