BOOK REVIEWS embryonic-stem-cell lines, gene targeting and differentiation. Thankfully it's in safe hands! I found a complete methodology that, despite the numerous variations of techniques in current use, provides a completely

prac:~ical guide with entry to the literat~ire.

This is both a practical manual and a good reft, rence book and I would thoroughly recommend it. Shame about the tacky plastic ring-binding - the hardback costs

£40 more. Not so much a little gem, but more a large vein of golden nuggets.

MARTIN EVANS

Wellcome/CRC institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 1QR.

Throwing light on photosynthesis The Photosynthetic Reaction Center (Volumes i and 2)

edited by £ Deisenhofer and J. R. Norris, Academic Press, 1993. £99.00/£99.00 (xiv + 432 pages/xviii + 574 pages) ISBN 0 12 208661 9/0 12 208662 7

The elucidation of the structure of the isolated reaction centre of Rhodopseudomonas viridis is, without doubt, one of the greatest achievements in photosynthesis research and membrane biology for the past two or three decades. For this achievement, Johann Deisenhofer, Hartmut Michel and Robert Huber received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1988, but the impact of their work would not have been so great if it were not for the many other elegant studies that preceded the X-ray crystallography. Such work ranged from biochemistry and molecular biology to state-oi-the-art developments In areas such as ultrafast time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and magnetic resonance techniques. The coupling of spectroscopic data and theoretical analyses with structure at atomic resolution and protein engineering means that the reaction centre of purple bacteria is providing the biophysicist with an invaluable reference system. Just as the hydrogen atom is used as a model for other atoms, the purple bacterial reaction centre has also proved itself as a model on which to base the structure and function of other types of photosynthetic reaction centre. This is particularly true for the reaction centre of pbotosystem two (PS IF), the water-splitting system o! plants, algae and cyanobacteria. However, as our knowledge of the structure of the reaction centre of photosystem one (PS I) and of green photosynthetic bacteria also emerges, the link between their organization and that of the reaction centres of purple bacteria and PS II strengthens.

Th~ study of photosynthetic reaction ,:e_~tres is a sophisticated area of modern bioiogy that brings together the collected talents of a wide range of scientists. These two volumes are witness to this.

558

They contain in total 30 invited reviews, the quality of which is extremely high and covers every aspect of the study of primary energy conversion in photosynthesis. Almost all the chapters call heavily on the purple bacterial system, although there are exceptions that deal with reaction centres of oxygenic organisms, particularly PS II. Despite the title of the book, not all chapters are focused on reaction centre.s. There are several reviews on light- harvesting systems and their role, both in terms of energy capture and transfer, and protection.

In general, Vol. 2 tends to be more biophysical than Vol. I. It is in Vol. I that the application of techniques such as vibration, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and hole burning are discussed. This volume also contains theoretical considerations for electron- transfer rates and directions based on the structure of the bacterial reaction centre.

Volume I is, on the whole, more biochemical in nature and diversifies into reaction centres other than those of purple bacteria.

In this short review it is impossible to detail all the excellent contributions to be found in the two volumes. A g!ance at the list of authors and contents, however, will reveal to those familiar with the subject that they make valuable additions to the shelves of specialist researchers and libraries. Although the nonspecialist or undergraduate would be impressed by the overall quality of the contributions, he/she would find it a challenge to tackle these books in total, although selective reading would be manageable and enlightening.

JAMES BARBER

Wolfson Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK SW7 2AY.

An everyman guide to protein analysis

Basic Protein and Peptide Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology V01.32)

edited by John M. Walker, Humana Press, I994. $59.50 (xii + 490 pages) ISBN 0 896 03269 8

In his preface to this volume, the editor states his intentions to produce a benchtop manual and guide for those wishing to try new techniques in protein chemistry, and a~so that this manual should direct the reader to successful completion of desired experimental aims. It is not intended that it should cover every aspect of protein chemistry and analysis. Further volumes within the Methods in Molecular Biology series, which deal with techniques requiring specialized and expensive equipment, have been, or are about to be, produced. Instead, this book focuses on the techniques that would be of value to, and within the scope of, almost all biological sciences laboratories.

This is a large, multi-author effort in which each topic is covered in four to 19 pages, Each chapter has an introduction with references to essential background, plus sections on materials and methods that offer a step-by-step account of the available protocols. Additionally, each chapter has a final 'Notes' section, which amplifies upon techniques or alternative reagents and gives warnings on critical points such as technical hints and safety matters. Although it is generally difficult to categorize the contents, there are three major themes within the text, involving: (I) the quantitation and characterization of proteins, (2) the electrophoretic procedures used in protein isolation and characterization and (3) the analysis of protein size and structure.

I dipped into several chapters of generic interest. The first three described dye-based methods for protein quantitation, and the relative merits and difficulties associated with the use of Lowry, Bradford and bicinchoninic acid methods were well defined with useful comments on sensitivity and potential interfering compounds. If you wish to use electrophoretic techniques for proteins and/or peptides then look here. One- dimensional, two-dimensional, non- denaturing, denaturing, ultrathin gels...in