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978 1 85578 162 7
Portland Press
GBP 20.00 (15.00 to Biochemical Society Members)
Biochemical Society Symposia 72: Lipids, Rafts and Traffic
R A J Mcilhinney & N M Hooper (eds)
In July 2004, the annual Symposium of the Biochemical Society was held at BioSciences2004 in Glasgow and was dedicated to Lipids, Rafts and Traffic. This event, prestigious in the Society calendar, was attended by researchers who not only presented their research but also contributed papers and articles to this worthwhile book. These books form a series of Portland Press publications which provide us with in depth knowledge of cutting edge research in a wide variety of subject areas. I attended this Symposium and recall an exciting program with first rate presentations often followed by lively debate from the floor.
Published in January 2005, this book contains 21 chapters. This sounds like an unwieldy amount but on average each chapter is approximately 10 pages. This contributes hugely to the book; long passages are avoided, the writing is crisp and the reader is drawn into the research by detailed and considered background, excellent figures, well referenced paragraphs and insightful summaries. If the editors imposed word restrictions, then good work; it has made this book a joy to read.
Summarising 21 chapters is impossible, but there are one or two areas which warrant a mention here. The emergence of phosphoinositides as second messengers is well chronicled in several chapters. Martin Lowe in Chapter 3 writes about PtdIns(4)P and PtdIns(4,5)P2 expression at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and plasma membrane (PM) respectively and speculates on their involvement in cargo trafficking to various organelle. Spatially and temporally expressed, these messengers interact with membranes and proteins but to what effect? Thus, it is pressing that effector proteins involved in trafficking be investigated to understand phosphoinositide roles at these sites. Similarly, Pico Caroni in Chapter 12 examines the role of PtdIns(4,5)P2 laden plasmalemmal rafts in actin assembly where PtdIns(4,5)P2 accumulation at rafts promotes assembly of signalling and protein complexes which respond instantly and locally to external signals. Finally in Chapter 18, membrane anchored PtdIns(4,5)P2 sequestration of proteins containing clusters of basic/hydrophobic residues; a process reversed through clamodulin electrostatic interaction, is explored. Quite what this signifies is unknown, but investigation of sequestered proteins such as MARCKS, GAP43, GRK5 and NMDA should be edifying. Unequivocally, PtdIns(4)P and PtdIns(4,5)P2 are involved in signalling and trafficking and uncovering specific compartmental roles will be exciting.
Clathrin and the adaptor complexes (AP-1, AP-2 etc.) are involved in cellular trafficking of cargoes. Elizabeth Smythe in Chapter 6 focuses on µ2 phosphorylation of AP-2 by AAK1 (adaptor associated kinase 1), perhaps inducing conformational change in AP-2 to recruit cargoes bearing YXXÖ (Ö = a bulky hydrophobic residue) consensus sequences. Interestingly, µ1 of AP-1 is similarly phosphorylated, suggesting common mechanisms in adaptor complexes? In Chapter 7, Tomas Kirchhausen uses single-molecule live-cell imaging to hypothesise a novel ‘exploratory model’ of clathrin based endocytosis. Using EGFP tagged clathrin and AP-2, these authors postulate random initiation of clathrin coated pits are stabilised/or not by cargo capture.
Other chapters reveal exciting work. Arwyn Jones in Chapter 10 dissects the Rab family of GTPases, in particular the endocytic subgroup, 5, 21 and 22 and rationalises endocytic roles. A chapter on HIV-1 Tat peptide translocation across artificial bilayers is fascinating research. Worthy of note is the work of Harvey McMahon in Chapter 21 on BAR domains and the exploration of BAR induced membrane morphology in diverse biological processes. Lastly, chapters 13 and 20 show how the molecular dissection of membranes and lipids can throw light on the pathology of Alzheimers and Prion Disease respectively.
I found this book easy to read and difficult to review because I have omitted so much detail. Every chapter told an exciting story. That the editors have compiled an excellent research publication cannot be doubted, and with an impact factor of 3.3 and at £15 per copy, this is excellent value all round. Quite simply, this book is an essential companion for every scientist working on lipids, rafts and traffic.
John Phelan (University College London, UK)
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