Means to Ends: Establishing Cell Polarity Advances in Molecular and Cell Biology: Volume 26, Cell Polarity Edited by James R. Bartles and E. Edward Bittar Stamford, CT: JAI Press (1998). $128.50

material presented is accurate and not overinterpreted, ius, L. one place where detailed information and primary cita-Extracellular Matrix–Cell Interactions is less successful , with chapters of uneven quality both in content and style. Overall this book suffers from being primarily a meeting report. The title of the book is an unfortunate choice because cell adhesion, the major form of cell sis on ECM genetics, structure, and diseases is timely. The book is neither comprehensive nor basic. Still, it covers material not readily available elsewhere. Se-Advances in Molecular and Cell Biology: Volume 26, lected articles are useful reading for researchers who Cell Polarity study the genetics and biochemistry of ECM, because Edited of treatment of subjects rarely reviewed and inclusion Stamford, CT: JAI Press (1998). $128.50 of many unpublished results. I found the chapters on effects of mutation of the collagenase substrate (p. 1), Because so many biological functions—motility, tissue laminin assembly (p. 41), tenascin-C in cancer (p. 87), communication and architecture, differentiation, and type IV collagen genes (p. 235), and the genetics of more—rely upon the polarity of cells, mechanistic analy-cartilage collagens (p. 323) particularly enlightening. ses frequently require addressing such basic questions There is also a scholarly coverage of the genetic basis as how asymmetry is specified, constructed, and main-of connective tissue diseases. However, this information tained. The field began as descriptions at the level of is readily available in recent review articles (Gorski and microscopy of morphologically differentiated domains; Olsen, 1998; Lukashev and Werb, 1998). The beginner it has benefited enormously in recent years from applica-will find these papers and related review series in Trends tions of molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. in Cell Biology and Current Opinion in Cell Biology more The identification of molecules displaying a restricted accessible. pattern of localization, and of mutations that affect those Are books published on ECM useful? Yes. For special-patterns, has provided high-resolution markers of indi-ists several of the other volumes in the Biology of Extra-vidual steps in the expression of polarity as well as an cellular Matrix Series, edited by Robert P. Mecham have evolving picture of the underlying machinery. Arguably a more comprehensive coverage of the structure, func-the most striking and important consequence of this tion, and assembly of ECM and adhesion molecules, work is an appreciation of the extent to which homolo-such as proteoglycans, fibronectin, collagens, and inte-gous markers and mechanisms are common to otherwise disparate systems. …