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TIBTECH - MAY 1990 [Vol. 8] 137 Algae and Cyanobacteria bloom ALGAL AND CYANOBACTERIAL BIOTEGHNOLOGY edited by R. C. Cresswell, T. A. V. Rees and N. Shah, Longman (UK); John Wiley and Sons (USA), 1989. £39.00 (xvi + 341 pages) ISBN O 582 49730 2 In the past few years several books on similar subjects (e.g. Micro-algal Biotechnology, M. A. Borowitzka and L. J. Borowitzka, eds; and Bio- chemistry of the Algae and Cyano- bacteria, L. J. Rogers and J. R. Gallon, eds) have appeared, and my initial response was to wonder whether another book was justified. After reading it, the answer is that, in my view, it most certainly is. The strength of the multi-author approach adopted is the inclusion of all aspects of algal biotechnology. The subject is put in a historical perspective in the opening chapters (Chapman and Gellenbeck; Fogg), and we are also brought up to date with the current economic viability of these processes (Borowitzka and Borowitzka). Several chapters (Bennemann; Calvin and Taylor), take a realistic view of the future of algal biotechnology, making clear the paradox that most of the current research effort is on developing fuels from algae, which is certainly the goal furthest in the future. While concluding that fuel production is feasible, they emphasize that much fundamental research needs to be done. Another recurring theme is the production of beta-carotene by the salt-tolerant alga Dunaliella (Ben- Amotz and Avron; Borowitzka and Borowitzka) - both the biotech- nology and the economics of this process are discussed. The emphasis on Dunaliella is justified since it is the most recent algal process to make the transition to an industrially viable process. It is also made clear, several times, that only low-volume, high- value products from algae (such as beta-carotene) are suitable for commercialization at the moment. Other chapters cover photopro- duction of nitrogenous compounds, symbiotic algae and cyanobacteria, secondary metabolites of pharma- ceutical potential, immobilized cells and genetic manipulation of the cyanobacteria. The authors are all acknowledged experts in their re- spective fields. It was pleasing that the editors were careful to differentiate between the eukaryotic algae and the pro- karyotic cyanobacteria, a distinction often blurred to the detriment of the subject. It is not unusual to find workers describing the molecular genetics of algae, when they mean cyanobacteria. However, in this book, the problem is largely avoided. My only real criticism is that the overlap between chapters is quite extensive in places. However, this does not stop me from recommend- ing the book highly to anybody interested in biotechnology of algae and cyanobacteria. To experts in the subject, it will be useful because of the comparisons between different processes and, equally, it is a good introduction for younger scientists who want to join this potentially very rewarding field of research. DANIEL JAMES GILMOUR Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield $10 2TN, UK. [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] Books received Review copies of the following books have been received. Books which have been reviewed in Trends in Biotechnology are not included. The appearance of a book in the list does not preclude the possibility of it being reviewed in the future. J Adolph, K. W. (ed.) Molecular Biology of Chromosome Function Springer-Verlag, 1989. £70.50 (xiii + 431 pages) ISBN 0 387 96982 9 Atta-ur-Rahman (ed.) Studies in Natural Products Chemistry Elsevier, 1990. $189.75 (x + 606 pages) ISBN 0 444 88566 8 Beaudet, A. L., Mulligan, R., Verma, I. M. (eds) Gene Transfer and Gene Therapy Alan R. Liss, 1989. $110.00 (xxii + 441 pages) ISBN 0 8451 2686 5 Belfort, M. and Shub, D. A. (eds) RNA: Catalysis, Splicing, Evolution Elsevier, 1989. $250.00 (ix + 228 pages) ISBN 0 444 81210 5 Blocker, H., Collins, J., Schmid, R. D. and Schomburg, D. (eds) Advances in Protein Design, International Workshop 1988 VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, 1989. DM128.00/£45.75 (x + 217 pages) ISBN 3 527 28024 3 Cortes, H. J. (ed.) Multidimensional Chroma- tography Techniques and Applications Marcel Dekker, 1990. $99.75 (US & Canada) $119.50 (all other countries) (viii + 378 pages) ISBN 0 8247 8136 8 Coughlan, M. P. (ed.) Enzymes Systems for Lignocellulose Degradation Elsevier, 1989. £56.00 (x + 408 pages) ISBN 1 85166 411 4 Denham, M. J. and George, C. F. (eds) Drugs in Old Age - New Perspectives Churchill Living- stone, 1990. £27.50 (i + 299 pages) ISBN 0 443 04318 3 Edouard Drouhet, E., Cole, G. T., de Repentigny, L., Latge, J-P. and Dupont, B. (eds) Fungal Antigens: Isolation, Purification and Detection Plenum Press, 1988. $89.50 (xvi + 469 pages) ISBN 0 306 43115 7 Espinal, J. Understanding lnsulin Action Prin- ciples and Molecular Mechanisms Ellis Horwood, 1989. £26.00 (vi + 129 pages) ISBN 0 412 02661 3 Fisher, D. and Sutherland, I. A. (eds) Separ- ations Using Aqueous Phase Systems Plenum Press, 1989. (xviii + 504 pages) ISBN 0 306 43227 7 Computer Applications in Fermentation Technology: Modelling and Control of Bio- technological Processes Society of Chemical Industry, 1989. £52.00 (xix + 471 pages) ISBN 1 85166 397 5 Horan, M. A. and Brouwer, A. Gerontology Approaches to Biomedical and Clinical Research Edward Arnold, 1990. £37.50 (xiv + 225 pages) ISBN 0 7131 4555 2 Howe, C. J. and Ward, E. S. (eds) Nucleic Acid Sequencing: a Practical Approach IRL Press, 1990. £19.00 pbk, £29.00 spiralbound hbk (xviii + 241 pages) ISBN 0 19 963056 9 Innis, M. A., Gelfand, D. H., Sninski, J. J. and White, T. J. PCR Protocols Academic Press, 1990. $39.95 (xviii + 482 pages) ISBN 0 12 372181 4 Loxdale, H. D. and Den Hollander, J. (eds) Electrophoretic Studies on Agricultural Pests Oxford University Press, 1989. £65.00 (×iii + 497 pages) ISBN 0 19 857710 9 Matsudaira, P. T. A Practical Guide to Protein and Peptide Purification for Microsequencing Academic Press, 1989. £24.95 (xiii + 131 pages) ISBN 0 12 480280 X

Algae and cyanobacteria bloom

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TIBTECH - MAY 1990 [Vol. 8] 137

Algae and Cyanobacteria bloom

ALGAL AND CYANOBACTERIAL BIOTEGHNOLOGY

edited by R. C. Cresswell, T. A. V. Rees and N. Shah, Longman (UK); John Wiley and Sons (USA), 1989. £39.00 (xvi + 341 pages) ISBN O 582 49730 2

In the past few years several books on similar subjects (e.g. Micro-algal Biotechnology, M. A. Borowitzka and L. J. Borowitzka, eds; and Bio- chemistry of the Algae and Cyano- bacteria, L. J. Rogers and J. R. Gallon, eds) have appeared, and my initial response was to wonder whether another book was justified. After reading it, the answer is that, in my view, it most certainly is.

The strength of the multi-author approach adopted is the inclusion of all aspects of algal biotechnology. The subject is put in a historical perspective in the opening chapters (Chapman and Gellenbeck; Fogg), and we are also brought up to date with the current economic viability of these processes (Borowitzka and Borowitzka). Several chapters

(Bennemann; Calvin and Taylor), take a realistic view of the future of algal biotechnology, making clear the paradox that most of the current research effort is on developing fuels from algae, which is certainly the goal furthest in the future. While concluding that fuel production is feasible, they emphasize that much fundamental research needs to be done.

Another recurring theme is the production of beta-carotene by the salt-tolerant alga Dunaliella (Ben- Amotz and Avron; Borowitzka and Borowitzka) - both the biotech- nology and the economics of this process are discussed. The emphasis on Dunaliella is justified since it is the most recent algal process to make the transition to an industrially viable process. It is also made clear, several times, that only low-volume, high- value products from algae (such as beta-carotene) are suitable for commercialization at the moment.

Other chapters cover photopro- duction of nitrogenous compounds, symbiotic algae and cyanobacteria, secondary metabolites of pharma-

ceutical potential, immobilized cells and genetic manipulation of the cyanobacteria. The authors are all acknowledged experts in their re- spective fields.

It was pleasing that the editors were careful to differentiate between the eukaryotic algae and the pro- karyotic cyanobacteria, a distinction often blurred to the detriment of the subject. It is not unusual to find workers describing the molecular genetics of algae, when they mean cyanobacteria. However, in this book, the problem is largely avoided.

My only real criticism is that the overlap between chapters is quite extensive in places. However, this does not stop me from recommend- ing the book highly to anybody interested in biotechnology of algae and cyanobacteria. To experts in the subject, it will be useful because of the comparisons between different processes and, equally, it is a good introduction for younger scientists who want to join this potentially very rewarding field of research.

DANIEL JAMES GILMOUR

Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield $10 2TN, UK.

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

Books received Review copies of the following books have been received. Books which have been rev iewed in Trends in Biotechnology are not inc luded. The appearance of a book in the list does not p rec lude the possibil i ty of it being rev iewed in the future.

J Adolph , K. W. (ed.) Molecular Biology of Chromosome Function Springer-Verlag, 1989. £70.50 (xiii + 431 pages) ISBN 0 387 96982 9

At ta-ur-Rahman (ed.) Studies in Natural Products Chemistry Elsevier, 1990. $189.75 (x + 606 pages) ISBN 0 444 88566 8

Beaudet, A. L., Mulligan, R., Verma, I. M. (eds) Gene Transfer and Gene Therapy Alan R. Liss, 1989. $110.00 (xxii + 441 pages) ISBN 0 8451 2686 5

Belfort, M. and Shub, D. A. (eds) RNA: Catalysis, Splicing, Evolution Elsevier, 1989. $250.00 (ix + 228 pages) ISBN 0 444 81210 5

Blocker, H., Collins, J., Schmid, R. D. and Schomburg, D. (eds) Advances in Protein Design, International Workshop 1988 VCH Verlagsgesellschaft , 1989. DM128.00/£45.75 (x + 217 pages) ISBN 3 527 28024 3

Cortes, H. J. (ed.) Multidimensional Chroma- tography Techniques and Applications Marcel Dekker, 1990. $99.75 (US & Canada) $119.50 (all o ther countries) (viii + 378 pages) ISBN 0 8247 8136 8

Coughlan, M. P. (ed.) Enzymes Systems for Lignocellulose Degradation Elsevier, 1989. £56.00 (x + 408 pages) ISBN 1 85166 411 4

Denham, M. J. and George, C. F. (eds) Drugs in Old Age - New Perspectives Churchil l Living- stone, 1990. £27.50 (i + 299 pages) ISBN 0 443 04318 3

Edouard Drouhet, E., Cole, G. T., de Repentigny, L., Latge, J-P. and Dupont, B. (eds) Fungal Antigens: Isolation, Purification and Detection Plenum Press, 1988. $89.50 (xvi + 469 pages) ISBN 0 306 43115 7

Espinal, J. Understanding lnsulin Action Prin- ciples and Molecular Mechanisms Ellis Horwood, 1989. £26.00 (vi + 129 pages) ISBN 0 412 02661 3

Fisher, D. and Sutherland, I. A. (eds) Separ- ations Using Aqueous Phase Systems Plenum Press, 1989. (xviii + 504 pages) ISBN 0 306 43227 7

Computer Applications in Fermentation Technology: Modelling and Control of Bio- technological Processes Society of Chemical Industry, 1989. £52.00 (xix + 471 pages) ISBN 1 85166 397 5

Horan, M. A. and Brouwer, A. Gerontology Approaches to Biomedical and Clinical Research Edward Arnold, 1990. £37.50 (xiv + 225 pages) ISBN 0 7131 4555 2

Howe, C. J. and Ward, E. S. (eds) Nucleic Acid Sequencing: a Practical Approach IRL Press, 1990. £19.00 pbk, £29.00 sp i ra lbound hbk (xviii + 241 pages) ISBN 0 19 963056 9

Innis, M. A., Gelfand, D. H., Sninski , J. J. and White, T. J. PCR Protocols Academic Press, 1990. $39.95 (xviii + 482 pages) ISBN 0 12 372181 4

Loxdale, H. D. and Den Hollander , J. (eds) Electrophoretic Studies on Agricultural Pests Oxford Univers i ty Press, 1989. £65.00 (×iii + 497 pages) ISBN 0 19 857710 9

Matsudaira, P. T. A Practical Guide to Protein and Peptide Purification for Microsequencing Academic Press, 1989. £24.95 (xiii + 131 pages) ISBN 0 12 480280 X