144 BOOK REVIEWS

the molecular mechanisms of P A F action is, curiously enough, listed in the wrong section under ‘Origins of PAF‘, rather than ‘Cellular and tissue responses of PAF‘, although this chapter is an excellent one dealing with some of the current concepts on signal transduc- tion mechanisms, such as role of receptor-G protein interaction, protein kinase C/phosphorylation in PAF- induced responses. The range of cellular and tissue responses and pathophysiology of P A F are however, areas well covered in the book. This is a contribution which should be extremely valuable to students as well as established researchers, and the concluding section dealing with some of the aspects of P A F in human disease could prove interesting to medical workers as well.

S. KRISHNAMURTHI Thrombosis Research Unit,

King’s College School of Medicine & Dentistry, London SES 8RX, U. K.

PROTEINASE INHIBITORS. RESEARCH MONOGRAPHS IN CELL AND TISSUE PHYSIOLOGY. Vol. 12

(General editors, J . T. Dingle and J. L. Gordon). A. J. Barrett and G. Salveson (eds) Elsevier: Amsterdam. 661 pages, U.S. $160.00 (1986).

For many years naturally-occurring inhibitors have been viewed as impediments in the determination and purification of proteolytic enzymes. More recently, though, we have come to recognize the enormous potential that exists for the application of inhibitors in the characterization of individual proteinases, proteoly- tic mechanisms or to unravelling complex catabolic routes. Inhibitors have been employed to modulate proteolytic activity, a property that has considerable appeal to the pharmaceutical industry. Coupled with the recent successes in protein engineering, there are now tremendous opportunities to develop highly selective inhibitors for the control of individual proteinases in various disease conditions.

The rapid progress made in identifying and synthesiz- ing low molecular weight inhibitor during the last decade has shifted in recent years to the characteriza- tion of the naturally-occurring protein inhibitors. It is therefore most timely to have this book in which the considerable volume of literature on the subject can be collated in a logical and easily assimilable form. The book is very well organized with each chapter written by a specialist on the topic. Section A consists of two chapters, describing the properties of the different proteinase groups and the kinetics of inhibition, and provides a useful introduction to the main sections of the book. Section B covers synthetic and related

inhibitors with four chapters, one for each proteinase group. In section C the naturally-occurring protein inhibitors are divided into chapters dealing with either the inhibitor source or the target proteinase or proteinase group. The inhibitors of serine proteinases are numerous and diverse in structure and specificity. To guide the reader here there is an introductory chapter which includes a structural overview. There is also a chapter giving an overview of the superfamily of plasma serine proteinase inhibitors, serpins, in addition to chapters dealing with individual inhibitors in this superfamily .

This book emphasizes the chemistry, specificity and mechanism of action of inhibitors and a considerable amount of information has been packed into the chapters. However, the biological role of inhibitors or their application as research tools are in the main only hinted at. Section D consists of one chapter and is the exception, reviewing the current use and potential for proteinase inhibitors as drugs in the treatment of various disorders.

Research workers with an interest in proteinases and proteinase inhibitors will find this book a valuable guide and reference work, which they will want to keep close at hand.

DAVID ETHERINGTON, AFRC Institute of Food Research,

Langjord, Bristol, BS18 7DY, U.K.

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (Les Houches 1984, Session XLII)

M. Fongereau and R. Stora (Eds) North Holland: Amsterdam. xxviii + 318 pages, $64.75, Dfl. 175.000 (1986).

This book is a collection of papers based on lectures given at Les Houches Summer School in 1984. Although all the papers are on the general theme of cellular and molecular aspects of the biology of development, the scope is wide. Topics range from almost straight biochemistry-the biosynthesis and sorting of proteins (G. Kreibich) to early neurogenesis in vertebrates (J.-P. Thiery and J.-C. Boucat) in which classical work on amphibian neural induction is reviewed, in addition to more recent studies on the role of cell adhesion molecules. The problems posed in some developmental systems, that are not normally covered in standard texts, are also described. For example, there is a paper on the differentiation of cation transporting system during skeletal and cardiac myogenesis (C. Frelin and J.-F. Renaud). However, a general appreciation of the growing points in develop-