ANALYTICALBIOCHEMISTRY 184,192 (1990)

BOOK REVIEWS
Gas Chromatography and Lipids: A Practical Guide. By WIL- mers of mono- and polyunsaturated compounds, along with acetylenic,
LIAM W. CHRISTIE. The Oily Press, Ltd. Ayr, Scotland. 307 pp. branched, ring-containing, and oxygenated fatty acids.
$52.50. Since chromatographic retention data are often insufficient to pro-’
vide complete identification of fatty acids, especially from a new natu-
ral source, reliance on other methods, such as isolation followed by
As noted in the author’s introduction, this is the first volume from
chemical and/or spectroscopic procedures, may be needed. Chapter 6
a new publishing company whose objective will be to issue “compact,
practical and readable texts on all aspects of lipid research.” This ini- provides useful information on these techniques. Chapter 7 discusses
the use of GC combined with mass spectroscopy for identification of
tial offering meets these objectives very well. The past decade has pro-
fatty acids, either as their methyl esters or as other derivatives that
duced significant advances in gas chromatography (GC) related to
give characteristic fragments enabling the analyst to determine the
lipid analysis and a guide to their applications will be a welcome addi-
locations of double bonds and methyl branches. The last three chap-
tion to any laboratory engaged in lipid research.
ters introduce the complexities of molecular species determinations,
The volume begins with a description of lipid structures and practi-
for example those of triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols. The latter
cal methods for separating lipid classes. Although other laboratory
are often prepared from phospholipids for these determinations.
guides to lipid analysis, including two by Dr. Christie, present the Sterols are not covered in depth, but there are brief treatments of
standard methodology for lipid separations in greater detail, the intro- sterol and wax esters and glycosyldiacylglycerols and a somewhat
duction outlines general strategies and provides sufficiently detailed longer discussion of sphingolipid molecular species analysis. There are
references, so that anyone entering the field will be reasonably well- also useful sections on alternative or complementary methods for mo-
oriented at the outset. lecular species analysis such as adsorption, silver ion, and reversed-
The next chapter covers the general theory of gas chromatography phase chromatography. Last, the analysis of fatty alcohols, alkyl and
and modern instrumentation. In addition to the older methods of alkenyl ether lipids, cholesterol, glycerol, and the long-chain bases de-
packed column GC, it summarizes recent advances in capillary GC. rived from sphingolipids are discussed.
The development of wall-coated open tubular columns of glass or The book is clearly written, compact, reasonably priced, and easy to
fused silica, coated with a liquid phase, has greatly improved the re- follow. It will undoubtedly find its way into the laboratory and onto
solving power and temperature range of GC. Chapter 4 discusses in the bench, since simple procedures are given in sufficient detail to en-
detail the isolation of fatty acids from complex lipids, along with tech- able the practitioner to carry them out without recourse to the original
niques for the preparation of volatile derivatives. Since even the best literature. It contains over a thousand references, many of them to
columns can fail to resolve all saturated, unsaturated, oxygenated, and recent research. I would recommend this new addition to the lipid lit-
ring-containing fatty acids, it may be necessary to separate them into erature to all laboratories involved in the study of lipid biochemistry,
classes by use of thin-layer, column, or high-performance liquid chro- as well as specialized and general libraries in chemistry and the bio-
matography, and these applications are covered in considerable detail. medical sciences.
Chapter 5 describes the analysis of fatty acids hy GC including de- HOWARD GOLDFINE
tailed discussions of separations of positional and configurational iso- University of Pennsylvania

Yeast Genetics, a Manual of Methods. By J. F. T. SPENCER, D. M. In a short book like this it is impossible to be comprehensive but
SPENCER, and I. J. BRUCE. Springer-Verlag, 1989.104 pp. Softcover, I think that the use of dominant drug sensitivity should have been
$29.95. mentioned for random spore analysis. Similarly, the Falco and
Botstein chromosome loss method of mapping should have at least
been referenced in the otherwise comprehensive mapping method sur-
This is a likeable but uneven guide to methods in yeast genetics. vey. It is admitted that the best way to get mutants is by phone, but
The protocols are clear and precise and are accompanied by capsule the authors devote too much space to isolation of particular types of
introductions and handy references. The book is divided into two parts mutants that, although important when the original work was done,
covering first classical and then molecular techniques. Mating, sporu- are of only limited or anecdotal interest now.
lation, and detailed ascospore micromanipulation procedures are in- The second part contains a good review of methods for separation
cluded. The beginner will be pleased with the detail but may he con- of large (chromosomal size) pieces of DNA. Current isolation proce-
fused at the number of options. I would have stuck with one method dures for DNA and RNA and for transformation are outlined.
that works. This manual will serve as a companion, not a replacement, for the
Several methods for mutagenesis are outlined. A section on mapping now classic Cold Spring Harbor manual of methods by Sherman, Fink,
and protoplast fusion rounds out the classical genetics chapter. The and Hicks, in its current incarnation.
authors address the special needs of those working on yeasts other SANFORD J. SILVERMAN
than Sacchuromyces cerevisiae by including many alternative ways of National Institutes of Health
accomplishing the same end. Bethesda, Maryland 20892

0003s2697/90 $3.00
192 Copyright 0 1990 by Academic Press, Inc.
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.