Chemical Education Today edited by
Book & Media Reviews
Bioanalytical Chemistry by Susan R. Mikkelsen and Eduardo Cortón Wiley-Interscience: Hoboken, NJ, 2004. 361 pp. ISBN 0471544477. $94.95 [Also available digitally as an e-book using Adobe Reader: John Wiley & Sons: New York, 2004. MAC OS 10.2 or higher, Windows. ISBN B0001QNK7S. $94.95] reviewed by Jack K. Steehler
Practical and complete, this monograph surveys and describes analytical methods used by biochemists. Designed for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, it assumes prior course work in both biochemistry and analytical chemistry, through instrumental analysis. In most cases an understanding of basic principles of spectroscopy, chromatography, etc. is assumed, and the chapters get right down to the business of explaining how those techniques are applied to biochemistry. The result is a broad survey of analytical methods but at a fairly high level. This approach is refreshing, with the resulting presentations being quite useful. As an example, page one of the book gets right into the long established use of A280/A260 absorbance measurements for protein and nucleic acid determinations, along with the limitations of that classic approach. Then a variety of more specific assays of classes of biomolecules are given (protein, nucleic acid, etc.), with practical comparative information on volume of sample needed, detection limits, useful linear range, etc. Similarly, a later chapter presents a variety of common enzyme kinetics graphical techniques, including discussion of their advantages and disadvantages (e.g. the statistical weighting problems of Lineweaver Burk double reciprocal plots). Specific techniques are covered in sections ranging from a solid paragraph to several detailed pages. The
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Journal of Chemical Education
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Jeffrey Kovac University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-1600
reader gets a good picture of all widely used methods, both classic and new. References are through 2002, and cover long established techniques and newer methods equally. A wide range of topics is covered, including enzymes (chapters on kinetics, assays, and immobilization), a wide variety of immunoassays, electrophoresis (four chapters), chromatography, centrifugation, and mass spectrometry. There are also chapters on biosensors and validation of analytical methods. Each chapter has a nice set of end-of-chapter problems (with answers) that truly help deepen the understanding of the chapter content. Most chapters have four or five multipart problems, a very appropriate number. While prior knowledge is usually assumed, some topics (including the sections on enzyme kinetics and immunoassays) have in-depth introductory material. Those introductions are then followed up with more detailed discussion of specific techniques. A consistent focus on biochemical techniques is maintained, e.g. the chromatography section emphasizes gel filtration chromatography, affinity chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography rather than GC and HPLC. There are a few topics not covered as completely as most. The chapters on mass spectrometry and directed evolution of proteins and antibodies serve just as introductions to these rich topics rather than as complete surveys. One distinct limitation of the book is its index, which is quite incomplete. Users depending on the index to find techniques will be frustrated and could well miss the book’s coverage of many topics. Overall, the authors have succeeded in providing a concise but complete practical presentation of all major analytical techniques used in biochemistry. This valuable contribution fits its target niche and audience very well. Jack Steehler is in the Department of Chemistry, Roanoke College, Salem, VA 24153;
[email protected] Vol. 81 No. 9 September 2004
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