The Chief: Doctor William Osler

editors have included chapters on extraction of receptors from membranes, assay of soluble receptors, labeling of receptors, and cross-linking of peptide hormones to receptors. There is also a chapter devoted to electron spin resonance spectroscopy of membranes. Volume 2 is primarily concerned with chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for preparation of membrane proteins in quantity sufficient for further purification. Theory and application of affinity chromatography are presented in the first two chapters. Application of immobilized lectins for glycoprotein affinity chromatography in the purification of insulin receptors is described in the following chapter. This is a technique which holds promise for wider application in a variety of receptor systems. There is a chapter describing high-performance liquid chromatography; however, improvements in technology since the chapter was written preclude utilization of some material presented. A chapter on multiple phase extraction employing polyethylene glycol with ficoll or dextran offers an alternative procedure to potentially damaging detergent extraction techniques. The final chapters should prove particularly valuable as they are not usually included in technology texts: identification and utilization of autoantibodies in receptor studies, utilization of protease inhibitors in purifying microscale quantities of protein, and determination of protein concentration in membrane preparations. The third volume of the set begins with a chapter on application of monoclonal antibodies for the study of receptors. The chapter also includes a valuable appendix on experimental procedures. There are three chapters on electrophoretic analysis which include descriptions of immunoelectrophoresis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and peptide mapping, with detailed examples. Other chapters include characterization of hydrodynamic properties, ligand binding and equilibration, molecular weight determination, and reconstitution of membrane receptors. Final chapters on receptor gene isolation and recombinant DNA techniques provide a probable solution to the problem of chemical structure determination of proteins available in vanishingly small quantities. The editors have achieved their defined goal of providing articles that are "not only excellent reference sources but also extremely useful at the laboratory bench." Future volumes are planned on monoclonal antibodies, radiation inactivation, and individual receptor systems. If the quality of the current volumes is maintained, the series should prove an extremely valuable addition to individual and institutional science libraries.