Eukaryotic DNA Replication — A Practical Approach.

S. Cotterill (ed.). Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1999. Pp. 281. Price £29.95, paperback. ISBN 0 19 963680 X.

The basic principle of DNA replication is one of those beautifully simple concepts in biology that could be taught in elementary school, but the actual details have turned out to be surprisingly complex. Around fifty proteins have so far been discovered which function to catalyse replication steps or control the process so that it occurs appropriately with respect to other events in the cell cycle. In eukaryotic chromosomes, initiation occurs just once per cell cycle at a myriad of origins, but only recently have we begun to understand how this process is regulated. Many of the important proteins that function in DNA replication have been discovered, but there is much to be learned about their biochemical functions and how they are co-ordinated to achieve high fidelity duplication of chromosomes.

This book provides an eclectic collection of protocols from eleven replication laboratories. Two chapters deal with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been of singular importance for the investigation of replication proteins and origins. General methods for the use of budding yeast are provided (Plevani) as well as procedures for the biochemical purification of replication complexes such as the origin recognition complex (Diffley). Xenopus has also been invaluable, in many ways complementing yeast work, and one chapter provides protocols for preparing and using various egg extracts to allow replication analysis in vitro (Walter & Newport). Several chapters discuss purification and assay of factors involved in the elongation step of replication, such as DNA polymerases (Wang), polymerase accessory proteins (Hübscher), DNA helicases (Bean & Matson) and lagging-strand activities (Bauer & Melendy). Procedures for mapping replication origins are provided (Gerbi) as are methods for the detailed probing of interactions between replication proteins and DNA (Borowiec). Additional chapters give details of the SV40 replication system (Bullock) and telomerase purification (Harrington).

This book should be very useful for any group interested in DNA replication. The protocols (over 120 in total) are clearly written and provide a level of detail that tends to be left out of the primary literature. It is worth mentioning that the protocols are set in context with background reviews, but these do not constitute the main attraction of the book, given that the field is hardly under-reviewed. Considering the rate of progress in replication work at the moment, it is difficult for a book like this to be comprehensive and some aspects are under-represented. So while there is good coverage of biochemical methods relating to individual replication proteins, there is rather less emphasis on cell biological and genetic methods relevant to replication work. In any case, with current developments there will soon be a case for a second volume, but perhaps next time the publishers can provide a spiral binding for a book to be used at the bench!