Cytokine Cell Biology: A Practical Approach01234rd Edition012340edited by Fran Balkwill1Cytokine Molecular Biology: A Practical Approach,3rd Edition2A. Kristina Downing Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, OCMS and Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford,South Parks Rd, OX1 3QH,UK3Journal of Cell Science,Bidder Building, 140 Cowley Rd, Cambridge, UK CB4 0DL4Ron Jacob Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Campus,London, SE1 1UL,UKCytokines are important in the regulation of the immune system, not only controlling growth and differentiation but providing a messaging network through which different components of the immune system can interact. Over the past decade, the number of identified cytokines has expanded enormously - the interleukins alone now number over 20 members. Following the recent publication of the human genome sequence, the number of known cytokines will surely increase dramatically over the next few years. Given the importance of cytokines in the immune system, many of these molecules are being investigated as potential therapeutic targets, and this field of study can only expand in the future. An updated 'practical approach to cytokine biology' therefore arrives at an opportune moment.-The latest edition has been split into 2volumes, Cytokine Cell Biology andCytokine Molecular Biology. CytokineCell Biology covers the techniquesnecessary to investigate the productionand activity of cytokines. Each chapter,either directly or through reference toother chapters, covers the methodsrequired to perform experiments fromthe initial preparation of cells through tothe protocols for assaying cytokinefunction. Further information about theconditions required for successful cellculture and techniques such as FACSanalysis, are also clearly presented,enabling complex experiments to bedesigned from start to finish. Chaptersincluding detailed assays for the effectof cytokines on the activation,proliferation, migration and cytotoxicityof cells are included, with specificreference to macrophages, B and Tlymphocytes. In addition to the study ofcytokine function, several chapters dealwith methods for the detection ofcytokine production. These includeprotocols for immunohistochemicalanalysis, ELISA, Elispot andFACSbased assays of cytokines. In areas suchas this, it would be beneficial to haveaccess to both the cellular and molecularbiology volumes, because the molecularvolume contains an excellent chapterdetailing additional methods such asRNase protection and RT-PCR forassaying cytokine gene expression.Cytokine Molecular Biology focusesmainly on the study of cytokinesignalling. Several sections describe theexpression and purification of cytokineproteins and their use in receptor bindingstudies. Further chapters provide a broadspectrum of techniques for the study ofcytokine receptor signal transduction.The activity of signalling moleculesoften correlates with theirphosphorylation status, and protocols tostudy the phosphorylation status ofsignalling molecules such as MAPkinases are detailed. Alternativestrategies, such as directly assayingkinase activity with known substrates,the use of chemical inhibitors and thestudy of transcription factor activation,are also described, with the pros andcons of each method clearly explained.Additional information about the studyof lipid-based signal transductioncompletes a thorough explanation of thetechniques required for the study ofcytokine signal transduction. CytokineMolecular Biology finishes with awellwritten chapter on the use oftransgenesis in the study of cytokines.This chapter details the standardmethods for generating transgenicanimals, including knockout andconditional knockout techniques. For amore detailed description of the contentsof the two books check the publisherswebsite at www.oup.co.uk.In general, both volumes are well writtenand clearly laid out, with just the rightamount of experimental detail andbackground information. The books donot merely present basic protocols butprovide additional information onreagents, equipment and often handy tipswith respect to particular reagents or thedesign of experimental controls. Thechapters with which we were alreadywell versed appeared to be complete andwell explained. Other chapters ontechniques with which we were notfamiliar proved to be easily accessible,with respect to both the protocols and thebackground information behind thetechniques and the science. We wouldrecommend both of these books toanyone working in the field of cytokinesor immunology, and feel buying bothtogether would provide a completecoverage of most of the commonly usedtechniques in immunology. These bookswould be extremely useful for both PhDstudents and postdocs alike - although at30 each, students may prefer torecommend them to their libraries. Ingeneral, if signalling is your thing go forCytokine Molecular Biology, for theeffects of cytokines on cellularbehaviour get Cytokine Cell Biology,and if possible get them both.A guide for the New Agetraveller in proteinIntroduction to ProteinArchitecture: the structuralbiology of proteinsby Arthur M. LeskBefore reading this book, I would neverhave believed that a close examinationof protein structure could be soanimated. Lesk has taken this subjectand brought it to life. The book is idealfor readers who have a relatively strongbackground knowledge of biochemistrybut little or no understanding of howprotein structure relates to function. Inhis Preface, Lesk quotes Rutherford,who said, All science is either physicsor stamp collecting. He then explains,This book embodies my reply, that thestudy of proteins includes the bestqualities of both. This is an accurateappraisal of the text. The underlyingphysics of protein architecture iscovered in sufficient detail for one togain an appreciation of proteins asmicro-machines that functionmechanically. At the same time, thebook is beautifully illustrated withcountless colour figures that impress thevariety and elegant complexity ofprotein structure.On the first page of the Contents section,there is a note stating Sections markedwith an asterisk may be skipped on a firstreading. Then, out of more than 100sections, only 7 are marked, comprisingabout 20 of the 300+ pages. Having readthis book, Im sure that the author had avery hard time suggesting that anysection could be skipped! His passion forprotein architecture emanates from thetext, and his enthusiasm will no doubt beinfectious for those wishing to learnmore about the subject.Lesks literary style makes for easyreading. The text follows a logicalorganisation in which the readersinterest is stimulated first byintroduction of the photosynthetic reactioncentre from Rhodopseudomonas viridis,which illustrates all the essentialprinciples of protein conformation. Heinvites, Let us look at it and take itapart. Next, there is a description ofprotein sequence and how 3D structuresare derived experimentally. Principlesof secondary (helix and sheet) andtertiary structure follow, with extensivereference to classifications of proteinstructures - for example, in thedatabases SCOP(http://scop.mrclmb.cam.ac.uk/scop) and CATH(http://www.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/bsm/cath/).Molecular evolution is considered indifferent contexts and on different timescales. The complicated relationshipsbetween amino acid sequencesimilarity and structural homologywith convergent versus divergentevolution are presented in detail. Theevolution of function within specificprotein families is then highlighted,followed by an introduction to theproteins of the immune system, and theamazingly sophisticated and rapidmaturation of the antibody response.Finally, functional aspects ofconformational change in proteins areexplored.Throughout the book Lesk keeps hissense of humour, and the readersinterest, with a few well-placed quips,such as Rotation of the actin during theactivity of the [ATPase] was seen andrecorded. This movie certainly deservesan Oscar in the natural history category,staring ATPase (and with some fineactin in the cast).Problem sections at the end ofeach chapter are comprehensive andinnovative. In particular, this book istimely in its use of electronic materialfound on the World Wide Web. Anumber of the problems (weblems, asthey are referred to) require theinteractive use of web databases and/orsoftware. However, one drawback of thistext is that there are no problem solutionsprovided.Understanding how protein functionfollows form will be one of the greatchallenges of the 21st century. With therecent boom in sequence data, scientistsare now preparing to map out all ofprotein structure space experimentally.As we seek to navigate the trails of thisnew universe, Lesks book will providea handy map and a useful guide for manytravellers.Calcium cuisineCalcium Signalling, 2ndEdition, A PracticalApproachedited by Alexei V. TepikinI have fond memories of the first editionof this book. Alas, they are onlymemories because, as an anonymoustribute to its usefulness, someonepurloined it from my office. However,its loss is now mitigated by thepublication of a worthy successor thathas all the attributes of a good cookerybook, with many well written chaptersthat include recipes (protocols) andcolour plates to whet the appetite. Beinggreedy I would have liked more, and thisvolume is rather slim for the pricecompared with others in the OUPPractical Approach series.The book is divided into three parts, thefirst containing four chapters coveringthe techniques of calcium measurement,including the recently developedtargeted chimeric cameleons andaequorins. The now conventionalfluorescent indicators do not warrant achapter of their own but are coveredimplicitly in other chapters, includingone specifically devoted to discussingartefacts arising from the presence oftransition metals and zinc. Most of thebook concentrates on the biologicalaspects of calcium measurement, andrightly so, but the technical aspect offluorescence measurement gets its ownchapter covering photometry, videoimaging, and confocal and multiphotonmicroscopy. At 25 pages long, thischapter can give only a briefintroduction. Although most chaptersinclude some discussion of theinstrumentation required, readerslooking for in-depth information aboutinstrumentation will need to lookelsewhere.The second part covers calciummeasurement in different organelles,with chapters on endoplasmic recticulumand the nucleoplasm and its envelope,and an excellent chapter from MichaelDuchens laboratory on mitochondria,which includes the associatedmeasurement of membrane potential andredox state. Taken in conjunction withthe relevant sections on targeted proteinsfrom the first part, the discussion of therapidly developing field of organellarcalcium measurement is one of the mainstrengths of this book.The third part comprises four chapterson the monitoring of specific calciumreactions. I suspect this name wasinvented to avoid a section labelled,chapters that do not fit in to the othertwo categories but nonetheless, itcovers important and interesting topics.The first chapter is on controllingcytoplasmic calcium and measuringcalcium-dependent gene expression.Here, Dolmetsch and Negulescudescribe, in some detail, their calciumclamp apparatus that has been used sosuccessfully to investigate the effect ofcalcium oscillations on gene expression.The second chapter is from AndrewThomas laboratory, and describes howto measure calcium in an intact liver.This is followed by a chapter fromAntony Galiones laboratory on the useof sea urchin egg homogenates toinvestigate calcium release mechanisms.The final chapter is from the Editor,Alexei Tepikin, on the droplet techniquefor measuring calcium extrusion fromsingle cells.One topic that I feel should have beenincluded is the use of caged compounds,a technique that is a naturalaccompaniment to the fluorescentmeasurement of calcium, and that hasbeen used successfully to controlcytoplasmic calcium. Like the calciumclamp it has provided important data onthe calcium regulation of geneexpression, and yet it barely warrants amention. However, despite thisreservation, Tepikin and OUP are to becongratulated on bringing together adistinguished collection of worldauthorities and persuading them to writeinteresting and authoritative articles. Icertainly picked up new ideas, and thisis a book that will be compulsory readingfor graduate students and postdocswishing to cook in my calcium kitchen.I am sure that any calcium restaurantsuccessfully using the full gamut ofthese recipes would warrant threeMichelin stars.JCS Commentaries highlight and critically discuss recent exciting work that will interest those working in cell biology,molecular biology, genetics and related disciplines. These short reviews are commissioned from leading figures in the fieldand are subject to rigorous peer-review and in-house editorial appraisal. Each issue of the journal contains at least twoCommentaries. JCS thus provides readers with more than fifty Commentaries over the year, which cover the complete spectrumof cell science.Although we discourage submission of completed unsolicited Commentaries to the journal, ideas for future articles in theform of a short proposal and some key references are welcome and should be sent to the Executive Editor at the addressbelow.