Ahmed, Sohail

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Brain biochemistry and brain disorders  Philip G. Strange, Oxford University Press; Oxford, New York, 1992; xi + 342 pages. £19.50, $31.20. ISBN 0-19-854775-7

Volume 327, number 1 FEBS LETTERS July 1993 
this, apart from chapters by Penner-Hahn on the non-haem. 
manganese-containing catalases, and by Stern and Groves on 
synthetic manganese-porphyrin complexes, most of the book is 
devoted to one system, undoubtedly the most important: the 
oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of plant-type photosynthesis. As 
such it is a useful summary of the present state of our knowledge 
of this complex, written by experts (mainly American) in the field. 
It has been known, since the trace-element studies by Pirson in 
the 1930’s, that manganese is required for the production of 
oxygen by plants. Then in elegant studies around 1970, Joliot, Kok 
and co-workers used flashes of light, to extract electrons one at a 
time from the OEC. There was a periodic response: after each four 
flashes, an oxygen molecule was released. This led to the discovery 
of the five spectroscopically distinct ‘S-states’ (S,-S,) of the OEC. 
Another landmark discovery was the ‘multiline’ electron- 
paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) signal from the S, state by 
Dismukes and co-workers, the first evidence that at least two 
manganese ions are involved in the complex. 
The OEC can now be isolated m relatively pure form from 
Photosystem II. it contams probably four manganese ions, plus 
chloride and calcium. The cluster is being probed by spectroscopic 
methods, notably X-ray absorption and EPR. A great many 
complexes of two or four manganese ions have been synthesized. 
Some of them are good models for the manganese catalase, but 
none so far exactly parallels the spectroscopic and catalytic 
properties of the OEC. 
The next landmark must surely by the determination of the 
structure of the complex. Perhaps, as with the recent 
determination of the structure of the iron-molybdenum complex 
of mtrogenase, this can only be achieved by the determination of 
the structure of the whole machinery of Photosystem II. When that 
happens, as this book shows, our knowledge of the relevant 
chemistry will be ready. 
Richard Cammack 
Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders; by Philip G. Strange, Oxford University Press: Oxford, New York, 1992; xi + 342 
pages. El 9.50, $3 1.20. ISBN 0- 19-854775-7. 
Brain biochemistry or neurochemistry is a relatively young 
science that aims to understand how the brain works at the cellular 
level, and thereby helps to explain the nature of brain disorders. 
A large percentage of the population suffer from brain disorders. 
For example, Alzheimer’s disease affects i in 20 people over 65 
and 1 in 4 over 80. It is estimated that in the US alone more than 
2 million people have this disease. As the over 65 population grows 
disproportionately during the coming years there will be an 
increasing demand for both short and long-term therapies. ‘Brain 
Biochemistry and Brain Disorders’ presents a lucid account of 
these subject areas. 
The text IS divided, as the title suggests. m two parts The first 
deals with neurochemistry, covering brain anatomy, neuronal 
structure and signalling, and receptors. Although these chapters 
are somewhat basic in content they help in setting the stage for the 
second part on brain disorders, which forms the major thrust of 
the book. The disease states, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, 
Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia, are each discussed in individual 
chapters, as are, depression and mania and anxiety. A 
multidisciplinary approach is taken to try and understand the 
basis of these disorders. Starting with a clinical description, 
moving on to neuropathological and neurochemical observations. 
possible treatments, and ending with the relationship to brain 
function. A bridging chapter entitled ‘mind-body problem’ 
succeeds in interfacing the two parts of the book and incorporates 
philosophical viewpoints to studying the brain. 
A number of books. including ‘Basic Neurochemistry’ (edited 
by Siegel et al.) and ‘An Introduction to Molec~ar Neurobiology‘ 
(edited by Hall). cover some of the topics just described, and in 
some instances in more depth (e.g. the contribution of 
recombinant DNA approaches to study the brain). The 
uniqueness of this text is its multidisciplinary approach to brain 
disorders, coherence and ease of reading. The organisation of the 
book and quality of diagrams is of a high standard. My only 
criticism would be that the references are spht between the end of 
individual chapters (recommended reading) and the end of the 
book (bibliography). I would have preferred referencing to be at 
the end of each chapter so that the chapters are complete on their 
own 
This book is essential reading for students of biochemistry, 
medicine, psychology and pharmacology. pursuing courses in the 
neurosciences, and for anyone interested in brain disorders and 
their underlying causes. 
Sohail Ahmed 
Cell Biology LABFAX; edited by G.B. Dealtry and D. Rickwood, Bios. Scientific Publ./Academic Press; Oxford, 1992. 
xvi + 254 pages. $49.95. ISBN 0-12-207890-X in North America; E24.95 ISBN l-87-274860-0 in rest of the world. 
This book IS a fairly extensive com~ndium of the laboratory 
information you may need to carry out experiments in cell biology. 
It is, of course, a book for those who fear the water but are deeply 
attracted by it. You want to dip into its shallows frequently but 
tt is too invtting an ocean for it to be safe for the scientist to dive 
into it deeply. Normally you would not read it from end to end 
but this reviewer jumped in, sank to the task and read it from start 
to finish and found many things which he was vaguely aware of, 
117 


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Brain biochemistry and brain disorders Philip G. Strange, Oxford University Press; Oxford, New York, 1992; xi + 342 pages. £19.50, $31.20. ISBN 0-19-854775-7

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