MISCELLANEA ii i i

~ in reconstituted membranes. The in particular) in protein export in model membrane chapter is of par- Escherichia coil Likewise, the transport ticular value in that it presents an chapter would have benefited greatly excellent discussion of the advantages from a detailed discussion of what is

Life w i t h i n a and limitations of different model unarguablythe most exciting story to membrane membranes and provides examples of come from this field in some time, the

studies in which each of the model establishment of a defective chloride systems has been employed. The first transport gene as the molecular agent

The M e m b r a n e s o f Cells half of the book concludes with a of cystic fibrosis. In light of these and (2nd e d n ) chapter on membrane proteins, other omissions, it is distressing to

which details the various ways in note that the reference sections of the which proteins may associate with latter chapters include few articles

by P. L. Yeagle, Academic Press, lipid bilayersand clears the way for the published after 1989 and those that | 993. £58.00 (349 pages) more in-depth discussion of in vivo are more recent are most often other

ISBN 0 12 769041 7 membrane function to follow, reviews of questionable currency. The remaining six chapters present a Despite these (and a few other)

A common concept set forth in many more detailed examination of mere- shortcomings, the book does have basic biology and cell biology texts brane function, discussing the topics considerable value as a teaching text. and courses is that cellular membranes of lipid-protein interaction, transport It succeeds in presenting the view of serve to compartmentalize various phenomena, fusion, receptors, lipid membranes as active participants in biochemically distinct processes and metabolism and membrane biogen- biological functions and not as static to segregate intraceUular material esis. While the discussion of these supports with little dynamics. In gen- from the extracellular environment, topics is generally good and provides eral, it is clearly written, and in par- While this view is fundamentally cor. some well-documented examples, I ticular provides an excellent discussion rect, it suffers the severe disadvantage have some reservations about the con- of the biochemistry and biophysics of of attributing to membranes all the tent and the treatment of recent lipid bilayers from a biological view. dynamics of a brick wall. Even the advances in what are undeniably point, a not inconsequential achieve- more active description of mem- rapidly developing fields. In particular, ment. The illustrations are informative bran~.s as semipermeable barriers that the study of lipid-protein interactions and plentiful and are well chosen for provide physical supports on which and lipid metabolism have enjoyed a their ability to clarify what is some- various protein complexes may be fantastic coalescence and have ben- times a difficult subject. Since the assembled rcsults in only the addition efited enormously from the use of book is primarily oriented towards a

Todd McGee of gates in the wall and a few signs mutants defective in the synthesis of a student audience, it should be con- plastered to it. Given that few cell particular lipid. Such studies have sidered an excellent companion text

Dept of Biological functions can occur in the absence of allowed the assignment of a require, for cell biology courses or a more Sciences, a membrane, such static definitions ment for a particular lipid In a given involved treatment of membrane bl- Stanford are considered to be woefully Inad. membrane function. An excellent ology. Current workers in the field

University, equate. Clearly then, there Is a growing example of such studies are those of may find little new information but Stanford, CA need to present to undergraduates deKruijff, Dowhan, Wlckner and will find the text a useful resource for 94305.5020, and new graduate students the con- others that defined a role ;or acidic general knowledge, and it is on this

USA. cept of active and dynamic mere. phosphollplds (phosphat~dylglycerol basis that the book is recommended. branes that participate in, modulate and define the basic biology of the cell. In the second edition of The . . . . Membranes of Cells, Philip Yeagle pre- sents a first step in developing this ~ ~ However, several qualities set this presentation for both teachers and ~ book apart from other compilations of students of modern membranology, reviews on adhesion. First, the book

As a foundation, the first half of the ' ' " Y " , y U = ' r a ~ o - " habits of was organized in conjunction with the book presents an excellent classical 1992 EMBO workshop on leukocyte description of biological membranes, the common homing, This was one of the most sig- After an introductory chapter that = = _ _ nificant meetings on leukocyte traffic defines the major membranes of the l e U K O C y l ; e in recent years, While not all the cell and the hydrophobic effect that speakers contributed to this book, the is responsible for the amphiphillic Adhesion in Leukocyte editors persuaded enough experts in bilayer structure common to most the field to do so to achieve a critical membranes, the author proceeds to Homing and Differentiation mass. Second, the reviews are as cur- explain the biochemical and biophysi, ient as one can reasonably expect, cal characteristcs of biological and edited by D, Dunon, C R. Mackay since in general the contributors made model membranes. The next three ond B, A, Imhof, Springer.Verlog, a substantial effort to include studies chapters describe the lipids that make 1993, DM 170,U0 (260 pages) that were unpublished at the time of up cellular membranes, the physical ISBN 3 540 56756 9 the meeting; hence the reviews have properties of those lipids within the a good representation of citations of bilayer, the. various model mem. The field of cell adhesion has grown important papers that appeared in branes that have been used to exam- explosively over the past decade, and 1993. Third, the editors obviously put ine the bilayer structure, and the in it seems that every month several new some thought into the general outline vitro behaviours of lipids and proteins review articles appear on the scene, of the book, and coordinated with the

342 TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY VOL. 4 SEPTEivIBER 1994