Book Reviews 173

Mycotoxins; Chemical, Biological and Environmental Aspects-By V. BETINA. 438 pp. 1989. Elsevier, Amsterdam. D.Fl 295, $155.

There are about three hundred species of fungi that produce known mycotoxins. The most widely known toxins are the aflatoxins but this book surveys the range of mycotoxins produced by fungal infection of foods and other hosts. After an initial survey of myocotoxin producing fungi, secondary metabolites; biological effects; biochemical mode of action; structure-activity relationships; there are chapters on each of the important groups of toxins; aflatoxins, sterigmato- cystins, and versicolorins; ochratoxins and dihydroiscou- marins; citrinin; trichothecenes; patulin and other small lactones; zearalenone; cytochalasans; rubratoxins; an- thraquinones; tremorgenic mycotoxins; epipoly thiopiper- azines. It is a fascinating armentarium of compounds that can have powerful effects on other living systems.

Biochemical Adaptations in ParasitesBy C. BRYANT and C. BEHM. 259 pp. 1989. Chapman and Hall, New York. $76 (USA) $91 elsewhere.

Endoparasites usually live in an environment where there is a lower oxygen tension, higher carbon dioxide, varied pH, and a high osmotic pressure. This book discusses the nature of parasitic adaptation; energy metabolism; digestion and uptake of nutrients; host immunity; chemotherapy; and biochemical variation in parasites. Half the world popu- lation at one time or another becomes infected by parasites. A greater understanding of the biochemistry of parasites, such as is provided by this book, will lead to an increased ability to control parasitic infections.

The Biology and Chemistry of Polyamine+-Edited by S. H. GOLDEMBERG and I. D. ALGRANATI. 244 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. Paper $60.

Ornithine, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), putrescine. sper- midine, and spermine are the key characters. DNA methyl- ation regulates transcription of the human ODC gene. Induction of ODC in lymphocytes involves protein kinase C and calcium ions which induce interleukin-2, which in turn mediates an enhancement of ODC activity through an increase in mRNA. The main sections of this book are on polyamines (P) in the synthesis of macromolecules and in metabolic regulation; enzymes and regulation of P metab- olism; P in microorganisms and viruses; P in plants and parasites; P in cell growth and differentiation; synthetic P derivatives and antimetabolites.

Glutathione S-Transferases and Drug Resistance--Edited by J. D. HAYES, C. B. PKKETT, and T. J. MANTLE. 459 pp. 1990. Taylor and Francis, London. f47.

There are at least ten different isozymes of GST (this book compares them and their different nomenclatures) and they can react with xenobiotics by increased drug detoxification (thioether formation; peroxide activity); drug sequestration by ligand activity; formation of reactive conjugates and hence reduced drug activity; DNA repair enzymes: stress response proteins. This symposium volume describes the action of GSTs in drug detoxication; oxidative stress; regulation of GST induction; models of drug resistance; GSTs in cancer therapy.

G-proteins as Mediators of Celiular Signalling Processes Edited by M. D. HOIXLAY and G. MILLIGAN. 232 pp. 1990. John Wiley, Chichester. f35.

G-proteins (G)-guanine nucleotide binding proteins are the flavour of the year. This volume surveys; the dual control of adenylate cyclase; isolation and purification of G; im- munological probes and identification of G; molecular biology of G; receptor stimulated GTPase activity of G; specificity of interactions between receptors; signal trans- ducing G of photoreceptors; G mediated signalling in olfaction; G and regulation of ion channels; IP3 and G; Ras and Ras related G; G in growth, differentiation and disease. Increased knowledge of the 3D structure of G and the changes in G function in transformed states had lead to understanding of the domains in G that are functional.

Transmembrane Signalling; Intracellular Messengers and Implications for DN~ Development-Edited by S. R. NAHORSKI. 248 pp. 1990. John Wiley, Chichester. f39.50.

The identification and cloning of different second messenger systems at specific receptor sites in the body should allow the development of drugs specific for that site. This book looks at the role of second messengers at alpha and beta adrenore- ceptors; muscarinic receptors; ionic channels; calcium cur- rents; calcium pump; phospholipase C regulation; celi growth; IP3. The information about the 2nd messengers is reviewed here and shows how transmitters and hormones can act at these sites.

Oneogenes-Edited by D. M. GLOVER and B. D. HAMES. 218 ;;i,1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. $54. Paper

Oncogenes (0) are genes whose abnormal expression or altered gene product directly determines the production of a malignant phenotype. Cellular 0 are derived from normal cellular genes, the proto-0. Viral 0 carried by acutely transforming retroviruses are derived from cellular proto-0. The 0 of DNA tumor viruses have no obvious cellular progenitor. At least 40 proto- have been identified in the human genome, and only eight have been identified with the occurrence of a disease. The best known are c-abl in chronic myetoid leukemia and c-myc in Burkitt’s lymphoma. The chapters in this book are on; 0 and cellular proliferation- an overview. 0 at viral integration sites; molecular pathol- ogy of chromosomal abnormalities and cancer genes in human tumors; biochemical functions of 0; 0 of the DNA tumor viruses-their interaction with host proteins. A very useful survey of a rapidly developing subject.

Advances in Mutagenesis Research-Edited by G. OBEY. 217 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. DM 148.

This is the first volume in a series on mutagenesis research. The chapters are on; blue cotton assessment of environmen- tal mutagens [cotton stained with copper ph~alo~yanine trisulphonate strongly absorbs aromatic compounds having three or a greater number of fused rings]; meiosis; mutagen- mutation in equilibria in the environment: human lympho- cyte micronucleus assay; detection of nucleic acids by ELISA; organization of DNA repair systems; use of short term genotoxicity tests in risk assessment. An interesting volume on an important subject.

Aviation Medicine. 2nd edition-By R. B. RAYMAN. 202 pp. 1990. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $32.50.

Pilots and those who fly a lot are often subject to physiologi- cal conditions that may lead to illness. This book surveys the different body systems (internal medicine, orthopedics, neu- rology, ophthalmoiogy, otolaryngology, cardiology, genito- urinary, dermatology, psychiatry, oncology) with special