This is, rather surprisingly, the first book devoted to this important aspect of the field of glycobiology. It signifies a growing recognition of neoglycoconjugates not only as probes for the study of carbohydrate-protein interactions per se, but also as potentially valuable reagents in medicine. The editors have assembled a diverse range of applications in a single reference source to emphasise the significance of neoglycotechnology, and to provide a stimulus for new ideas. The book is presented in 17 chapters (with a useful subject index) and is divided into four sections; I Introduction, II Preparation, III Applications, and IV Other Aspects (incidentally this latter section division is curiously omitted from the contents page but appears on p 499).
Section I comprises two chapters that provide a clear and thorough introduction to the complex but essential aspects of carbohydrate presentation and clustering effects. This section, while compulsory reading for any newcomer to the field, also provides a valuable reference point for those of us that occasionally need reminding about those essential features of neoglycoconjugates. With the exception of the introductory chapters the editorial influence is indistinct, resulting in what appears as a monograph of independent articles on related subjects. However, it is difficult to say whether this is a strength or weakness in the book.
Sections II, III, and IV comprise the remaining 15 chapters which cover a wide range of topics concerned with different methods of neoglycoconjugate synthesis and application strategies. These chapters are rather artificially divided into these three sections with the titles: Preparation, Applications, and Other Aspects. These headings give the impression of continuity in presentation, however there is considerable overlap of important features of synthesis and biological applications that appear under all three section headings.
Nevertheless, if the reader ignores these artificial divisions the contents are generally quite stimulating. The range of subject matter covered is broad. The early chapters predominantly cover the many different approaches to the synthesis of neoglycoconjugates. Although not comprehensive, the glyco-glossary in chapter 3 (pp 55-57) provides part of a helpful and refreshing introduction to the synthetic-chemistry-based chapters.