282 TIBS 12-July 1987

mtcrotubules m extruded squid axo- plasm Wenss summarizes the current state of knowledge for organelle move- ment as well as for the ghdmg behavlour of nattve mlcrotubules Sheetz concen- trates on the biochemistry and properties of the 'motor' for movement - kmesm - and on efforts to Idenufy a correspond- mg retrograde factor In the same vem, Schhwa describes a further, very attrac- tive system to study t,Rercellular trans- port, the- freshwater protozoan Retd. culorayxa That such mechanisms may also be relevant to axonal transport ts clear, but Lasek uses hts contnbution to discuss instead whether cytoskeletal polymers can slide past each other Mntchnson contrasts similarities and dif- ferences in axonal vestcle movemer, t b) Ionesm and of chromosomes by the lunetochore and amves at a testable model for this latter structure Charac- tenzatnon of dynem and ot a mtcrotubu- lar-acttvated ATPase are provnded by Johnson and Vallee, respectively, while efforts to establish an in varo system for mitosis in a dmtom are summarized by Cande

The multitude of u- and ~-tubuhns present m a single organism is baffling, particularly as tn most instances the dis- tnbutton seems not strictly tissue speofic as estabhshed, for instance for the differ- ent tntermedmte filament (IF) proteins (although note the clmm for [I-tubuhns in carrots by Gull) One way to aFproach the problem ts by geneucs, at least 11 genes are reqmred for proper mncro- tubular structure in Caenorhabdttts ele- gans (Chaifie), while the advantages of yeast as a system to study the cytoskele- yon are well covered by Hyams

For me, one of the most fascinating parts of the book was that dealing wRh cytoskeletal fibers dunng development The pattern shown here by Warn, d .d elsewhere by Alberts' group demon- strate beautifully the coordination of cytoskeletal development m the Droso. phda embryo, those by Wylie on the frog oocyte concentrate mostly on trying to demonstrate that a 55 kDa protein ns a member of the IF famdy, while Maro defines the distribution and role of nucro- tubules and mtcrofilament networks in the mouse egg How such synchronized dtvns|ons are tnggered remains to be worked out

Relatively few groups m the cyto- skeletal field are worry~,ng about the rela- tnon of the cytoskeleton to the nucleus, to membranes or to the extracellular mat- nx Thus ntts refreshing to see included cell fracttonation studnes associating hnRNA with the nuclear matrix, wRh

mRNA together wnh the polynbosomes ticketed to what is described as 'the cytoskeletal framework' (Penman) Clearly this framework still has to be related to the three known cytoskeletal filament systems tn these resin-free sec- tnons Koch returns to the unexplained problem of how cells extend pseudo- podia, using as a system retrovtrus- mduced filopodta The supracellular mtcrotubular networks m cell layers underneath the fish scale are documented by Tucker, who discusses thelr,possnble relation to the extracellular matnx

Ttus book represents an up-to-date account of selected areas of cytoskeletal research m organisms ranging from yeast to vertebrates It is wntten at a level which wdl appeal not only to the cyto- skeletal expert but also to most graduate

Books in Brief Experiments m Molecular Bxology

edited by Robert J Slater Humana Press, 1986 $27 50 (v+378 pages) ISBN 0 89603 082 2

The target audience of Experiments In Molecular Biology ts unclear This multi- authored laboratory manual is intended for use m practical classes by teachers and their students. However, most lec- turers m molecular biological techniques should already be familiar with the refor- mation provided by this book Students and demonstrators, however, may find this a useful manual The index is com- prehensive and the text and references are sufflc~ently up-to-date

J C G

Methods of Protein Microcharactenzation. A Practical Handbook

edited by John E Shively, Humana Press, 1986 $64 50 (USA)/$69 50 (elsewhere) (xl + 456 pages) ISBN., 0 896O3 090 3

This mult~authored compilation of pro- tern characterization techmques ts com- prehensive and eminently practical The numerous dlustrations are well repro- duced and the index ns thorough and re- latively up to date This book is suited to postgraduate scientists and will prove m- valuable m the laboratory for rapid famd]anzation with new techniques.

R C S

students entenng the field Generally, the ongmal literature ts referenced for further reading It's a good book to browse through and ns not repetitive Although it's cheap it has good quahty paper and is profusely illustrated The authors, the editors and particularly the publishers are to be congratulated for pubhshmg thts book less than 8 months after the meeting If the Company of Biolognsts can maintain tlus standard of excellence wtth forthcormng sup- plements their dream of partly financ- ing future meetings wtth the profits from sales of past volumes may become a reahty

MARY OSBORN Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemrstry, D34 Goemngen, FRG

Basic Methods m Molecular Biology

by L. G David, M D Dnbner and J F Battey, Elsevier Science Pubhshers, 1986 $35.00 (:a + 388pages) 1SBN 0 444 010823

This 'hands-on' manual of recombmant DNA techmques, with its wide coverage and spwal-bound format obviously invites comparison with the classlc'CIon- ing Manual' of Mamatis etal. It ts clearly a comprehensive guide, well laid out with good use of diagrams Among the techniques not covered by the earlier Manual are extensive sect,ons on cloning m MI3 and on the transfectton of cul- tured mammalian cells The techniques are thoroughly described and should be statable for transfemng straight to the bench. In general the techniques covered are up-to-date although I was surprised to find no reference to ohgo- labelhng techmques or to the use of non-radioactively-labelled probes Basic Methods zn Molecular Bzology looks faw to usurp the place of the Mamatls Manual as the genetic engmeer's vade-mecum

CJS

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