The BJOCHBMICAL JOURNAL MolecularAspects · consult The Complete Plain Words, by Sir Ernest Gowers...

The

BJOCHBMICAL

JOURNALMolecularAspects

Volume 169

EDITORIAL BOARD

ChairmanJ. T. Dingle

Deputy ChairmenJ. A. LucyR. N. PerhamA. P. RyleD. H. Williamson

Editorial SecretaryJ. D. Killip

Assistant Editorial SecretaryE. N. Maltby

P. M. Bayley*J. W. BradbeerR. C. BrayD. N. BrindleyH. G. BrittonR. B. CainM. CannonJ. B. ClarkA. J. Cornish-BowdenD. D. DaviesR. M. DentonF. M. DickinsonR. R. DilsG. J. DuttonD. C. EllwoodJ. L. GordonD. E. GriffithsL. A. GrivellM. R. Hollaway

R. C. HughesA. J. KennyU. E. LoeningW. 1. P. MainwaringR. M. MarchbanksR. E. OffordC. I. PogsonD. RobinsonE. V. RowsellD. SchulsterJ. E. ScottS. P. Spragg*D. R. StanworthM. J. A. Tanner

*Nominated by the BritishBiophysical Society

Overseas Advisory Panel

H. Beinert (U.S.A.), C. de Duve (Belgium and U.S.A.), H. F. DeLuca (U.S.A.), W. Fiers(Belgium), 0. Hayaishi (Japan), B. Hess (Germany), M. Ya. Karpeisky (U.S.S.R.), D. B.Keech (Australia), T. C. Laurent (Sweden), P. Siekevitz (U.S.A.), G. P. Talwar (India),A. Tissibres (Switzerland), 0. Wieland (Germany), H. G. Williams-Ashman (U.S.A.)

B London: The Bichemical Society

1978

THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 7 WARWICK COURT, LONDON WC1R 5DP

ISSN: 0306-3275

Printed in Great Britain at the Spottiswoode Ballantyne Pressby William Clowes & Sons Limited, London, Colchester and Beccles

Biochem. J. (1978) 169, 1-27Printed in Great Britain

POLICY OF THE JOURNAL ANDINSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

POLICY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE JOURNALIt is the policy ofthe BiochemicalJournal to publish

papers in English in all fields of biochemistry,provided that they make a sufficient contributionto biochemical knowledge. Papers may include newresults obtained experimentally, descriptions of newexperimental methods of biochemical importance,or new interpretations of existing results. Theoreticalcontributions will be considered equally with papersdealing with experimental work. All work presentedshould have as its aim the development ofbiochemicalconcepts rather than the mere recording of facts.Preliminary or inconclusive experiments should notgenerally be described.

Two types of paper are accepted by the editors.

1. Full-Length Papers

These should be written in the style described onp. 2, their length being the minimum required forprecision in describing the experiments and clarityin interpreting them. A concise well-written papertends to be published more rapidly.

2. Rapid Papers

Rapid papers offer authors the opportunity ofpublication within 10-12 weeks of receipt of thetypescript in the Editorial Office. The paper must notoccupy more than four pages of the printed journal.The criteria for acceptance are otherwise the same asthose for full-length papers. Rapid papers are notregarded as preliminary communications but ascomplete and final accounts.

This statement of policy has been approved by theCommittee of the Biochemical Society. The inter-pretation is in the hands of the Editorial Board, whojudge whether each paper submitted as a full-lengthpaper or rapid paper is scientifically acceptable.

Functions of the Editorial Board and Editorial Office

Members of the Editorial Board are appointed bythe Committee ofthe Society on the recommendationof the Editorial Board. The aim is to have a Boardwhose members have awide experience ofbiochemicalresearch.Normally a paper is read by at least two people:

either by two members of the Editorial Board, or,more usually, by an independent referee and amember of the Editorial Board. The members of the

Overseas Advisory Panel are also available to act asreferees. The main task of the editors and refereesis to make recommendations on the acceptabilityof a paper. If rejection of a paper is recommended,or if there is any serious disagreement betweenthose who have read the paper, the final decisionis made by the Chairman or a Deputy Chairman.If a paper is considered to be acceptable in principle,requests for revision may be made by the editor(normally in the form of one or more EditorialReports). At this stage the paper may also bepartly prepared for press in the office before beingreturned to the author. This subediting process hasno bearing on the decision by the editors on theacceptability of the paper. After revision by theauthor the paper is checked by a member of theEditorial Board before being finally prepared forpress by the subeditors. In this final processattention is paid to grammar and the detailedconventions of the Journal.The Editorial Secretary, who is in charge of the

Editorial Office, administers the business of theJournal, in consultation with members of the Boardand with the Chairman of the Board, to whom he isresponsible.The Editorial Board meets twice a year to discuss

matters related to the production of the Journal.An Editorial Committee, consisting of the Chairman,Deputy Chairmen, three members of the Board andthe Editorial Secretary, meets more frequently toexpedite the business of the Journal. The Boardreports to the Committee of the Society, whosedecision is required on financial matters, appoint-ments or major aspects of policy.

Relations between Authors and the Editorial Board

The aim ofthe Editorial Board is to maintain a highstandard both of subject matter and of its presen-tation. Requests for revision range from minormatters to criticisms of the clarity or validity ofstatements or arguments.

Authors' replies to criticism or rejection will besympathetically considered. Although editors andreferees are normally anonymous, it is sometimes ahelp if direct discussion can take place between anauthor and an editor or a referee. This can bearranged, after consultation with the Chairman,if the author and the editor or referee consent.

Vol. 169

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A

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS


Submission of a paper to the Editorial Boardimplies that it has been approved by all the namedauthors, that it reports unpublished work, that it isnot under consideration for publication elsewhere,and that if accepted for the Biochemical Journal it willnot be published elsewhere in the same form, either inEnglish or in any other language, without the consentof the Editorial Board. The inclusion in a paper ofmaterial that has been wholly or largely publishedelsewhere will not be acceptable. This applies to tablesand figures particularly. The main way in whichauthors can contribute to sh6rtening the time betweenreceipt of a paper and its publication date is to followthe requirements and suggestions in these Instruc-tions to Authors.

Papers that are scientifically acceptable but needrevision because they are not clear or concise or donot conform sufficiently to the conventions of theBiochemical Journal will be returned to the authorsfor amendment. If a paper is not resubmittedwithin one month or if a significant amount of newmaterial is added, the date of receipt will be alteredto the date of resubmission.

Authors are asked to indicate which section ofthe Biochemical Journal (Molecular Aspects orCellular Aspects) and which heading in the Contentslist (see current issues) are most appropriate fortheir paper.

All communications about reprints should beaddressed to the Executive Secretary, The Bio-chemical Society, 7 Warwick Court, LondonWC1R 5DP.

Requests for consent for reproduction of materialshould be addressed to the Editorial Secretary.

Full-Length Papers

Papers should be sent, preferably in duplicate,together with an extra copy of the synopsis (seebelow), to the Editorial Secretary, The BiochemicalJournal, 7 Warwick Court, London WC1R 5DP.Typescripts should bear the name and address ofthe person to whom the proof of the paper is to besent.

Before preparing papers authors should consult acurrent issue of the Journal to make themselvesfamiliar with the general format, such as the use ofcross-headings, lay-out of tables and citation ofreferences. Papers should be in double-spaced typingthroughout (including the references and legends oftables and figures) on sheets ofuniform size with widemargins. The top copy should be submitted. Submis-sion of a duplicate typescript in addition may avoiddelay.

Papers on specialized subjects should be intelligible

to the ordinary reader of the Journal. Sufficientinformation must be included to permit repetition ofthe experimental work.

It would help the editors if the author, whensubmitting a paper, would enclose copies (which willbe returned) of relevant preceding papers, especiallyif they were not published in the Biochemical Journal.The full title should be concise but informative

enough for use in coding for information storage andretrieval. Papers should also be headed by theauthors' names (preferably with one forename in fullfor each author, other forenames being given asinitials) and by the name and address of the estab-lishment where the work was done. A running titleof up to 60 letters and spaces should also be given.

Separate papers in a series may not be numbered,but subtitles may be used if they are particularlynecessary.The synopsis, which can be in numbered sections,

should be of less than 250 words and normally only3-4% of the length of the paper. It should be asinformative as possible for abstracting journals or'fringe' readers but should not contain inessentialdetails or material not described in the body of thepaper. (Theextracopy ofthe synopsis requested aboveis required solely to assist in the choice of particulareditors or referees or both.)The main body of the paper may be divided into

(a) the introduction; (b) Experimental, includingmaterials and methods; (c) Results; (d) Discussion;(e) acknowledgments, including details of financialsupport; (f) References. It is often an advantage tocombine (b) and (c) (e.g. in papers describingtechniques) or (c) and (d) with gains of concisenessand clarity. In chemical papers, the Experimentalsection may be placed after the Discussion. TheDiscussion section should not recapitulate theResults, but only discuss their implications.

Rapid Papers

Typescripts should be submitted in duplicate,written in English, and conform strictly to theform of the Journal as far as spelling and abbrevia-tions are concerned. Each rapid paper should beprovided with a short synopsis (normally notexceeding 50 words). Such papers should not exceed2400 words in length inclusive of title, referencesetc. Authors may include insertions (preferablynot more than two) such as tables, figures orschemes; in these cases authors must assess whatproportion of a page these insertions will occupy andreduce the number of text words accordingly at therate of 700 words per full page of the Journal. Thepreparation of tables and especially figures is liable to

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cause an increase in publication time. In no circum-stances whatsoever can a complete rapid paper occupymore than four pages ofthe Journal. Papers should becomplete in themselves: (1) the methods used inexperimental work must be adequately describedor sufficient references given to allow repetitionof the work; (2) sufficient indication of the resultsof experimental work must be included to justifythe claims made. Rapid papers should be addressedto the Editorial Secretary, The Biochemical Journal,7 Warwick Court, London WC1R 5DP. Tominimize delay in publication, proofs of acceptedrapid papers are not supplied to authors. However,authors are given details of any editing of their

papers at the same time that the typescripts aresent to the printer, with a request that any essentialamendments be sent to the Editorial Secretaryas soon as possible. The scientific staff in theEditorial Office check the proofs to ensure that theytally exactly with the edited typescripts and make anynecessary alterations indicated by the authors.Contributions that are not being published willbe returned to the authors with minimal delay.If a rapid paper has to be returned to the author foramendment, for whatever reason, it will onresubmission be deemed a new paper, and will beredated accordingly. In all cases the editors' decisionswill be final.

Vol. 169

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NOTES ON THE PREPARATION OF PAPERS

Acknowledgments ..

Animals .. .. ..

Centrifuging .. ..

ChromatographyDeposition of data ..

Dialysis .. .. ..

ElectrophoresisEnzymes.. .. ..

Ethics of human experimentationExperimental hazards

Footnotes .. ..

Illustrations .. ..

Isotope experiments ..

Mass spectrometry ..

Micro-organismsPlants .. .. ..

Powers in tables and figures

Prefixes for multiples and submultiples of unitsReferences .. ..

Solutions .. ..

Spectra and spectroscopic data. .

Statistical treatment of results

Symbols for physical units

Tables .. .. ..

Trade names .. ..

4445

555

6

6

6

6

6

7

7

7

8

8

8

8

9

9

10

.... .. .. .. 6~1.... .. .. .. 6~1.... .. .. .. 6~1

For nomenclature please refer to the separatesection on pp. 11-16, or, for specialized problems,the relevant documents listed there.The Biochemical Journal uses as a standard for

spelling the Concise Oxford Dictionary of CurrentEnglish (Clarendon Press, Oxford). For the tech-nique of writing authors may find it helpful also toconsult The Complete Plain Words, by Sir ErnestGowers (H.M.S.O. and Penguin Books, London),'English Style in Scientific Papers' by J. R. Baker[Nature (London) (1955) 176, 851-852] and Writinga Scientific Paper by V. Booth (4th edition availablein booklet form from the Biochemical Society,£1.00 post free).Authors are encouraged to employ their own style,

although papers must be concise and should conformto normal English usage.The following items in the present section are

listed in alphabetical order.

Acknowledgments

These must be as short as possible.

Animals

The full binominal Latin names should be includedfor all experimental animals other than common

laboratory animals. The strain, and if possible thesource, of laboratory animals should be stated.

Centrifuging

When conditions for centrifuging are criticalsufficient information should be given for the pro-cedure to be repeated. The quantitative compositionof the suspension medium should be stated. Thecentrifuge rotor should be unambiguously identifiedand the temperature of operation stated.The time of operation of the rotor at sustained

plateau speed (ignoring initial rotor acceleration anddeceleration periods) should be stated. The centri-fugal field should be stated in multiples of g (asdefined on p. 19), based on the average radius ofrotation of the liquid. For example: 'The rotor wasoperated for 15min at 2°C and 100OOg (ra. 8cm).'

Alternatively, where it is necessary to take intoaccount periods of acceleration and deceleration ofthe rotor, the rotor speed (co in rad/s) and time ofoperation should be integrated and the total inte-grated field-time stated (as multiples of g) for theaverage radius of rotation (ray.) of the column ofliquid in the rotor. For example: 'The rotor wasoperated at 5°C. The integrated field-time was250000g-min at ray. 6.5 cm' [i.e. (ray./g) l co2- dt =250000 (at ray. 6.5cm)].

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Density-gradient centrifugationThe make of centrifuge and rotor used, the

temperature of the run and the composition of thegradients should be stated. Results should preferablybe plotted against distance from rotor centre ratherthan against fraction numbers; it is then unnecessaryto indicate top and bottom ofthe gradient. If fractionnumbers are used, the top and bottom of thegradient should be indicated.

Ultracentrifuge data

Sedimentation coefficient (not constant), s; sedi-mentation coefficient corrected to 20°C in water,S20,W; sedimentation coefficient at zero concentration,0 0 (01S,Ss , s20,w; Svedberg unit (1013s), S; partial specificvolume, v; diffusion coefficient, D, DO, D20,w etc.as for sedimentation coefficient. The temperature atwhich the sedimentation and diffusion measurementsare made should be stated.

Chromatography

Photographs or drawings of paper or thin-layerchromatograms are not generally published unlessthey convey information, such as a demonstration ofhomogeneity, that is not readily established in the text.Densitometric records of chromatograms are alwayspreferable.The rate ofmovement of a substance relative to the

solvent front in paper or thin-layer chromatographyis best expressed as its Rp value, or, if relative to areference compound X, by its Rx value. Solventsshould be described in the form butan-1-ol/aceticacid/water (4:4:1, by vol.) or butan-1-ol/acetic acid(4: 1, v/v).

Elution diagrams for chromatographic columnsshould be shown with the effluent volume increasingfrom left to right. Units of concentration and volumemust be shown clearly.Column (i.e. bed) dimensions should always be

quoted, and where possible column void volumes(VO) should be given. Elution zone maxima may becharacterized by elution volumes (Vs) or preferablyby partition coefficients (a or KD). The course of anyeluent gradients used should be indicated clearly.

Deposition of Data

Information (computer programs, evidence foramino acid sequences, spectra etc.) supplementingpapers in the Biochemical Journal may be depositedfree of charge with the British Library LendingDivision, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West YorkshireLS23 7BQ, U.K., where it will be stored in itsoriginal form. The supplementary material must

Vol. 169

in the first instance be sent to the Journal with theparent paper, and not direct to the B.L.L.D. Itwill be subject to editing in the normal mannerbefore being accepted for deposition. (It should benoted, however, that the Editorial Board cannotaccept the responsibility of checking the accuracyof computer programs.) The authors will then beresponsible for preparing camera-ready copy accord-ing to the following specifications.

(a) Limiting page size for text or tables in type-script: 33cm x 24cm.

(b) Limiting size for diagrams, graphs, spectra etc.:39cm x 28.5cm.

(c) Tabular matter should be headed descriptivelyon the first page, with column headings recurring oneach page.

(d) Pages should be clearly numbered to ensurecorrect sequence.

It is suggested that some prefatory text should beincluded, such as the author's synopsis from theparent paper. If the authors have the facilities avail-able, the use of a type-face designed to be 'read' bycomputers is encouraged.

TheEditorial Office will be responsible for deposit-ing the material with the B.L.L.D. at this stage.

This supplementary information will be availableas full-size copies from the Library's photocopyingservices, which work on a pre-paid flat-rate couponbasis.The present coupon buys 1-10 pages of photocopy

from a single item.

The present coupon costs are:U.K. £5 for 20 coupons (or 25p. each)+VATEurope, £25 for 20 coupons (or £1.25 each)excludingU.K.

Elsewhere £33 for 20 coupons (or £1.65 each)

The cost includes postage. Outside the U.K. allitems are sent by air-mail. The SupplementaryPublication number given in the paper in questionshould be quoted when the item is ordered.A memorandum on the preparation of material

for data deposition is available from the BiochemicalJournal Editorial Office on request.

Dialysis

The terms 'diffusate' and 'non-diffusible material'(or 'dialysis residue') should be used. 'Dialysate'should not be used.

Electrophoresis

Photographs or drawings of electrophoreticseparations on paper or cellulose acetate will be

5


published only if they convey information, such asa demonstration of homogeneity, that is not readilyestablished in the text.

Photographs of electrophoretic separations in gelssuch as starch or polyacrylamide may be published ifthey convey essential information, but, as reproduc-tion may not always be satisfactory, line drawingsmay be more informative. Densitometric records areusually superior.

Electrophoretic mobilities (m) and the compositionof the electrophoretic medium, pH and temperatureshould be quoted. The operative voltage gradientshould be specified where possible.The symbol pl should be used for isoelectric point.

Enzymes

Enzyme nomenclature

The recommendations of the latest edition ofEnzyme Nomenclature [(1973) Elsevier PublishingCo., Amsterdam, London and New York] andsupplement [Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1976) 429,1-45] will be followed as far as possible. This in-cludes the qoing ofEC numbers.

Enzyme unit*.Unlti f amount of enzyme should be

define41d qch paper, and this may be done interms of the rate of reaction catalysed under con-ditions specifed. The SI unit for the rate is 1molof substrate transformed/s (or, if necessary, 1 mol ofmeasured product formed/s), and this gives the unitofthe amount ofenzyme that has been given the nameof katal (symbol: kat) [see Enzyme Nomenclature(1973)]. Units of the amount of enzyme may, how-ever, be expressed in terms of the amount that cancatalyse other rates, e.g. lumol of substrate trans-formed/min.

Standardprotein solutions

When standard proteins such as bovine serumalbumin are used as a basis for the determination ofother protein concentrations, the type of protein, itssource of supply and the moisture content (ifappropriate) should be given.

Kinetic constants

Velocity constants for the forward and the back-ward reactions in the nth step of an enzymic reactionshould be represented by k+,n and k_n respectively.The Michaelis constant is defined as Km= [S] whenv= V/2, where v is the velocity of appearance ofproduct or disappearance of substrate at a givensubstrate concentration [S] and Vis the velocity when

the enzyme is saturated with that substrate. Whenreactions with two substrates A and B are beingconsidered K.A= [A] when v = V/2 and [B] has beenextrapolated to infinity; a value for [A] when v = V/2at a finite concentration (which must be specified)of B should be referred to as an apparent Km for A.K. is the equilibrium constant of the dissociation ofthe substrate-enzyme complex.

Ethics of Human Experimentation

The Editorial Board agrees with the principles laiddown in the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) [Br. Med.J. (1964) ii, 177-178; see also Report of the MedicalResearch Council for 1962-63, pp. 21-25]. Authorsshould ensure that their work complies with thesedeclarations. A paper describing any experimentalwork with humans should include a statement thatthe Ethical Committee of the Institution in which thework was performed has approved it, and should statethat the subjects have given informed consent tothe work.

Experimental Hazards

Authors should draw attention to any particularchemical or biological hazards that may be involvedin carrying out the experiments described. It maybe appropriate to describe relevant safety pre-cautions taken for any hazard, or to include astatement that an accepted code of practice has beenfollowed. In the latter case a reference to therelevant standards should be given. The potentialdangers involved in the use of pathogens or in themanipulation of the genetic composition of micro-organisms were considered in three reports: (a)Report of the Working Party on the Laboratory Useof Dangerous Pathogens (Chairman: Sir GeorgeGodber; H.M.S.O., London, May 1975, CommandNo. 6054); (b) Report of the Working Party on theExperimental Manipulation of the Genetic Composi-tion of Micro-organisms (Chairman: Lord Ashby;H.M.S.O., London, January 1975, Command No.5880); (c) Report of the Working Party on thePractice of Genetic Manipulation (Chairman: SirRobert Williams; H.M.S.O., London, August 1976,Command No. 6600).

Footnotes

These should be avoided as far as possible. Wherethey must be used, as in tables, reference is madeby the symbols * t § 11 T, in that order.

Illustrations

Each illustration should be on a separate sheet andpacked flat; each should bear the author's name,

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the title (abbreviated if necessary) of the paper andthe figure number on the back. Its approximateposition should be indicated in the margin of thetypescript. Illustrations constitute an expensiveitem of publication and may increase the time takenin printing. Their number should be kept to aminimum.

Headings and legends

Each illustration should be supplied with aninformative heading, which should be underlined,and an explanatory legend, starting on a new line.The heading and legend should make the generalmeaningcomprehensible without reference to the text.Conditions specific to a particular experiment shouldbe stated. Reference to the text for general experimen-tal details is permissible provided that there is noambiguity.

Reproduction of line diagrams

If possible, artwork should be supplied in a form(apart from lettering) that can be reproduced directlyby the printer. Authors are referred to the Appendix(pp. 24-27) for full details. Line diagrams that aresubmitted in a form unsuitable for direct repro-duction, for any reason, will be redrawn by theprinter's draughtsman, with consequent delay.

If it is impracticable to supply line drawingssuitable for direct reproduction, photographs ofline drawings (to beredrawn by the printer's draughts-man) are acceptable, but if submitted should be onmatt paper, not as glossy prints.

Reproduction of half-tone illustrations (photographs)

Plates on art paper are used for the reproduction ofhalf-tone illustrations such as electron micro-graphs, X-ray-diffraction patterns etc. Glossy printsare required for these. Where the magnification is tobe indicated (e.g. on electron micrographs), this isbest done by adding a bar representing a statedlength.The editors will accept Plates for publication only

(a) when they make a sufficiently importantscientific contribution to the paper and (b) when thephotographs supplied are of a quality that justifiespublication in this form.Thus photographs of electrophoretograms, radio-

autograms etc., for example, will normally be repro-duced as half-tone figures on text paper. If it is notpossible to obtain photographs ofthe required quality,such illustrations can often be replaced by tracingsfor reproduction as line diagrams.Vol. 169

Isotope Experiments

The information given should include: (a) sufficientdetails of the method of assay to allow an estimateof the efficiency of detection (preferably an assay ofa standard under the same conditions); (b) detailsof corrections made to the observed count rate;(c) standard error of the results or a statement ofthe total counts above background collected; (d) ingeneral the specific activity of the starting andfinal materials should be given, preferably in termsof curies per unit weight or, for stable isotopes, asatoms % excess. For some purposes the count rateunder defined conditions such as at infinite thicknessis satisfactory, but authors should consider anylimitations that such statements may impose onthe deductions from their work.

In assessment of the specific activities of startingmaterials, dilution with unlabelled materials in theincubation mixture should be allowed for. This is notalways possible, but, unless the dilution is known,the radioactivity measurements do not indicate theamount of material transferred.Where possible, radioactivity should be expressed

in absolute terms, i.e. curies (Ci) or disintegrations/second (d.p.s.).

Mass Spectrometry

Full mass spectra are often not published, but theeditors may wish to see these. If deemed necessary,full spectra may be deposited with the BritishLibrary Lending Division (see the Deposition ofData section on p. 5).

Spectra may be described as, e.g., 'mle 300 [M+(the molecular ion)], 282 (M+-H20) etc.'. If paren-thetic values are quoted for percentage peak heights,it should be stated what these are relative to.

Micro-organisms

In the title, in the synopsis and at the firstmention in the text, micro-organisms should begiven their full binominal Latin name, underlined.Each organism should preferably have been obtainedfrom or deposited with a recognized collection ofmicro-organisms, and the collection number mustbe given. Alternatively, a strain number or nameshould be quoted; this should not be underlined.Names ofranks higher than genus (e.g. Eubacteriales,Lactobacilleae), generic names used adjectivally(e.g. 'staphylococcal') and names ofmicro-organismsused colloquially (e.g. as in 'most lactobacillibehave thus') should not be underlined. The first(i.e. generic) name should be spelt with a capitalletter. Elsewhere in the text, single-letter abbrevia-

7

8 INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

tions may be given for the generic name; if twogenera with the same initial letter are studied,abbreviations such as Strep. and Staph. may be used.If the author selects for stated reasons a name thatdoes not conform to that chosen in the most recentedition of one of the reference books quoted below,the name given in the reference book should be addedin parentheses after the first mention of the organismin the synopsis, and also in the text. Characteristics ofthe organism that are known to differ from thosequoted in the reference book should also be given,since they are essential for subsequent interpretationof the work.Recommendations on nomenclature in bacterial

genetics have been proposed by M. Demerec,E. A. Adelberg, A. J. Clark & P. E. Hartman (1966)Genetics 54, 61-76. Authors should follow theseguide-lines wherever appropriate.Authors are urged to offer new organisms to

collections of micro-organisms so that they may bereadily available to other workers.

Reference booksBergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology,

Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London. A Dictionaryof the Fungi by G. C. Ainsworth & G. R. Bisby,Imperial Mycological Institute, Kew. The Yeasts: aTaxonomic Study by J. Lodder & N. J. W. Kregervan Rij, North-Holland, Amsterdam.

Plants

The full binominal Latin names should be includedfor all plant species. Where appropriate, the varietyand the source should be specified.

Powers in Tables and Figures

Care is needed where powers are used in tableheadings and in figures in order to avoid numberswith too many digits. The quantity expressed isto be preceded by the power of 10 by which itsvalue has been multiplied. The units in which thequantity is expressed may not be multiplied by apower of 10; the unit may be changed by the use ofprefixes, e.g. m, p, n or p. For example: (i) an entry'2' under heading 103k means that the value of kis 0.002; an entry '2' under heading 10-3k meansthat the value of k is 2000; (ii) a concentration0.00015M may be expressed as 0.15 under heading'concn. (mM). or as 150 under heading 'concn. (pM)'or as 15 under heading '101 x concn. (M)', but notas 15 under heading 'concn. (MX10-5)'; (iii) com-plex quantities are treated similarly; a value for1/[S] of 200M-1 would appear as '2' under theheading 10-2/[S] (M'1) or as '0.2' under the heading1/[S] (mm-1). Square brackets may conventionallybe used to indicate concentration,

Prefixes for Multiples and Submultiples of Units

These should be as follows:Multiple Prefix Symbol

1012 tera T109 giga G106 mega M103 kilo k102 hecto h*10 deka da*10-1 deci d*10-2 centi c*10-3 milli m*10-6 micro A10-9 nano n10-12 pico p10- femto f101-8 atto a

* To be avoided where possible (except for cm).

A combination of a prefix and a symbol for a unitis regarded as a single symbol, which may be raisedto a power without the use ofparentheses or brackets,e.g. mm-1 and cm2.

References

The Harvard System, not the Numbering System,should be used for the citation of references in thetext, as follows: for papers written by one or twoauthors, as 'Trop &Birk (1970)' or '(Harrison, 1971)';for papers written by three or more authors, as'Davies et al. (1971)' or '(Mayer et al., 1970)'.Where more than one paper by the same authors hasappeared in one year the references should be givenas 'Lowe & Yuthavong (1971a,b)' or '(Slater &Sawyer, 1969, 1971a,b,c)'.At the end of the paper references should be listed

in alphabetical order, except for papers by three ormore authors (which are given in the text only as 'etal.'), which should be grouped in chronological orderafter any other papers by the first author. The authors'initials should be included, but not the title of thepaper. The style to be used is shown in the followingexamples.

Krebs, H. A. (1961) Biochem. J. 80, 225-233Krebs, H. A. & Lund, P. (1966) Biochem. J. 98,210-214

Krebs, H. A. & Woodford, M. (1965) Biochem. J. 94,436-445

Krebs, H. A., Speake, R. N. & Hems, R. (1965)Biochem. J. 94, 712-720

Krebs, H. A., Freedland, R. A., Hems, R. & Stubbs,M. (1969) Biochem. J. 112, 117-124

It should be noted that first and last pages should becited for all references.

1978


Titles ofjournals should be abbreviated in accord-ance with the Chemical Abstracts Service SourceIndex (1907-1974 Curmulative) (1975) and subsequentQuarterly Supplements (American Chemical Society).

References to books and monographs should be inaccordance with the following examples.Dixon, M. & Webb, E. C. (1964) Enzymes, 2nd edn.,

p. 565, Longmans Green, LondonKirby, K. S. (1967) in Techniques in Protein Bio-

synthesis (Campbell, P. N. & Sargent, J. R., eds.),vol. 1, pp. 265-297, Academic Press, London andNew YorkReferences to a paper 'in the press' is permissible,

provided that it has been accepted for publication,thus:Smith, A. (1978) Biochem. J. in the pressReferences to 'personal communication' and 'un-published work' are permitted in the text only, i.e. notin the list ofreferences; editors may require documen-tary evidence for the former citation. The use of'in preparation', 'private communication' and'submitted for publication' is not allowed.The above requirements are in accordance with the

recommendations of the Commission of Editors ofBiochemical Journals [see Biochem. J. (1973) 135,1-31.

Solutions

Solutions should be described in terms of molarity(M), not normality (N). Fractional concentrationsshould be expressed in the decimal system, e.g.0.25M-HCI (not M/4 HCI). The term % must bedefined as w/w, w/v or v/v, e.g. 5% (w/v) means5 g/100ml. For aqueous solutions of concentrationless than 1 %, w/v need not be inserted if it is clear thatthe concentration is stated in terms of weight ofsolute. For solutions of salts expressed as % it mustbe made clear whether anhydrous or hydrated com-pounds are used. It may be noted that SI recommendsthat the symbol 'M' should be replaced by 'mol/l', andthat '% (w/v)' and '% (v/v)' should be given in termsof, e.g., 'g/l' and 'ml/l'. For the time being at least,however, the use of 'M', '% (w/v)' and '% (v/v)' willcontinue to be accepted in the BiochemicalJournal.

Buffers

These must be specified so that readers canreproduce the conditions used by the authors. It isoften useful to give the complete composition ofeachsolution, e.g. '0.09M-sodium acetate/0.01 M-aceticacid, pH5.6' (which means that a single solution hasthese concentrations of these substances) at the firstmention or in the Experimental section. A shortdesignation, e.g. '0.1 M-sodium acetate buffer, pH5.6',may be used elsewhere throughout the paper. In such

Vol. 169

designations the concentration specified should bethe sum of the concentrations of all forms of thepartly ionized species. Ifa buffer contains two or morepartly ionized species (e.g. pyridine and acetic acid)then the concentration of each substance includedshould be stated.

Other forms of specification are permissible, pro-vided that they enable readers to repeat the pro-cedures. Thus buffers may be specified by reference,or by adjustment to a certain pH. The description'0.1 M-sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.6' used aboveis adequate, since it means that the sum of the finalconcentrations of acetic acid and sodium acetateis 0.1 M. For buffers made by adjustment of pH, thetemperature and approximate concentration of thesolution at which the pH is adjusted must be speci-fied if either differs from that at which the bufferis used, e.g. 'Approx. 0.2M-KH2PO4 was adjusted topH7.4 with NaOH solution and diluted to 0.1 M'. Ifthe temperature of adjustment differs from roomtemperature, then the procedure must be described indetail, stating, for example, whether only the glasselectrode or both it and the reference electrode areat the changed temperature.An initial capital letter should be used for trivial

names such as Hepes [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piper-azine-ethanesulphonic acid], which should be de-fined in a footnote.

Incubation media such as Krebs-Ringer solution,Eagle's medium, Waymouth's medium etc. should bedefined either by reference or by giving thecomposition.The symbol for ionic strength (mol/l) is L

Spectra and Spectroscopic DataFull spectra should be published when important

or novel features are demonstrated; however, otherspectra or spectral information may be depositedwith the British Library Lending Division (see theDeposition of Data section on p. 5).The spectra for u.v. and visible absorption,

fluorescence, circular dichroism and optical rotationshould have a wavelength scale (e.g. nm or pm)whether or not a wavenumber scale (e.g. cm-') isgiven. Where possible, molar terms should be used inabsorption, circular dichroism and optical rotation.C.d., n.m.r. (use when nuclei other than 1H are used),p.m.r., e.s.r. or e.p.r. and o.r.d. are acceptableabbreviations and need not be defined.

Visible- and ultraviolet-absorption spectroscopyAbsorbance [log (IO/I)] should be used, and not

extinction or optical density [see IUPAC Manual ofSymbols and Terminology for Physicochemical Quan-tities and Units (1975) Butterworths, London].Symbols used are: A, absorbance; a, specific absorp-tion coefficient (litre g-l cm-1) (alternatively useA41% ); X, molar absorption coefficient (numerically

9


equal to the absorbance of a 1 mol/litre solution in a1cm light-path) (use units of litre mol-1 cm-l andnot cm2 mol-1). Wavelengths are given (in nm) assubscripts without units, e.g. A1/M,420. No equals signneed be given between E or A and its value.

Infrared spectroscopy

Spectra are reported as percentage transmittance,T, as a function of wavelength (given in pm) orfrequency (given in cm-'). When assigning bands theunits need be given for the first value only and thedescription should be in the style, e.g., '(broad NHband)'.

Optical rotation

This is reported as the specific rotation, [a]',which is numerically equal to the rotation in degreesof a 1 g/ml solution with a pathlength of I dm (10cm)at wavelength A and temperature t. The concen-tration (g/lOOml) and solvent are quoted, e.g.'Ux]42 -27.5 (c 2 in methanol)'.The corresponding molar expressions for the

molar rotation, [M1= [a]x molecular weight and[m] = [a] x molecular weight/100 should be defined.For biopolymers the mean residue molecular

weight is used, and [m] is the mean residue rotation.Where a refractive-index correction is applied, [m'],the reduced mean residue rotation, is reported.Dimensions of [m] and [m] are degrees * cm2 * dmol-'.

Optical rotatory dispersion is reported as thevariation of [a] or [m] with wavelength (or frequency).

Circular dichroism

This is reported as the molar circular-dichroismabsorption coefficient Ae= EL-CR [or the molarellipticity, [6] (see below)]. For biopolymers, molarconcentrations in terms of the mean residuemolecular weight are generally used. Units of Aeare the same as for E, i.e. litre-mo1 cm-.

Specific ellipticity [Vu], molar ellipticity [O]M andmean residue ellipticity [0]m.r.w. are directly analogousto the terms used in optical rotation. The units of [0]are as for [m]. Note that [O3]M = 3300 x Ace.

Fluorescence spectroscopy

In reporting fluorescence excitation and emissionspectra it should be stated whether intensities, F,are relative, normalized or corrected (and the natureof the correction).

Fluorescence-polarization data and spectra arereported as polarization ratio, P, or preferablyanisotropy ratio, A; both are dimensionless.

Nuclear magnetic resonance

N.m.r. chemical-shift data, 6, are expressed asparts per million (p.p.m.) and the reference compound

must be quoted. The recommended convention isthat downfield shifts are positively signed. Couplingconstants are expressed in Hz.For reporting structural n.m.r. data the style

suggested is: 'd (p.p.m.) (solvent) chemical-shiftvalue [integration, peak type, coupling constant(in Hz), designation (relevant proton in italics)]'.E.g. '3 (p.p.m.) ([2H]chloroform) 0.92 [6H, d, J6Hz, CH(CH3)], 2.16 (2H, t, J 7Hz, CH2CH2CO)'.Singlet, doublet etc. are abbreviated to s, d etc.without definition, but other descriptions, e.g. broadand overlapping, should be in full.

Electron spin resonance, electron paramagneticresonance

Derivative spectra are given, unless otherwisestated; a scale of the magnetic-field strength (in mT)and/or g values should be given. Peaks are describedas, e.g., 'the g = 2 peak'.

Mdssbauer spectroscopy

The absorption (in %, arbitrary units or crudechannel counts) is plotted against the dopplervelocity, v (in mm/s). The chemical shift, 3, in unitsof mm/s should be quoted relative to a specifiedstandard (e.g. metallic iron at 290 K). The temperatureshould always be given and the applied magneticfield, if any, should be precisely described.

Statistical Treatment of Results

Wherever possible all authors should adopt astatistical approach in reporting their results. Datafrom a sufficient number of independent experimentsshould be reported to permit evaluation of thereproducibility and significance of the results.When the object is to determine the value of a quan-tity or the statistical characteristics of a population,sufficient information is usually conveyed by thefollowing: (i) the number of independent experi-ments (replicate measurements in an individualanimal or preparation and results from pooledtissues etc. represent only one independent estimate);(ii) the mean value; (iii) the standard deviation(S.D.), the coefficient ofvariation or the standard errorof the estimate of mean value (S.E.M.), as may beappropriate. It should be made clear whether thestandard deviation or the standard error is used.A convenient form for inclusion in a table is, forexample, 263 ±2.5 (10), where the number in paren-thesis represents the number of values used incalculating the mean.When any significance is claimed, the test of

significance used should be stated and an estimate ofthe probability given,

Statistical tests appropriate for a normal distri-bution will be assumed unless stated otherwise.

1978

lo0

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS 11

Symbols for Physical Units

The Biochemical Journal uses the recommended SIsymbols for units [see Pure Appl. Chem. (1970) 21,1-44; Quantities, Units and Symbols, 2nd edn.(1975) The Royal Society, London]. Preferenceshould be given to the recommended SI units, e.g.either '42kJ/mol' or '42kJ/mol (lOkcal/mol)', ispermissible, but not 'lOkcal/mol' alone. Detailsare given below under 'Abbreviations, Symbols,Conventions and Definitions' (pp. 17-23). Thesymbol for the plural of a unit is the same as that forthe singular.

Tables

Each table should be supplied with an inforimativeheading, which should be underlined, and anexplanatory legend, starting on a new line. Theheading and legend should make the general meaning

comprehensible without reference to the text.Footnotes should be as few as possible. Conditionsspecific to the particular experiment should bestated. Reference to the text for general experi-mental methods is permissible provided that there isno ambiguity. The units in which the results areexpressed, e.g. g/lOOml, should be given at thetop of each column, and not repeated on each lineof the table.

Tables should be typed on separate sheets and theirapproximate position in the text indicated. Words ornumerals should be repeated on successive lines:'ditto' or ',,' is not to be used.

Trade Names

The names of the manufacturers or suppliers ofspecial apparatus or materials should be given,and also their addresses. Wherever possible, thechemical nature of the proprietary material should bespecified at the first mention.

NOMENCLATURE

Biochemical NomenclatureAs far as possible authors should follow the

Recommendations of the IUPAC-IUB Commissionon Biochemical Nomenclature.

1. Abbreviations and symbols for chemical namesof special interest in biological chemistry:Biochem. J. (1966) 101, 1-7 (extended by items6, 11 and 15 below).

2. Trivial names of compounds of importance inbiochemistry; nomenclature of quinones withisoprenoid side chains; nomenclature andsymbols for folic acid and related compounds;nomenclature for corrinoids: Biochem. J.(1967) 102, 15-22 (but see items 10, 22, 23and 24 below).

3. Abbreviated designation of amino acid deriva-tives and peptides: Biochem. J. (1967) 102,23-27 (superseded by item 15 below).

4. Rules for naming synthetic modifications ofnatural peptides: Biochem. J. (1967) 104,17-19[foramendmentsseeBiochem. J. (1973) 135,9].

5. The nomenclature of lipids (document fordiscussion): Biochem. J. (1967) 105, 897-902[for corrections see correction slip inBiochem. J. (1970) 116, issue no. 5].

6. Abbreviated nomenclature of synthetic poly-peptides (polymerized amino acids): Biochem.J. (1968) 106, 577-579 (superseded by item 18below).

7. The nomenclature of cyclitols: Biochem. J.(1969) 112,17-28 (extended by item 28 below).

8. A one-letter notation for amino acid sequences:Biochem. J. (1969) 113, 1-4. In general thisone-letter notation will not be accepted inmanuscripts submitted for publication in theBiochemical Journal.

9. The nomenclature of steroids: Biochem. J.(1969) 113, 5-28 (for amendments see item 16below).

10. Nomenclature for vitamins B6 and relatedcompounds: Biochem. J. (1970) 119, 1-4(replaces M-7 of item 2 above; superseded byitem 20 below).

11. Abbreviations and symbols for nucleic acids,polynucleotides and their constituents:Biochem. J. (1970) 120, 449-454 (replacessection 5 of item 1 above).

12. Abbreviations and symbols for the descriptionof the conformation of polypeptide chains:Biochem. J. (1971) 121, 577-585.

13. Tentative rules for carbohydrate nomenclature,part 1: Biochem. J. (1971)125, 673-695.

14. The nomenclature ofmultiple forms ofenzymes:Biochem. J. (1972) 126, 769-771.

15. Symbols for amino acid derivatives andpeptides: Biochem. J. (1972) 126, 773-780[supersedes item 3 above; for corrections seeJ3iochem. J. (1973) 135, 9].

Vo1. 169

12 INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

16. Amendments to rules for nomenclature ofsteroids: Biochem. J. (1972) 127, 613-617(amendments to item 9 above).

17. Tentative rules for the nomenclature ofcaroten-oids: Biochem. J. (1972) 127, 741-752 (foramendments see item 27 below).

18. Abbreviated nomenclature of synthetic poly-peptides (polymerized amino acids): Biochem.J. (1972) 127, 753-756 (supersedes item 6above).

19. Nomenclature of iron-sulphur proteins:Biochem. J. (1973) 135, 5-7.

20. Nomenclature for vitamins B-6 and relatedcompounds: Biochem. J. (1974) 137,417-421(supersedes item 10 above).

21. Recommendations for the nomenclature ofhuman immunoglobulins: Biochem. J. (1975)145, 21-23.

22. The nomenclature of corrinoids: Biochem. J.(1975) 147, 1-10 (supersedes section in item 2above).

23. Nomenclature of tocopherols and relatedcompounds: Biochem. J. (1975) 147, 11-14(replaces M-3 of item 2 above).

24. Nomenclature of quinones with isoprenoid sidechains: Biochem. J. (1975) 147, 15-21(supersedes section in item 2 above).

25. Nomenclature of a-amino acids: Biochem. J.(1975) 149, 1-16.

26. The nomenclature of peptide hormones:Biochem. J. (1975) 151, 1-4.

27. Nomenclature of carotenoids: Biochem. J.(1975) 151, 5-7 (amendments to item 17above).

28. Nomenclature of cyclitols: Biochem. J. (1976)153, 23-31.

29. Recommendations for measurement andpresentation of biochemical equilibriumdata: Biochem. J. (1977) 163, 1-7.

Reprints ofthese Recommendations and informationon them can be obtained from Waldo E. Cohn,Director, NRC Office of Biochemical Nomenclature,Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Box Y, Oak Ridge,TN 37830, U.S.A. Comments on the TentativeRules should be sent to the Nomenclature Com-mittee of the International Union of Biochemistry(Secretary: H. B. F. Dixon, Department of Bio-chemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis CourtRoad, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.).

Abbreviations

The Biochemical Journal in general follows theTentative Rules of the IUPAC-IUB Commission onBiochemical Nomenclature [see Biochem. J. (1966)101, 1-7] and discourages the use of other

abbreviations or symbols (except for well-knownchemical ones, e.g. Me, Et, Ph, Ac). However,no abbreviations (except, when necessary to avoidunwieldiness, the 'accepted' abbreviations listedbelow) should be used in the title. Non-standardabbreviations should also not normally be used inthe synopsis, in text subheadings and in titles to tables,figures, schemes and plates. All abbreviations exceptthose listed below must be defined together in afootnote on the title page. New abbreviationsshould be coined only for unwieldy names, andthen only if their repeated use is essential; symbolsfor parts of chemical names are preferred (e.g.Me2 for DM, H4 for TH). The name of an entitycan often be replaced by short alternatives such as'the compound', 'the protein', 'the enzyme' etc., oreven by 'it'. If an abbreviation is' used for abiochemical entity, it is preferable that some indi-cation of the type or class of material should bespelled out. Thus 'turnip yellow-mosaic virus' maybe abbreviated to 'TYM virus' but not to 'TYMV',and 'poly(XY)' should not be 'PXY'. Cumbersomenames of enzymes used frequently may be abbrevi-ated, although this practice is not encouraged. Anysuch abbreviation should be based on the ECrecommended name, which should be given, togetherwith the EC number, in the footnote.

Abbreviations that may be used without definition,and are therefore 'accepted', are:

ADP, CDP, 5'-Pyrophosphates of adenosine,GDP, IDP, cytidine, guanosine, inosine, uri-UDP, XDP, dine, xanthosine, thymidinedTDPAMP etc. Adenosine 5'-phosphate etc.ATP etc. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate etc.CM-cellulose CarboxymethylcelluloseCoA and CoenzymeAand its acyl derivativesacyl-CoA

cyclic AMP etc. Adenosine 3': 5'-phosphate etc.DEAE-cellulose DiethylaminoethylcelluloseDNA Deoxyribonucleic acidEDTA Ethylenediaminetetra-acetateEGTA (HO2C-CH2)2N-[CH2]2-O-

[CH2]2--[CH2]2-N(CH2-CO2H)2 ['ethyleneglycolbis-(aminoethylether)tetra-acetate']

FAD Flavin-adenine dinucleotideFMN Flavin mononucleotideNAD* Nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotideNADP* Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleo-

tide phosphateNMN Nicotinamide mononucleotidePi, PP; Orthophosphate, pyrophosphateRNA, mRNA, Ribonucleic acid and messenger,nRNA, rRNA, nuclear, ribosomal and transfertRNAt ribonucleic acid species

1978


Tris 2-Amino-2-hydroxymethyl-propane-1,3-diol

* Oxidized and reduced forms of the dinucleotidesshould be indicated as, for example, either NAD+, NADH,orNAD, NADH2, notNAD,NADH. TheNAD+,NADHform is preferred and has the advantage that NAD can beused when the state of oxidation need not be indicated.

t Specific tRNA species should be given as, for example,alanine tRNA or tRNAA1a; tRNA bound to amino acidshould be given as, for example, alanyl-tRNA or alanyl-tRNAAIa (note: fMet = formylmethionyl). sRNA shouldnot be used.

Symbols for amino acids [see Biochem. J. (1967) 102,23-27, Biochem. J. (1972) 126, 773-780, and Biochem.J. (1975) 149, 1-16]

These are for use only in representing polymers orsequences and in tables and figures, and need not bedefined:

AlaArgAsnAspAsx

Cys

ICys or Cys

I

AlanineArginineAsparagineAspartic acidAspartic acid or aspara-gine (undefined)

Cysteine

Cystine (half)

Gln GlutamineGlu Glutamic acidGlx Glutamic acid or glut-

amine (undefined)Gly GlycineHis HistidineHyl HydroxylysineHyp HydroxyprolineIle IsoleucineLeu LeucineLys LysineMet MethionineOrn OrnithinePhe PhenylalaninePro ProlineSer SerineThr ThreonineTrp TryptophanTyr TyrosineVal Valine

Others are listed in Biochem. J. (1972) 126, 773-780.In polymers or sequences the symbols should be

joined by hyphens if the sequence is known, or bycommas if it is not; e.g.:

Gly-Ile-Gly-Phe(Gly,Tyr,Val,Ser)Leu-Val-Alarepresents an undecapeptide composed offour aminoacids whose sequence has been established, four forwhich the sequence is unknown and then three in

Vol. 169

known sequence. The glycine on the left carries thefree amino group and the alanine on the right the freecarboxyl group. Further details are given in Biochem.J. (1972) 127, 753-756. The prefix poly or the suffixsubscript n may accompany these symbols to indicatepolymers [see Biochem. J. (1972) 127, 753-756].

Symbols for nucleosides, nucleotides and polynucleo-tides [see Biochem. J. (1970) 120, 449-454, which alsocontains symbolsfor bases (three-letter system)]The symbols for ribonucleosides, which need not

be defined, are as follows (the prefix r should be usedif there is possible ambiguity):

A AdenosineG GuanosineI InosineX Xanthosine

C CytidineT RibosylthymineU Uridinev 5-Ribosyluracil

(pseudouridine)General symbols:

R Unspecified purine nucleosideY Unspecified pyrimidine nucleosideN Unspecified nucleoside (not X)

The 2'-deoxyribonucleosides are designated by thesame symbols preceded by d, e.g.:

dA 2'-DeoxyribosyladeninedT 2'-Deoxyribosylthymine (thymidine)

The letter p (for terminal phosphate only) or ahyphen (for phosphodiester group only) to the left ofa nucleoside symbol indicates a 5'-phosphate; tothe right it indicates a 3'-phosphate, e.g.:

pA-G 5'-Phosphoadenylyl(3'-5')-guanosine or guanylyl(5'-3')-adenosine 5'-phosphate

A-Gp Adenylyl(3'-5')guanosine3'-phosphate

d(A-T) Deoxyadenylyl(3'-5')thymidineA-G-cyclic-p Adenylyl(3'-5')guanosine

or A-G>p 2': 3'-phosphateOther points of attachment may be indicated bynumerals, e.g.:

A2'-5'G2'p Adenylyl(2'-5')guanosine2'-phosphate

A-G-(mixed A mixture of A-Gp and2',3')-p A-G2'p

In sequences, oligonucleotides or polynucleotidesthe phosphate between nucleoside symbols is shownby a hyphen if the sequence is known, or by a commaif it is not; e.g.:

G-A-U(C2,U)Gpindicates a heptanucleotide composed of threenucleotides of known sequence but with a trinucleo-tide of unknown sequence before the final Gp. Inthe special case of triplet codons the hyphens maybe omitted, e.g. UUU.

13


For sequences that are repetitive or obscure,shorter forms may be used [see Biochem. J. (1972)127, 753-756], e.g.:

poly(A) a simple homopolymer of Apoly(A3,C2) random co-polymer of A and C in

3:2 proportionspoly[d(A-T)] or alternating co-polymer of dA andpoly(dA-dT) dTpoly(A,G,C,U) random co-polymer of A, G, C and

U, proportions unspecifiedThe prefix co-poly or oligo may replace poly, ifdesired. An alternative form is, e.g., An for poly(A),where the subscript n may be replaced by numeralsindicating actual size. Similarly, d(A-T). etc. may beused for poly(dA-dT) etc. It should be noted that nospace follows the prefix 'poly'.

Associated (e.g. hydrogen-bonded) chains, or baseswithin chains, are indicated by a centre dot (not ahyphen or a plus sign) separating the complete namesor symbols; non-associated chains are separated bya plus sign, and unspecified or unknown associationby a comma; e.g.:

poly(A) * poly(U)*poly(G)-2poly(C)or G. - 2CQ

associated poly(A) and poly(U)triple-stranded complex ofpoly(G) and poly(C) in theproportions 1 :2

poly(dA-dC) .poly- associated poly(dA-dC) and(dG-dT) or poly(dG-dT)(dA-dC) . (dG-dT).

poly(A)+poly(U)t non-associated poly(A) andpoly(U)

poly(A),poly(U) poly(A) and poly(U), no definiteinformation on association

* Also 'adenine-thymine base pair' or 'A.T base pair'in the text.

t Also 'A+T content' (and 'A-T sequence'), not'AT content' (nor 'AT sequence'), in the text.

Symbols for sugars [see Biochem. J. (1966) 101,1-7]

These are for use only in representing polymersor sequences and in tables and figures, and need notbe defined:

Ara ArabinosedRib* 2-DeoxyriboseFru FructoseFuc FucoseGal GalactoseGlct GlucoseMan MannoseRib RiboseXyl Xylose

* Similarly for other 2-deoxy sugars.

t Where no ambiguity can arise, the single-lettersymbol G may be used, but is not preferred.

When it is necessary to indicate furanose orpyranose, the letterforp after the saccharide symbolmay be used: e.g. Ribf for ribofuranose.Symbols thus formed are joined by short dashes

or arrows to indicate the links between units. Theposition and nature ofthe links are shown by numeralsand the anomeric symbols a and II, e.g.:

Maltose Glcpal-4Glc or Glcpal -*4GlcLactose GalpIJl4Glc or Galpfl -4Glc

The arrow points away from the hemiacetal link. Ifthe dash is used, it is assumed that the hemiacetal linkis to the left of it.The following suffixes may be used, also without

definition, to indicate derivatives:A for uronic acids (e.g. GlcA for

glucuronic acid, GalA for galact-uronic acid)

N and NAc for 2-amino-2-deoxysaccharides andtheir N-acetyl derivatives (e.g. GIcNfor glucosamine and GalNAc forN-acetylgalactosamine)

Note: AcNeu suffices for N-acetylneuraminate [seeBiochem. J. (1972) 126, 775].

This system differs in some respects from thatdescribed previously [Biochem. J. (1966) 101, 1-7]and from that recommended by the Chemical Society.Authors may use the Chemical Society system if theywish, but should state this explicitly, to avoid possibleambiguity.

Definitive names for oligosaccharides are often toocumbersome for repeated mention in the text of apaper, and shortened names that, within the con-ventions of the system employed, are unambiguousmay be used [see, e.g., Biochem. J. (1956) 63,200-206;64, 340-351; 64, 351-361]. At its first mention thedefinitive name should be given in parenthesis afterthe shortened name.

Chemical Nomenclature

The IUPAC Rules on chemical nomenclatureshould be followed, the most important of thesebeing as follows.1. Nomenclature of inorganic chemistry (second

edition) [(1971) Butterworths, London; alsoPure Appl. Chem. (1971) 28, 1-110]. How toname an inorganic substance (being a guide tothe use ofnomenclature ofinorganic chemistry)[(1977) Pergamon Press, Oxford].

2. Nomenclature of organic chemistry:Sections A (hydrocarbons), B (fundamental

heterocyclic systems) and C (characteristicgroups containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,nitrogen, halogen, sulphur, selenium and/ortellurium) (combined and revised edition)[(1971) Butterworths, London].

1978

14


Section D (organic compounds containingelements which are not exclusively carbon,hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, halogen, sulphur,selenium and tellurium) [Tentative Nomen-clature Appendix No. 31 (August 1973) toIUPAC Information Bulletin].

Section E (stereochemistry) [Pure Appl. Chem.(1976) 45, 11-30].

Section F (natural products and related com-pounds) [Provisional Nomenclature AppendixNo. 53 (December 1976) to IUPAC Infor-mation Bulletin].

Section H (isotopically modified compounds)[Provisional Nomenclature Appendix No. 62(July 1977) to IUPAC Information Bulletin].

3. Manual of symbols and terminology for physico-chemical quantities and units [1973 edn.(1975) Butterworths, London].

4. Compendium of analytical nomenclature [(1977)Pergamon Press, Oxford, in the press].

[Copies of the IUPAC Information Bulletin andAppendices are available from the IUPAC Secre-tariat, 2-3 Pound Way, Cowley Centre, OxfordOX4 3YF, U.K.]

The Handbook for Chemical Society Authors[(1961) The Chemical Society, London] contains thefirst editions of the IUPAC Rules for the nomen-clature of inorganic chemistry and for the nomen-clature of organic chemistry (sections A and B) withuseful explanatory footnotes, together with detailedproposals on points of nomenclature not specificallycovered in these Rules. This book is now out of print,but authors may find it useful to consult if theyhave access to a copy.

Elementary analyses andphysical properties

Standard forms for reporting these are as follows.The new compound (name in italics) had m.p.

175°C (decomp.), [a]2 +17+20 (c 1.6 in water),light-absorption max. in ethanol 226 and 265nm(e 2200 and 2500 respectively) (Found: C, 40.8;H, 6.9; N, 11.5; OMe, 26.0; C8H16N206 requiresC, 40.7; H, 6.8; N, 11.9; OMe, 26.3%).The known compound (name in roman type)

had m.p. 178-179°C, unchanged by admixture withan authentic sample kindly supplied by Dr. Z (Found:C, 48.6; H, 6.1; OMe, 50.1. Calc. for C10H1607:C, 48.4; H, 6.4; OMe, 50.0%). Or: The known com-pound had m.p. 178-179°C. The mixed m.p. with anauthentic sample (m.p. 179-1810C) prepared by themethod ofX & Y (1932) was 178-180°C (Found: C,49.4; H, 3.8; N, 3.9; loss at 100°C, 5.1. Calc. forC28H2212N2,2H20: C, 49.7; H, 3.9; N, 4.2; H20,5.3 %). (If water ofcrystallization is claimed, evidenceshould be given, e.g. as loss at 100°C as above, or thereason why it cannot be given should be explained.)

Vol. 169

Distillation of the product gave a middle fraction(0.3g), b.p. 120°C/1.9kPa (15mmHg), n6 1.4767.

Elementary analyses. Percentages should gener-ally be given to one place of decimals only. Elementsare to be listed in the order C, H and then theremainder in alphabetical order of symbols.

Melting points. It is desirable to state whetherthese are corrected or uncorrected for the emergentstem of the thermometer.

Specific optical rotations. An estimate of the errorshould be given.

Formulae

Chemical symbols may be used for elements,groups and simple compounds, but authors areadvised that the excessive use of chemical symbolsmay reduce the readability of a paper.Where formulae of more complex organic mole-

cules are included they should, if possible, be writtenin one line, as this saves space and expense in printing.Dashes are used to represent the links in the mainchain; side chains are in parentheses, and condensedmain chains are in square brackets, e.g.:

CH2=CH-CH(OH)-CH3H2N-[CH2]3-CH(NH2)-CO2H

Formulae with rings or branched chains should beclearly written on a separate sheet so that they can becopied by the draughtsman. Hetero atoms should beshown in the ring, and aromatic rings must showdouble bonds.

R, R', R" (or RI, R2, R3, R4 if more than three)should be used to denote variable substituents informulae.

C20 acid. is used to denote an acid containing 20carbon atoms and C-3 or C(3) to denote the carbonatom numbered 3. C18:0, C18:l etc. are used similarlyto denote the number of double bonds in anunsaturated fatty acid.

Ions

These should be represented thus: Na+, Zn2+,Cl-, P043.

Isotopically labelled compounds

The symbol for the isotope introduced is placed insquare brackets directly attached to the front of thename (word), as in [14C]urea. When more than oneposition in a substance is labelled by means of thesame isotope and the positions are not indicated (asbelow), the number of labelled positions is added as aright-hand subscript, as in [14C2]glycollic acid. Thesymbol 'U' indicates uniform and 'G' generallabelling, e.g. [U-14C]glucose (where the 14C is uni-formly distributed among all six positions) and

15


[G-'4C]glucose (where the 14C is distributed amongall six positions, but not necessarily uniformly); inthe latter case it is often sufficient to write simply'['4C]glucose'.The isotopic prefix precedes that part of the name

to which it refers, as in sodium [14C]formate, iodo-['4C2]acetic acid, 1-amino['4C]methylcyclopentanol(H2N-14CH2-C5H8-OH), a-naphth['4C]oic acid(C,oH7-14C02H), 2-acetamido-7-[1311]iodofluorene,fructose 1,6-[1-32P]bisphosphate, D-['4C]glucose,2H-[2-2H]pyran, S-[8-14C]adenosyl[35S]methionine.Terms such as '1311-labelled albumin' should not becontracted to '['31I]albumin' (since native albumindoes not contain iodine), and "14C-labelled aminoacids' should similarly not be written as '[G4C]aminoacids' (since there is no carbon in the amino group).When isotopes of more than one element are

introduced, their symbols are arranged in alpha-betical order, including 2H and 3H for deuterium andtritium respectively.When not sufficiently distinguished by the fore-

going means, the positions of isotopic labelling areindicated by Arabic numerals, Greek letters, orprefixes (as appropriate), placed within the squarebrackets and before the symbol of the elementconcerned, to which they are attached by a hyphen;examples are [1-2H]ethanol (CH3-C2H2-OH),[1-_4C]aniline, L-[2-'4C]leucine (or L-[a-14C]-leucine), [carboxy-'4C]leucine, [Me-14C]isoleucine,[2,3-'4C]maleic anhydride, (6,7-14C]xanthopterin,[3,4_13C,35S]methionine, [2-13C,1-14C]acetaldehyde,[3-14C,2,3-2H,'5N]serine.The same rules apply when the labelled compound

is designated by a standard abbreviation or symbol,other than the atomic symbol, e.g. [y-32P]ATP.For simple molecules, however, it is often sufficient

to indicate the labelling by writing the chemicalformulae, e.g. 14C02, H2180, 2H20 (not D20),H235SO4, with the prefix superscripts attached to theproper atomic symbols in the formulae. The squarebrackets are not to be used in these circumstances, norwhen the isotopic symbol is attached to a word that is

not a chemical name, abbreviation or symbol (e.g.l311-labelled').

Naming compounds

All chemical names are run together except forthose of acids, acetals, esters, ethers, glycosides,ketones and salts, which are printed as separatewords: hyphens are used to separate numbers, Greekletters or some configurational and italic prefixesfrom words, e.g. m-dinitrobenzene, fiJf-dimethyl-D-cysteine, 2-p-isopropylphenylheptane, ethyl methylketone (butan-2-one).

Optically active isomers

Names of chiral compounds whose absoluteconfiguration is known may be differentiated bythe prefixes R- and S- [see IUPAC InformationBulletin no. 35 (1969) pp. 36-79; also Biochim.Biophys. Acta (1970) 208, 1-44]. When the com-pounds can be correlated sterically with glycer-aldehyde, serine or other standard accepted for aspecialized class of compound, small capital lettersD-, L- and DL- may be used for chiral compounds andtheir racemates. Where the direction of opticalrotation is all that can be specified, (+)-, (-)- and(±)-, or dextro, laevo and 'optically inactive', areused.

Prefixes

Italics are used for certain prefixes, e.g. cis-,trans-, o-, m-, p-, dextro, laevo, meso, and also for0-, N- etc. to indicate an element carrying a sub-stituent, e.g. N4-acetylsulphanilamide. Italics arenot used for allo, bis, cyclo, epi, iso, n- (not n-), neo,nor, s- (not sec.-), t- (not tert.-), tris.An alphabetical order will be followed for prefixes

denoting substituents. Syllables indicating multiplesubstituents, e.g. di-, tri-, do not count in decidingthe order.

1978

16


ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS, CONVENTIONSAND DEFINITIONS

This list includes accepted symbols and abbreviations and also serves as an index;definitions are included that may be of help to authors. See also the lists of relevantdocuments (pp. 11-12 and 14-15).

abbreviations

absorbance.

absorption coefficient,molar

acceleration due to gravity(9.81 m 5s-p)adenosine3: 5'-phosphate

adenosine 5'-phosphateadenosine 5'-pyro-phosphate.

adenosine triphosphatase

adenosine 5'-triphosphate

alternating current

amino acids, symbols for

2-amino-2-hydroxy-methylpropane- 1,3-diolampere

angstrom

approximately

aqueous .

ascorbic acid

atmosphere .

atomic weight

atto (10-18 x)

pp. 12-13

A = log(IO/I) (see p. 9)

e (see pp. 9-10)

g (see p. 4)

cyclic AMP

AMP

ADP

ATPase (to be definedin a footnote)

ATP; the three phos-phorus atoms are dis-tinguished as a, ,B andy, thus: adenosine-

a.c.

p. 13

Tris

A

A (use SI units:1A =0.lnm)

approx. (or use about,not c. or ca.)

. aq.

alternative permittedvitamin C

atm (use SI units:1 atm = 101 325 Pa)

. at.wt.

a (prefix)

barn (10-28m2)

boiling point

buffers

calciferol

calculated

*calorie, I.T.

....~b

b.p.

p.9

use ergocalciferol,alternative permittedvitamin D2

calc.

calIT (use SI units:1 callT = 4.1868 J)

*calorie, thermochemical

candela

capric acid .

caproic acid

caproyl

capryl, caprinoyl

caprylic acid

caprylyl, capryloyl.

carbobenzoxy

carboxymethylcellulose

catalytic-centre activity

centi (10-2x)centimetrecentimetre gram(me)second.

centrifugingcholecalciferol

chromatography

callh (use SI units:1 calh = 4.1 84J)

cd

use decanoic acid

use hexanoic acid

use hexanoyl

use decanoyl

use octanoic acid

use octanoyl

use benzyloxycarbonyl

CM-cellulose

number of molecules ofsubstratetransformed/s per catalytic centrec (prefix) (see p. 8)

cm

c.g.s.

pp.4-5alternative permittedvitamin D3p.5

bar (pressure) . . . . bar (use SI units: circular dichroism (see also1 bar = 105Pa) ellipticity) . . c.d. (Ac) (see p. 10)

* The symbol 'cal' may be used where the degree of accuracy does not justify distinction between caliT andcal,h.

Vol. 169

17


cocarboxylase

coefficient of variation

coenzyme A and its ac)derivatives.

compare

concentrated

concentration

concentration (symbol,e.g. in specific rotation)

constant, equilibrium

constant, velocity .

corrected (e.g. m.p. fcemergent stem)

coulomb (s A) .

counts/min, counts/s

crystalline, crystallized

cubic

curie (3.7 x 1010 s-1)

cycles per second

cytidine 5'-phosphate

cytidine 5'-pyrophosphal

cytidine 5'-triphosphate

dalton (f2- of the massone atom of carbon isctope '2C, i.e. 1.6631024g) *

data (N.B.: plural) .

data, deposition of

deci (10-1 x)

decomposition (m.p.)

degrees Celsius (t/°C=T/K-273.15)

degrees Kelvin .

deka (1Ox)

density

density, relative

use thiamin pyrophos-phate

standard deviation/mean value (see p. 10)

ylCoA and acyl-CoA

. cf.

. conc.

. concn.

c

KC

.k

)r. corr.

c.p.m., c.p.s.

. cryst.

cu. or as e.g. mm3

. ci

. Hz

CCMP

lte CDP

. CTP

ofo-

x

not to be used formolecular weights

use only in the sense of'information given'

. p.5

d (prefix) (see p. 8)

. decomp.

oc

K (not OK)

da (prefix) (see p. 8)

p (g/ml)

deoxy (prefix)

deoxyribonuclease.

deoxyribonucleic acid.deoxyribonucleosides,symbols for

dialysable

dialysate

diethylaminoethylcellulose

diffusion coefficient

dilute

5-dimethylaminonaphtha-lene-1-sulphonyl-.

2,4-dinitrophenyl-

direct current

disintegrations/min,disintegrations/s

dissociation constant,minus log of

disulphide group

dithionite (sodium)

dry ice

dyne

electrode potential,standard

electrode potential,standard at given pH.

electromotive forceelectron spin resonance,electron paramagneticresonance

electronvolt ( 1.6022 x10-19J).

electrophoretic mobility(m2ss-1. V'1)

elementary analyses

not desoxy; symbol d

DNAase (to be definedin a footnote)

DNA

p. 13

not permitted; usediffusible (see p. 5)

not used; for diffusiblematerial use diffusate(see p. 5)

DEAE-celluloseD, D°, D20,o etc. (asfor sedimentation co-efficient) (seep. 5)

dil.

Dns- or to bedansyl- defined

in aDnp- or footnoteN2ph-

d.c.

d.p.m., d.p.s.

pK, plural pK values

alternative permittedS-S

Na2S204, not hydro-sulphite, hyposulphite

use solid CO2dyn (use SI units:1 dyn= 10-5N)

Eo

Eu

e.m.f.

e.s.r., e.p.r.

eV

m (see p. 6)p. 15

1978

18


ellipticity (see also circulardichroism).

enthalpy (change)

entropy (change)

enzyme units

equation

equivalent (weight).

erg

ethanol, ethanolic

ethylenediaminetetra-acetate.

'Ethyleneglycolbis(amino-ethylether)tetra-acetate'(HO2C-CH2)2N-[CH2]20-[CH2]2-O-[CH2]2-N(CH2-CO2H)2 * -

Experiment (with referencnumeral)

extinction

farad (m-2. kg-1.s'4.A2= A-se-V- = C-V-').

Faraday (quantity of electricity associated with 1equiv. ofchemical chang

fatty acids

femto (10-15 x).Figure (with referencenumeral)

figures, preparation of .

flavin-adenine dinucleo-tide

flavin mononucleotide.

fluorescence anisotropyfluorescence polarization

folates

foot

[0] = 3300 A. (seep. 10)

AH(kJ mol-')

AS (kJmol1*K-1)(not e.u.)p.6

eqn.

equiv. (wt.)

erg (use SI units:lerg= 10-7J)

not ethyl alcohol, notalcoholic

EDTA

EGTA

Expt.; plural Expts.

log (IoII) (see p. 9);use absorbance

F

e)Fp.15

f (prefix)

Fig;plural Figs.

pp. 6-7, 24-27

FAD

FMN

A (see p. 10)

P (see p. 10)

see Biochem. J. (1967)102, 19-20

ft (use SI units:1 ft = 0.3048m)

foot-candle . . . . ft-candle (use SI units:1 ft-candle= 10.76391x)

formulae .p. 15

freeenergy(Gibbs)(change) AG (kJ mol-')

frictional coefficient (molar) f

frictional coefficient(molar) for sphere ofsame volume . . . . fo

gas constant per mole . . R

gas-liquidchromatography g.l.c.

gauss. G (use SI units:1-G= 10-4T)

giga(l09x)..G (prefix)

glutathione, oxidized * * GSSG (to be defined

glutathione, reduced . . GSH J in a footnote)

a-glycerophosphate . . use sn-glycerol 3-phos-phate when the con-figuration is to bespecified

gram(me) . ... . g

gram(me)-atom . . . mol or g-atom

gram(me)-equivalent . . mol or g-equiv.

gram(me)-molecule . . mol

gravitational field, unit of(in centrifuging)(9.81m s-2) . . . . g (see p. 4)

guanosine 3':5'-phosphate cyclic GMP

guanosine 5'-phosphate . GMP

guanosine 5'-pyro-phosphate. GDP

guanosine 5'-triphosphate. GTP

haem, protohaem . . . prosthetic group ofhaemoglobin

hecto (102x) . . . . h (prefix) (see p. 8)

henry (m2 *kg s-2 -A-2=V-A--s) .

hertz (s1) . .

Hill coefficient .hour (3600s) .

hydrogen ion concen-tration, minus log of .

. Hz

h (not n). h

pH, plural pH valuesVol. 169

19


hydroquinone . . . . use quinol

hydrosulphite,hyposulphite . . not used, see dithionite

illustrations . . pp. 6-7, 24-27

immunoglobulin G etc. IgG etc. (to be definedin a footnote)

inch . .in (use SI units:lin=2.54x 102m)

infrared. .i.r.

inhibitor constant . . . K1 (dissociation con-stant of inhibitor-enzyme complex)

inosine 5'-phosphate . . IMP

inosine 5'-pyrophosphate . IDP

inosine 5'-triphosphate . ITP

insoluble .. insol.

international unit . . i.u.

ionic strength (mol/l) . I

ions .p. 15

isoelectric point (the pH atwhich a molecule has noeffective charge) . . . pI

isoenzyme . . not isozyme

isotonic . . . specify composition ofsolution, e.g. use 0.9%NaCl solution

isotopically labelledcompounds . . . . pp. 15-16

joule (m2*kg- s-2 = N*m). J

katal (amount of enzymethat can catalyse the trans-formation of 1 mol ofsubstrate/s under con-ditions specified) . . . kat (see p. 6)

kelvin .K (not °K)

kephalin .use amino phospho-lipids

ketoacid .keto used only generic-ally, otherwise oxo

keto sugars .use pentulose, hexuloseetc., not ketopentose,ketohexose etc.

kilo (103 X)

kilogram(me)

Krebs-Ringer solution

level.

light petroleum.

litre (10-3m3 = dm3)

logarithm (base 10)

logarithm (base e)

lumen (cd sr)

lux(m-2*cd sr)

maximum

maxwell.

median effective dose

median lethal dose.

mega (106x)

melting point

metabolic quotients

methanol, methanolic .

metre

Michaelis constant

micro (10-6x)

microgram(me).

microgram(me)-atom

k (prefix)

kgreference to be given

use concentration orarnount or activitywhere necessary toavoid ambiguity

not petroleum ether:boiling range to bestated

1; where there is thepossibility of con-fusion between thenumeral '1' and theletter '1', 'litre' shouldbe written in full

logIn

lm

lx

max.

Mx (use SI units:1 Mx= 10-8Wb)

ED5oLD50M (prefix)

m.p.

as far as possible thenotation Qx and qxwill not be used; meta-bolicquotientsshould,if possible, be given asmol/s.orpumol/min fora defined arbitraryquantity of material,e.g. mg dry wt., mg ofprotein, g wet wt. etc.

not methyl alcohol

m

Km (see p. 6)

u (prefix)

pg

pumol or pug-atom; notpuatom

1978

20


micromicro (10-12 x)

micromole

micron (10-6m)

milli (10-, x)

milliequivalent

millilitre.

millimetre of mercury(conventional) pressure

millimicro (10-9 x) .

millimicron (10-9m)

*millimolar (concentra-tion)

millimole

minimum

minute (60s)

*molar (concentration)

mole.

molecular weight

p (prefix); notap

,pmol; not gM,um; notu

m (prefix)

mmol or mequiv.

ml

mmHg (use SI units:1 mmHg 133.3 Pa)

n (prefix); not mpc

nm; not mu

mM or mmol/l

mmol; not mM

min.

imm

M or mol/l

mol

mol.wt. (molecularweights are ratios andit is incorrect to addthe word 'daltons')

nano (10-9 x) . . . n (prefix)newton (m* kg S-2

=Jm-1). N

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide . ... NAD

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide, oxidized . NAD+ preferred

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide, reduced . NADH preferred

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide phosphate . NADP

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide phosphate,oxidized .NADP+ preferred

nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide phosphate,reduced .NADPHpreferred

nicotinamide mono-nucleotide. NMN

* Separated by a hyphen (and no full stop) fromI M-NaOH; 1 M-sulphuric acid.

VQo. 169

normal temperature anpressure

nuclear magnetic resonanc

nucleoside (unspecified)

nucleosides, nucleotidesand polynucleotides,symbols for

number (in enumerations)

observed

ohm (mi2. kg S-3 . A-2=V-A-1).

optical rotation.

optical rotatory dispersio

optically active isomers

orthophosphate(inorganicosmolar .

page, pages.

partial specific volume.

partition coefficient(dimensionless)

parts per million

pascal (m- * kge s-2

=Nm-2=Jm-3)

not used; use standardtemperature and pres-sure

e n.m.r.

N (not X)

pp. 13-14

no.

obs.

specific optical rotation(with concn. 1 g/ml,light-path 10cm), e.g.[aDs[a]2541

molecular optical rota-tion (=[a] x mol.wt.),e.g. [M]20, [M]261. Ifa different value, e.g.(a]' Xmol.wt./100, isused, this should bestated

tn o.r.d.

p.16

c) Pj

OSM or osmol/1 (theconcentration produc-ing an osmotic pres-sure equal to that ofa molar solution of aperfect solute)

p.,Ppp.

aorKD

p.p.m.

. Pa

per. /per cent . . . . . . %petroleum ether . . . not used (see light

petroleum)a chenical formula or name following it, e.g. 1 M-NaCl;

21


phosphatide .

pico (0-2x) .

poise

potential differencepound.

pound-force persquare inch

use phospholipid

p (prefix)P (use SI units:1P= 10'Pa s)

p.d.lb (use SI units:1 lb 0.4536kg)

lbf/in2 (use SI units:1 lbf/in2 6.9 kPa)

precipitate . . ppt.

preparation.. ... prep.

probability of an event'sbeing due to chance alone P

proton magnetic resonance p.m.r

pyridoxine, pyridoxal . . altern

pyrophosphate (inorganic)

quinol

rad (10-2J kg-')

radian

recrystallized

references

refractive index.

vitanBioc137,

PPi

rative permittedmin B-6 [seehem. J. (1974)417-421]

not hydroquinone

rad or rd

rad

recryst.

pp. 8-9

n; at stated tempera-ture and wavelengthrepresent as, e.g., nD0

relative band speed (par-tition chromatography) . R, RF, RX (see p. 5);

plural R values etc.

reprints . p. 2

respiratory quotient R.Q. (to be defined ina footnote)

revolutions .. rev.

rev./min. .not r.p.m.; use g wherepossible (see p. 4)

riboflavin. .alternative permittedvitamin B2

ribonuclease . . . RNAase (to be definedin a footnote)

ribonucleic acid . . . RNA

ribonucleosides, symbolsfor .p. 13

rontgen (2.58 x 10-4C- kg-') R

second (time) s

sedimentation coefficient . s; not sedimentationconstant (see p. 5)

sedimentation coefficientcorrected to 20°C in water S2o,w; s20 may be used if

it is unambiguous (seep. 5)

sedimentation coefficientat zero concentration. Os°, 5,w etc. (see p. 5)

siemens (m2- kg-1.S'3 A2= K-' =A V-l) . .. S

sodium dodecyl sulphate . SDS (to be defined in afootnote)

soluble .. . sol.

solution. soln.

solutions, concentration of p. 9

solvent systems. . . e.g. butan-1-ol/aceticacid/water (4:1:1, byvol.), butan-1-ol/acetic acid (4: 1, v/v)

species (singular and plural) sp., spp.

specific gravity. . . . sp.gr.

square. . . sq. or as e.g. cm2

standard deviation.. S.D.)

standard error of estimate see p. 10of mean value. . . . S.E.M. J

standard temperature andpressure .. . s.t.p.

statistical treatments p. 10

steradian . .sr

stokes. .St (use SI units:1 St = 10-4m2 s- )

substituents (variable, inorganic compounds) . .R R', R", or RI, R2,

R3, R4 (if more thanthree) (see p. 15)

substrate constant . . K, (dissociation con-stant of substrate-enzyme complex)

sugars, symbols for p. 14

sulphydryl. . . use thiol or SH

sum.. .

Svedberg unit (103s). S (see p. 5)

tables (preparation of) . p. 11

1976

22


temperature . (abbreviation) temp.;(symbol) t (empirical),T (absolute)

tera (102x). T (prefix)

tesla (kgs-2 A-'= V s*m-2 =Wb*m-2) . T

thiamin .alternative permittedvitamin B1

thin-layer chromatography t.l.c.

thymidine 5'-phosphate . dTMP

thymidine 5'-pyro-phosphate. dTDP

thymidine 5'-triphosphate . dTTP

time (symbol) . . t

tocopherol .alternative permittedvitamin E

torr .Torr (use SI units:1 Torr : 133.322Pa)

trichloroacetic acid . . TCA not used

turnover number . . (ofan enzyme) not used;see catalytic-centreactivity

ultracentrifuge data . p. 5

ultraviolet .u.v.

uncorrected (e.g. m.p. foremergent stem) . . . uncorr.

uridine 3': 5'-phosphate . cyclic UMPuridine 5'-phosphate . UMP

uridine 5'-pyrophosphate. UDP

uridine 5'-triphosphate . UTP

variety (e.g. botanical). . var.

velocity (symbol)

veronal

viscosity, relative

viscosity, specific

viscosity, reduced

viscosity, intrinsic

volt (m2 -kg- S-3 . A-= J-A-1 s-1 = JC-1)volume (abbreviationafter number)

v/v

v

used only for buffermixtures; otherwiseuse5,5'-diethylbarbituricacid

* lrei.(viscosity of solutionsviscosity of solvent!

*7sp. (i.e. mlre/.g1)

s,p.lc (units: ml/g)[}7], i.e. lim.,o qsp.Ic

. vol.

used only for two com-ponents; by vol. usedfor three or morecomponents

watt(m2kg S-3= J.s-)

wavelength.

wavelength of D line ofsodium (other wave-lengths in A)wavenumber (unit).

weber (m2 *kg s-2 . A-'=Vs).

weight

xanthosine 5'-phosphate

xanthosine 5'-pyro-phosphate .

xanthosine 5'-triphosphate

w

D (as subscript)cm-'

Wb

wt.

XMP

XDP

XTP

Vol. 169

23


APPENDIX

Notes on the Preparation of Figures

As far as possible artwork supplied by the authorwill be used for reproduction. It is therefore essentialfor authors to adhere to the following instructionswith regard to the preparation of line drawings forfigures, otherwise their illustrations will have to beredrawn by the printer's draughtsmen, with conse-quent delay.

Materials

Diagrams should be in black ink, and may bedrawn on white paper, tracing paper or white card. Ifgraph paper is used it is preferable to use one withblue guide lines. Mounting on heavy cardboard isundesirable.A line thickness obtained with a 0.4mm Rotring

pen (or equivalent) is desirable.

Size

Illustrations for reproduction are reduced to 40%or 50% of the original dimensions, and should bedrawn as follows. For reduction to 40 %, the widthof drawings should not exceed 14cm (excludinglettering) and 26cm (excluding lettering) for illus-trations intended to be single-column width anddouble-column width respectively. For reduction to50 %, the width of drawings should not exceed 11 cm(excluding lettering) and 21 cm (excluding lettering)for illustrations intended to be single-column widthand double-column width respectively. A margin ofat least 3cm is essential. Any illustrations notconforming to this guide may be photographicallyadjusted by the printer.

Distinction between curves in a figure

The preferred symbols for experimental points areo, A, o, *, A, *. The same symbols must not beused on two curves where the points might beconfused. The symbols x and + should be avoided.For scatter diagrams filled-in symbols are preferred.The same symbols should, whenever possible, beused for the same entities throughout a paper.Individual curves may also be distinguished bydistinctive line forms (e.g. , etc.) or by

single-letter labels (e.g. A, B etc.) or by brief explana-tory labels (see below).

Lettering

Final lettering on figures will be done by theprinter. It is therefore sufficient for authors to insertclear guide lettering in soft pencil. The addition ofcarefully drawn lettering in black ink is notnecessary, but is permissible.Authors are encouraged to use brief explanatory

labels within a figure if it is thereby more readilyunderstood and if the labels can be inserted withoutrequiring a larger figure. The final lettering of suchlabels will, again, be done by the printer.

In a drawing of apparatus the scale must be indi-cated, but, again, the lettering will be done by theprinter.

Technique

All curves, lines and symbols should be drawnclearly, and of a line thickness and size that allowsfor a 40-50% reduction in size on final reproductionif the figures are to be reproduced directly (seeabove). Scale marks must be within the graph. Axesshould not extend appreciably beyond the curves.It is sometimes unnecessary for an axis scale to startat 0; only the part of the scale relevant to the curvesshould be given.

Histograms

Simple histograms recording only a few valuesshould not be used. The information can be givenmore concisely as a table or as a sentence or twoin the text.

Specimen figures

Three specimen figures are shown. Fig. 1 illus-trates many of the mistakes that necessitateredrawing. Fig. 2 shows a similar figure drawncorrectly, and Fig. 3 shows Fig. 2 as it would appearin the Biochemical Journal.

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Scale lettering inked in(should be left to Press)

The same symbols should notbe used for two graphs wherepoints could be confused

3000

Fig. 1.

Vol. 169

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30

25

20

Is

10

5

0

25


Lettering in pencilis acceptable

Fig. 2.

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40

I-,

ow

iia)

0.

20

15

10

n2 4 6 8 10 12

[Mg24] (mM)Fig. 3.

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27

u

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