Book Reviews

This book covers a wide range of biochemical and (eco-)physiological aspects of the algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Although the contents stem from the contributions by many authors to an international symposium (Phytochemical Society, held in Aberystwyth, UK, April 1987) the editors have taken good care to produce a well-balanced and comprehensive overview of current proceedings of fundamental research and potential applications. Leading researchers in this wide field of research have presented short papers or reviews under the topics; Metabolism, Biosynthesis, Bioenergetics, Regulation, Interactions and Biotechnology, each topic illustrated by three or four papers, followed by some poster abstracts. The reviewed subjects are: flexibility and variety of algal metabolism (G.E. Fogg); nitrogen reserves and dynamic reservoires in cyanobacteria (N.G. Carr); uptake and utilization of nitrogen compounds (P.J. Syrett); lipid metabolism (J.L. Harwood el al.); tetrapyrrole biosynthesis/C5 pathway (A.J. Smith & L.J. Rogers); molecular biology of photosynthelic reaction centre (S. Scherer et al.); dark respiration in cyanobacteria (H.C.P. Matthijs & H.J. Lubberding); nitrogen fixation (J.R. Gallon & A.E. Chaplin); calcium-mediated regulation in cyanobacteria? (R.J. Smith); thioredoxin and enzyme regulation (P. Rowel et al); responses of cyanobacteria to salt stress (R.H. Reed & W.D.P. Stewart); nutrient interactions in the marine environment (A.G. Davies); algal extracellular products—antimicrobial substances (A.K. Jones); cyanobacteria toxins (G.A. Codd & G.K. Poon); alga-invertebrate symbiosis (A.E. Douglas); biotechnology of microalgae and cyanobacteria (N.W. Kerby & W.D.P. Stewart); seaweed biotechnology—current status and future prospects (L.V. Evans & D.M. Butler); making mutants and influencing genes—genetic exploitation of algae and cyanobacteria (R. A. Lewin). This book contains a wealth of valuable information and relevant literature references and is therefore necessary reading for research workers in these areas. It can also be recommended for advanced students in plant ecology/physiology, microbiology, environmental sciences and biochemistry if they wish to specialize in both fundamental and biotechnological research on the organisms.