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Advances in pest control research. Vol. I
488
BOOK
REVIEWS
membrane. Whether or not an impulse is generated is determined by the resultant of these two types of effect. Ernest F. Gale has contributed a carefully documented review of work bearing upon the role of the nucleic acids in the synthesis of specific enzyme systems by disrupted bacterial cells and cell fractions. Gale presents here also the argument for his conviction that already formed proteins exchange their amino acid residues continuously with whatever amino acids are available-what he calls “exchange incorporation.” He describes the partial isolation of factors which selectively promote the incorporation of single amino acids (glycine, valine); it is curious that though these are obtained by the digestion of ribonucleic acid, they do not appear to be nucleotide in nature. Karl Meyer discusses in detail the acid mucopolysaccharides of connective tissue. As the author says, “This type of old-fashioned biochemistry which almost has gone out of vogue, still can result in interesting and surprising findings”; and offers as example the observation that the uranic acid of chondroitin sulfate B appears to be iduronic acid, closely similar in configuration to ascorbic acid, and perhaps formed from the latter. Joseph S. Fruton discusses the specificity and mode of action of the intracellular proteinases, and defends the view that these enzymes may play a leading part in protein synthesis. In the only directly clinical contribution to this volume, Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jr. discusses the epidemiology of streptococcal infections. Ephraim Racker has written a discussion of what he calls micro- and macrocycles in carbohydrate metabolism, distinguished for its breadth of outlook and literary elegance. Particular attention is paid to the pentose phosphate cycle and its role in respiration and photosynthesis. Keith R. Porter has written a beautifully illustrated account of the submicroscopic morphology of the cell as revealed in the electron microscope. The temptation is strong at present to infer physiological function directly from the appearance of some of these structures; yet for the present much of this, as Dr. Porter concedes, is largely surmise. A. D. Hershey has written a lively discussion of the interrelations of bacteriophage and host cell under the title, “Bacteriophage TP: Parasite or Organelle?” Hershey concludes that it is a little of both. The volume ends with a lucid and detailed exposition of the chemistry and physiology of firefly luminescence by W. D. McElroy. GEORGE WALD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Advances in Pest Control Research. Vol. I. Edited by R. L. METCALF, Citrus Experiment Station, University of California, Riverside, Calif. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, N. Y., 1957. vii + 514 pp. Price $11.00. This compilation of 14 articles is designed to bring the facts on pest control together so that the nature of the problems involved in developing more effective and safer pesticides could be understood better. Although pesticide research has developed along more or less independent lines in the fields of plant pathology, plant physiology, entomology, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine, there is a community of interest that will not be denied in the design of molecules and understanding their mode of action. As the Editor indicates in the Preface, the knowl-
BOOK
REVIEWS
489
edge should be drawn together so the specialists will draw strength and inspiration from studies in allied fields. The mammalian toxicology of pesticides, the hazards involved in their manufacture and application, the danger from consumption of treated produce, and the medical control and treatment are discussed in the first chapter by J. M. Barnes, Medical Research Laboratories, Carshalton, Surrey, England. Although pesticides such as insecticides are potentially harmful, the author concludes that there is no reason why they should not be used safely if proper measures are taken to educate the public and to enforce common sense legislation such as is now available. The chemistry and mode of action of the principal classes of herbicides now in use or in the advanced stages of testing are discussed by A. S. Crafts of the University of California at Davis in the chapter on “The Chemistry and Mode of Action of Herbicides.” He draws upon his wealth of experience in reviewing the knowledge on their mechanism of action and the relationship of structure to activity. The “Uses of Radioisotopes in Pesticide Research” by Paul A. Dahm of Iowa State College gives a very comprehensive review of how radioisotopes have been used to develop a better understanding of insecticide action. It is to be regretted that the coverage for herbicides and fungicides was not so thorough as the area of his major interest. Probably one of the more valuable chapters for those investigators interested in designing new types of molecules will be “The Chemistry and Action of Organic Phosphorus Insecticides” by T. R. Fukuto of the University of California at Riverside. After skillfully reviewing the chemistry of anticholinesterase activity, the author points out that esterase activity is not infallibly correlated with insecticidal activity since some chemicals are amenable to being metabolized to more active forms by the insect cell. The “Mechanisms of Fungitoxicity” by James G. Horsfall of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station gives the author’s personal viewpoints on fungicide research in a rather informal style. The article focuses attention on the major area of research in the field. A very fine discussion on “Recent Advances in Control of Soil Fungi” is given by J. B. Kendrick, Jr. and G. A. Zentmyer of the University of California at Riverside. They summarize the use of chemical toxicants, changes in soil fertility, physical treatments of soil, promotion of antibiotic activity, and the use of resistant varieties. It is a well-balanced chapter. is discussed by G. F. Shambaugh, R. F. “Repellents for Biting Arthropods” Brown, and J. J. Pratt, Jr. of the Army Quartermaster and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass. They have brought together a wealth of information on testing. procedures, types of chemicals with activity, and the chemistry of repellency. W. E. Ripper of Fisons Pest Control Ltd. of Cambridge, England, discusses “The Status of Systemic Insecticides in Pest Control Practices” from a historical and practical viewpoint of their efficacy when applied to foliage, bark, soil, trunk injection, and seed. Of particular interest are his discussions on the potential usefulness of systemics to prevent spread of virus diseases by vectors and the selective effects to prevent interference with parasites and predators of insects. The chapter on “Chemical Analysis of Pesticide Residues” by Milton S. Schech-
490
BOOK
REVIEWS
ter and Irwin Hornstein of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md., presents a compilation of information on analytical procedure for the principal insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The methods for separation and clean-up of samples and measuring the pesticide concentration are reviewed. In a review of 462 citations covering such an extensive field, the authors may be forgiven an occasional omission such as the erroneous citation on methods for the halogenated symmetrical triaeine fungicides. The potential usefulness and limitations of “Bioassay of Pesticide Residues” is discussed by Yun-Pei Sun of the Shell Development Co. of Denver, Colorado. The different procedures used in extracting and assaying insecticides and in interpreting results are discussed very thoroughly. The reader will find this volume to be well written and critically edited. In general the authors have been very discriminating in appraising current developments. Typographical errors occur only rarely, and an excellent subject index is very helpful in finding references to specific chemical and biological subjects. The volume should be a valuable edition to the libraries of those persons interested in developing new chemicals or understanding the ones now at hand. GEORGE .L. MCNEW, Yonkers, New York
Books Received
for Review
ANFINSEN, C. B., JR., ANSON, M. L., BAILEY, K., AND EDSALL, J. T. (eds.), Advances in Protein Chemistry, Vol. 12. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 687 pp., $14.00. BAGNALL, K. W., Chemistry of the Rare Radioelements. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 177 pp., $5.00. BENTLEY, K. W., The Alkaloids. The Chemistry of Natural Products, Volume 1. Interscience Publishers, New York and London. 1957. viii, 237 pp., $4.00. BLOCK, R. J., DURRUM, E. L., AND ZWEIG, G., A Manual of Paper Chromatography and Paper Electrophoresis. 2nd edition, revised and enlarged. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xii, 710 pp., $12.80. COOK, A. H. (ed.), The Chemistry and Biology of Yeasts. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xii, 763 pp., $22.00. DEUEL, H. J., JR., The Lipids: Their Chemistry and Biochemistry. Vol. III: Biochemistry. Interscience Publishers, New York and London. 1957. xxxviii, 1065 pp., $25.00. EDSALL, J. T., AND WYMAN, JEFFRIES, Biophysical Chemistry. Vol. I: Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, and the Biological Significance of the Properties of Matter. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xvi, 699 pp., $14.00. HAMANN, S. D., Physico-Chemical Effects of Pressure. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 246 pp., $8.50. The Harvey Lectures. Series 52 (19561957). Prepared under the Auspices of the Harvey Society of New York. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xvi, 312 pp., $7.50. HEUSGHEM, C., Contribution B 1’Etude Analytique et Biochimique des Estrogenes Naturels. Masson et Cie, Paris. 1957. viii, 217 pp., 2,000 fr.
BOOK
REVIEWS
membrane. Whether or not an impulse is generated is determined by the resultant of these two types of effect. Ernest F. Gale has contributed a carefully documented review of work bearing upon the role of the nucleic acids in the synthesis of specific enzyme systems by disrupted bacterial cells and cell fractions. Gale presents here also the argument for his conviction that already formed proteins exchange their amino acid residues continuously with whatever amino acids are available-what he calls “exchange incorporation.” He describes the partial isolation of factors which selectively promote the incorporation of single amino acids (glycine, valine); it is curious that though these are obtained by the digestion of ribonucleic acid, they do not appear to be nucleotide in nature. Karl Meyer discusses in detail the acid mucopolysaccharides of connective tissue. As the author says, “This type of old-fashioned biochemistry which almost has gone out of vogue, still can result in interesting and surprising findings”; and offers as example the observation that the uranic acid of chondroitin sulfate B appears to be iduronic acid, closely similar in configuration to ascorbic acid, and perhaps formed from the latter. Joseph S. Fruton discusses the specificity and mode of action of the intracellular proteinases, and defends the view that these enzymes may play a leading part in protein synthesis. In the only directly clinical contribution to this volume, Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jr. discusses the epidemiology of streptococcal infections. Ephraim Racker has written a discussion of what he calls micro- and macrocycles in carbohydrate metabolism, distinguished for its breadth of outlook and literary elegance. Particular attention is paid to the pentose phosphate cycle and its role in respiration and photosynthesis. Keith R. Porter has written a beautifully illustrated account of the submicroscopic morphology of the cell as revealed in the electron microscope. The temptation is strong at present to infer physiological function directly from the appearance of some of these structures; yet for the present much of this, as Dr. Porter concedes, is largely surmise. A. D. Hershey has written a lively discussion of the interrelations of bacteriophage and host cell under the title, “Bacteriophage TP: Parasite or Organelle?” Hershey concludes that it is a little of both. The volume ends with a lucid and detailed exposition of the chemistry and physiology of firefly luminescence by W. D. McElroy. GEORGE WALD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Advances in Pest Control Research. Vol. I. Edited by R. L. METCALF, Citrus Experiment Station, University of California, Riverside, Calif. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, N. Y., 1957. vii + 514 pp. Price $11.00. This compilation of 14 articles is designed to bring the facts on pest control together so that the nature of the problems involved in developing more effective and safer pesticides could be understood better. Although pesticide research has developed along more or less independent lines in the fields of plant pathology, plant physiology, entomology, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine, there is a community of interest that will not be denied in the design of molecules and understanding their mode of action. As the Editor indicates in the Preface, the knowl-
BOOK
REVIEWS
489
edge should be drawn together so the specialists will draw strength and inspiration from studies in allied fields. The mammalian toxicology of pesticides, the hazards involved in their manufacture and application, the danger from consumption of treated produce, and the medical control and treatment are discussed in the first chapter by J. M. Barnes, Medical Research Laboratories, Carshalton, Surrey, England. Although pesticides such as insecticides are potentially harmful, the author concludes that there is no reason why they should not be used safely if proper measures are taken to educate the public and to enforce common sense legislation such as is now available. The chemistry and mode of action of the principal classes of herbicides now in use or in the advanced stages of testing are discussed by A. S. Crafts of the University of California at Davis in the chapter on “The Chemistry and Mode of Action of Herbicides.” He draws upon his wealth of experience in reviewing the knowledge on their mechanism of action and the relationship of structure to activity. The “Uses of Radioisotopes in Pesticide Research” by Paul A. Dahm of Iowa State College gives a very comprehensive review of how radioisotopes have been used to develop a better understanding of insecticide action. It is to be regretted that the coverage for herbicides and fungicides was not so thorough as the area of his major interest. Probably one of the more valuable chapters for those investigators interested in designing new types of molecules will be “The Chemistry and Action of Organic Phosphorus Insecticides” by T. R. Fukuto of the University of California at Riverside. After skillfully reviewing the chemistry of anticholinesterase activity, the author points out that esterase activity is not infallibly correlated with insecticidal activity since some chemicals are amenable to being metabolized to more active forms by the insect cell. The “Mechanisms of Fungitoxicity” by James G. Horsfall of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station gives the author’s personal viewpoints on fungicide research in a rather informal style. The article focuses attention on the major area of research in the field. A very fine discussion on “Recent Advances in Control of Soil Fungi” is given by J. B. Kendrick, Jr. and G. A. Zentmyer of the University of California at Riverside. They summarize the use of chemical toxicants, changes in soil fertility, physical treatments of soil, promotion of antibiotic activity, and the use of resistant varieties. It is a well-balanced chapter. is discussed by G. F. Shambaugh, R. F. “Repellents for Biting Arthropods” Brown, and J. J. Pratt, Jr. of the Army Quartermaster and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass. They have brought together a wealth of information on testing. procedures, types of chemicals with activity, and the chemistry of repellency. W. E. Ripper of Fisons Pest Control Ltd. of Cambridge, England, discusses “The Status of Systemic Insecticides in Pest Control Practices” from a historical and practical viewpoint of their efficacy when applied to foliage, bark, soil, trunk injection, and seed. Of particular interest are his discussions on the potential usefulness of systemics to prevent spread of virus diseases by vectors and the selective effects to prevent interference with parasites and predators of insects. The chapter on “Chemical Analysis of Pesticide Residues” by Milton S. Schech-
490
BOOK
REVIEWS
ter and Irwin Hornstein of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md., presents a compilation of information on analytical procedure for the principal insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The methods for separation and clean-up of samples and measuring the pesticide concentration are reviewed. In a review of 462 citations covering such an extensive field, the authors may be forgiven an occasional omission such as the erroneous citation on methods for the halogenated symmetrical triaeine fungicides. The potential usefulness and limitations of “Bioassay of Pesticide Residues” is discussed by Yun-Pei Sun of the Shell Development Co. of Denver, Colorado. The different procedures used in extracting and assaying insecticides and in interpreting results are discussed very thoroughly. The reader will find this volume to be well written and critically edited. In general the authors have been very discriminating in appraising current developments. Typographical errors occur only rarely, and an excellent subject index is very helpful in finding references to specific chemical and biological subjects. The volume should be a valuable edition to the libraries of those persons interested in developing new chemicals or understanding the ones now at hand. GEORGE .L. MCNEW, Yonkers, New York
Books Received
for Review
ANFINSEN, C. B., JR., ANSON, M. L., BAILEY, K., AND EDSALL, J. T. (eds.), Advances in Protein Chemistry, Vol. 12. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 687 pp., $14.00. BAGNALL, K. W., Chemistry of the Rare Radioelements. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 177 pp., $5.00. BENTLEY, K. W., The Alkaloids. The Chemistry of Natural Products, Volume 1. Interscience Publishers, New York and London. 1957. viii, 237 pp., $4.00. BLOCK, R. J., DURRUM, E. L., AND ZWEIG, G., A Manual of Paper Chromatography and Paper Electrophoresis. 2nd edition, revised and enlarged. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xii, 710 pp., $12.80. COOK, A. H. (ed.), The Chemistry and Biology of Yeasts. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xii, 763 pp., $22.00. DEUEL, H. J., JR., The Lipids: Their Chemistry and Biochemistry. Vol. III: Biochemistry. Interscience Publishers, New York and London. 1957. xxxviii, 1065 pp., $25.00. EDSALL, J. T., AND WYMAN, JEFFRIES, Biophysical Chemistry. Vol. I: Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, and the Biological Significance of the Properties of Matter. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xvi, 699 pp., $14.00. HAMANN, S. D., Physico-Chemical Effects of Pressure. Academic Press, New York. 1957. x, 246 pp., $8.50. The Harvey Lectures. Series 52 (19561957). Prepared under the Auspices of the Harvey Society of New York. Academic Press, New York. 1958. xvi, 312 pp., $7.50. HEUSGHEM, C., Contribution B 1’Etude Analytique et Biochimique des Estrogenes Naturels. Masson et Cie, Paris. 1957. viii, 217 pp., 2,000 fr.