Review by Choice Review
This four-volume set is probably the most extensive coverage of the rapidly growing and very important field of glycoscience that is currently available. The scope of these volumes includes both strict carbohydrates (e.g., monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides) and carbohydrate-containing substances (e.g., glycoproteins, glycosphingolipids, peptidoglycans). Major areas of content include nomenclature and basic structure, synthesis, analysis, functional properties, biochemistry, carbohydrate-mediated interactions, biological systems and development, and health and disease. On average, coverage in each area is broken down into 15 chapters, each examining a specific subtopic in great depth. There are extensive, up-to-date references throughout. In addition to a complete index for the entire set at the end of volume 4, each volume has its own exhaustive index. Though this work would make an excellent library or desk reference for anyone working in the field of glycoscience, it would not be a good starting point for someone new to the field. The introductory material is not sufficiently basic to adequately serve a novice, who would be better served by a book such as John F. Robyt's Essentials of Carbohydrate Chemistry (CH, Jul'98, 35-6237) before attempting to fully utilize this set. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. L. J. Liotta Stonehill College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
