Guide to basic information sources in chemistry (Antony, Arthur)

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book reviews Secondary Metabolism

Editor: .I.Maan. I l n i v ~ r s i t yof Rending. Clarentlon Press, O s h r d , 1978. x t 316pp. Figs. 22.5 X 14 cm. $2:1.50. This addition t o the Oxford Chemistry Series was written for use i n undergraduate courses in natoml prodr~ts/secondurymetabolism and for rwenrrh w o r k ~ r sentering the field who require n general i n t n d o c t i m t o the suhject. I t is cancrrnrd with the formation, strurture, and lhiologiral activity of natural products. The hook hpgins w i t h consideration afgenernl aspects of secondary metnholism and p n m e d a wit.ll chapters devnted t o fatty acids and polyk~tides,mevolonntemetaholites. shikimicaeid mptalrdites, alkaloids, and metnholitc~o f mixed hiosynt h r t i e origin. It I ~ P with E an ,muwaI chapter which diacosses the ecnloeirol invdvrn~ ment o f secondary metabolitpa. In tracing the hiosynthetir pathways, the author relien heavily on reaction m~rhanisms. In addition, 1,irdogieal properties, pharrnacolopv, toxicnlagy, and ecological significance ofthe- metabolites are stressed. Five of the seven chapters eont.ain end-of-chapter problems taken from the litprature, and extensive suggested readings arc provided fbr each chapter. I t i s n highl.veonrisc, compact hook, and its high reading level will require chse a t t e n t i m lry sturlrnta for maximum comprehensim. With thrae facts i n mind, the book w d d he suitahlr for an advanced ondererarlunte or emdrmtr course on natural products, provided t l ~ n tthe stodrnts h a w a strong hackgnrund i n irrganic chemistry. ~

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Chaptcr two is rntitled "Genend i'rinciplm ch K n ~ y m uC~tillyais." I t hegins with a dis-

cuzsicm o f t he energy uf artivntiw, nnd then I w i d s covers arid-haxu lataly.;isimd covalent calnlysis. b;.:nsymecatalysis is then i n h d u r e d and d i s c u r r d in trrrna trftheenrrgyufnetivntim. This is the onlv limn i n u,hieh theris n ~ ldt i s r o s s d The ahapler closes with a diwussirm of enzymv specificity, including strrreaprriIlcity. T h r sir major groups ofenzym;ttic renclicms are intrndured, and it would w c m nppnrprinte at this ]point to include a short description of the numbering system pro. 1pos~dIhy the Ccmmissim r m Enzyme Nomenrlatorc. Untiwlunately thi* u s not done. ('haptcr three intr