reviews Principles of Biochemistry, 2 n d ed. Alberf L. Lehninger, David L. Nelson, and Michael M. Cox. Worth Publishers: 33 Irving Place, New York, NY, 1993. xli + 1090 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 x 28.5 cm. The second edition of Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry has now appeared under the authorship of David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox, both professors of biochemistry a t the University of Wisconsin-Madison who have admirable reputations as teachers and researchers. The bwk presents a survey of current biachemistry in around 1000 well-illustrated, easily readable pages. The style and depth are appropriate to introductory courses of one or two semesters at the late undergraduate or beginning graduate levels. The general shape of the book is familiar and comfortable, and the material is presented in four parts. Part I (Foundations of Biochemistry, 4 chapters) reviews relevant aspects of cell biology, organic chemistry, and the properties of water as a solvent. Part I1 (8 chapten) is confusingly entitled "Structure and Catalysis," for its theme is not the relationship between structure and catalysis hut rather the major hiomacromolecular structures, proteins (including enzymes in Chapter 8, where catalysis comes in), lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (Chapter 12, where catalysis does not come in, rihozymes being treated under RNA processing in Chapter 25). Part I11 (Bioenergetics and Metabolism, 10 chapters) covers glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation, nitrogen metabalism, and hiosynthesis. Chapter 22 of Part 111discusses mammalian metabolic integration through hormonal mechanisms. Part IV (Information Pathways, 6 chapters) treats exclusively genetic information pathways. Excitable membranes, receptors, and signal transduction are treated only in Chapter 22 of Part 111, under hormonal regulation of metabolism; chemotads receives only a mention in the discussion of enzymes in Chapter 8. The hook has many strengths. In those parts where I could judge, the technical accuracy and currency were excellent. The text is easy to understand. For the most part, the illustrationswhile spectacularly colored according to current fashion-make active use of the color for didactic ourooses. not mere attemnted entertainment. The organization is gwd for teaching purposes, once a few idiosyncracies of the sort mentioned above are appreciated (which is not difficult). The use of declarative sentences as section titles is helpful in using the hook to study. There is a good effort throughout to relate the ideas to the experimental evidence. Basic paints (chirality, for example) are treated briefly in several different chapters, which is slightly repetitive hut also gives the hook flexibility for adaptation to various kinds of courses. The authors note they have resisted the temptation to make the hook encyclopedic. This restraint is admirable and should be taken to heart by authors of organic chemistry textbooks. It does mean that some supplementation may he necessary; for example, when the book is used in medical or oharmacv schwls. The authors sought, however, ta preserve the integrity of hiochemistryas a primarily chemical subject, and in this their success is evident and pleasing.
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Minor weaknesses include an apparent tendency to provide rough sketches instead of calculated curves in some of the illustrations. The Michaelis-Menten curve in Figure 8-12 seems ta lie well above the correct curve. The burst effect in Figure 8-20 looks like the intersection of two linear curves, rather than a n exponential approach to a linear steady state. Sometimes the prohlem is reversed. In Box 5-1,the Lamhert-Beer law (linear with zero intercept) is presented and expressed verbally in italics, then illustrated by a nonlinear standard curve with non-zero intercept. Unfortunately, these minor lapses will most seriously afflict the best students, who will study the curves with a skeptical eye. The strengths of this text far outweigh its minor flaws. On ha% ance, Lehninger, Nelson, and Cox is a first-rate, new biochemistry text, a worthy hut distinct successor to its predecessor, likely to he widely and happily used. Richard L. S c h o w e n ~epartments01 hem stry. Biocnem slry, and Pnarmace~tca Chem~stry University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045 T h e VSEPR Model of Molecular Geometry Ronald J. GiNespie and lsfvan Harginai. Allyn and Bacon: Boston, MA, 1991. viii + 248 pp. Slnw puhlieatim of his scrnmal Quarierlj Rtrieu article writ. ten in 1957 w t h coauthor Run Syholm. Ron Gillesplr has bccn a oroeonent uf thr VSEPR Valcnw Shell Elecrron Pair Kenuls~on model for molecular geometry. Indeed, the name ~ i l l e s ~ i e ~ the and model VSEPR are linked inextricably. The prominent inclusion of VSEPR in general and inorganic chemistry texts and its widespread use a s a teaching tool are, at the same time, measures of the importance of the model and of Gillespie's success in its development and dissemination. This book, written by Gillespie and colleague Istvan Hargittai, should be welcomed by the chemical community as an excellent, up-to-date, reference on this topic. It presents a reasoned and careful development of the VSEPR model, replacing Gillespie's 1972 monograph Molecular Geometry, (Van Nostrand Reinhold: London). Chapters 1 and 3 of the book cover the broader aspects of VSEPR while chapter 2 presents a short hut useful summary of methods of structural determination. Chapters 4 through 6 describe application of the model, from the prediction of gross features of structure to rationalizations of subtle variations in bond angles and bond lengths in series of homologous compounds. Chapter 7 provides a theoretical basis for this model. While the inclusion of this material is certainly warranted, this reviewer's opinion is that the chapter is conceptually too difficult to be of \due to most of the bwk'r likely audience. \Vhrle most teacher* alrmdy will l > w rhack~vuundknowledge on \'Sf 1'1L thls bwk will he u 4 u l ns a oresentation ofthe broad picture of this topic, and readers will find suhtleties of which they were unaware. However, the most valuable feature of this hook for
R e v i e w e d i n This Issue
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Rev~ewer
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Alberl L. Lehninger, David L. Nelson, and Michael M. Cox, Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd ed.
Richard L. Schowen
A223
Ronald J. Gillespie and lstvan Hargiffai, The VSEPR Model of Molecular Geometry
Paul M. Treichel
A223
Titles of Interest
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A224
Volume 70
Number 8 August 1993
A223
