Molecular biology stands slightly apart from the majority of life science disciplines, in that not cnly is it thz ‘t&c’ of the bona tide molecular biologist, but also it is an essential ‘tool’ for a growing number of scientists from divetsc branches of biology and medicine. Forensic scientists, unmunologists. microbiologist 1 physiologists, cytogencticists, clinicians and populatio;l biologists (to name but a few), are f.~nding that a molecular approach is increasingly becoming the method of choice in the design of a practical rationale. In a field where tllc qnalified molecular practitioner is ha&presred to keep abreast of I:he barrage of emerging ~cchniques, a foray icto practic31 .molecular biology must be somewhat daunring to the uninitiated.

On the l.vholc, the demand for ‘How to.. .’ texts has been met by

some very high-quality books on specific techniques. However, the aforementioned diver%ity of the market for such books makes it estrcmcly ditlicult to put together a genera! molecular biology test which will satisfi. the requirements of ;?tl users. I>espitr these obstacles, the fnrcninner to Slrorl PWm,b, na t*,.*ly Grm **t r+lJIl~CL~!S irr A4oltXXlnr Biolqsqy (CPMU), managed to fulfil this role a&irably, providing an essmiai practic21 reference work for the non-speciakt and professional molecular iiologist alike. CPMB is an cdlaustl :e text, covering an impressiT:e range Lf techniques. Not only arc the protocols well written and easy to follow, but each section also contain?, sufficient theoretical background to give a good level of understanding of the molecular basis ofthe technique. This is underpinned by advice on troublc-

Pmctical enzyma&ic methdology - analysed

Entymc Assays - A Practical Approach

estimate th:: kinetic paramctei’s ot’a system (one chapter). The closi. tg chapter offers a discussion of bu ks and methods of protein purification. The litcraturc cited, a total of 632 rcfcrcnccs, inch&s prcdorninantly rcfcrcnccs from the 1070s (44%) nnd the I9KOs (34’%). A total tit-9 rofercnces are dated beFore 1950, which indicates that some very classical work on

shooting, which is the most common stumbling block to the non-molecular biologist who may have the compctcnce to perform the esperimcnt, bet nlay lack the basic knowlcdgc required for fault finding and problem soling when system failure occurs.

This begs the question - ‘Why is .Short I’r0r0mls a necessary supplement to CPMB?’ Whilst CPMU is an escrllent practical gui&:, its sheer bulk makes it unsuitab!r for easy use as a bench guide. SA,:rt Pr&or& omits much of the background material, yet maintains the high standard of protocols in a condensed f&mat more suitable for day-to-day laboratory use. NonsLhclcss, the test still retains notes on the various pros and cons of different versions ofa technique which is crtrcmcly us&i to all practitioncn. As a stand-alone test, Shuvr Prc~oc& will be a valuable time saver as a reliable protozol source for molecular biologists, standing favourable con-rparison with other rim&r works, primarily due to the user- friendly organization of the test. llo~.vevrr, to the would-be molecular biologist, it would be of !imited iisc in isolation, and wouid ai:~ost certain!y need thr support ot CPMi’

Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Dundee lnstiiu!e of Technology,

B&l Street, Dundee, ci:: DD1 1HG.

enzyme assays is included. The _ book also includes an Appcndis 0:’ suppliers of specialist items, two indexes (one for the 200 enzymes cited and one for subjects covered), and an abbreviation list.

‘The majority ofcontributoa (I 0 of 13), as well as the Editors, are from the UK, and this is retltcted in the choice of references sclcctcd in the suppliers’ list. This book will prnbably enjoy an international distribution and we can imagine German and Swedish readem being astonished by the &t that UK addresses are tivcn for Bochringer Mannheim azd Phnrmacia-LKB.

Unfortunately, the authors responsible for the prcscnt,ltion af tlrc ditferl.llt mstrun,cntal tcchniqucs tor cnzytnc assays have not paid enough attention to the ditlicult ba!ancc between the theoretical basis of the analvtical ttchniquer, rhc characteristics of th<