mouse and human cells. Because the properties of mammalian cells in culture are so diverse, the intent of this book is to give examples of in vitro growth assessment of a wide variety of cell types. The reader may find among the examples useful ideas for experi- ments in his or her own culture system. Two chapters in this book describe methods applicable to a wide variety of cell types. The introductory chapter de- scribes assays for measuring parameters of cell growth in vitro. A useful discussion of common misinterpretations of data obtained with the assays is included. The other general methods chapter de- scribes cell synchronization techniques. Each of the remaining chapters describes a different mammalian cell culture system. Represented are monolayer and suspension cultures, primary cell cultures, and culture of oncogene transformed cells. Examples are included of cells highly responsive to growth controls in vitro and cells completely unresponsive to growth controls.

A major strength of this book is its discussion of serum-free culture methods in which serum is re- placed by defined combinations of protein growth factors, attachment proteins, binding proteins and nutrients. Properties of cells grown in serum based and serum-free mediums can be strikingly different. One important difference, shown by Loo et al. (Science 236, 200 (1987)), who have contributed a chapter to this book, is that primary cultures in serum-free medium can remain predominantly diploid after multiple passages and do not undergo cell crisis. In contrast, primary cells grown in medium with serum do undergo cell crisis, followed by degeneration of the culture and sometimes the appearance of immortalized, karyotypically abnor- mal cells. Approaches to establishing defined serum free meOiums are illustrated in several chapters.

Although this book describes methods of general use for mammalian cell culture, its scope is narrower than that of a general cell culture manual. This work should be of use to cell and molecular biologists interested in assays of cell growth in response to growth factors and oncogene expression. The book can be especially recommended to those contem- plating the difficult task of defining a serum-free medium for an in vitro culture system.

Red Blood Cell Membranes. Hematology Series, edited by P. Agre & J.C. Parker. Marcel Dekker, 1989, vol. 11, pp. 760, US $150.00 (US & Canada); $180.(10 (all other countries)

I have a personal bias against multi-author books and usually I do not buy them. This one has 42 authors spread over 24 independent and irregular chapters. No editorial effort has been made to homogenize the different chapters, to avoid the inevitable repetition or to fill in the gaps inherent in this type of book.

However. two main aspects of the red blood cell membrane are well covered: the protein structure of the membrane skeleton (about two-thirds of the 700- page long book) and the transport across the membrane (about one-third), each corresponding to the speciality of one of the editors. In both cases, different aspects of the subject are covered by lea- ders in the field giving a rather complete review Of the subject up to 1987 (date at which most chapters were written).

The best covered topics are related to the bio- chemistry of membrane proteins; very few chapters are devoted to lipid components, only one chapter dcals with carbohydrate antigens, and nothing is found on glycosyltransferases.

All the genetic polymorphisms of the human red cell membrane (including protein and carbohydrate antigens) are summarized in a 15-page chapter which is largely insufficient for the specialist and difficult to follow for the student. The efforts made to help the non-specialist are not very successful; i.e., on page 300, the definition: "L-fructose (a six-carbon sugar in _ _ _ L - " _ L • . . . . . . wmcn one caroon does not have an t3H group)" is particularly confusing for those who are not aware that fructose is not present in red cell membranes and do not guess that the authors intended, in fact, to define fucose. On page 304 the structure of the Lewis antigens is repetitively quoted as a "fucose molecule.., affixed to N-acetylgalactosamine" instead of N-acetylglucosamine.

Nevertheless, such misprints are not present in the two topics of the book, which constitute a good overview for the non-specialist who wants to be in- formed of the main progress made during the last decade on membrane structure, ion transport and the corresponding clinical disorders of red cell membrane proteins such as herditary elliptocytosis or spherocytosis.

T. Hollon R. Oriol