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Annual review of microbiology, volume 8
310
BOOK REVIEWS
elements. This very active field is not well covered in the general literature, and the addition of this chapter will appeal strongly to those directly concerned with tracer work. A similar situation exists with regard to micropreparative reactions, which have not been discussed adequately since the work of Emich was published, and the newer methods have received virtually no attention in the literature. The printing is up to the usual good standards of the publisher, and the paper binding, and format are good. Few errors were noted, though one rather important one exists in Table XXIV, p. 442 where it is obvious that one or more plus signs have been omitted in the last column. Within the limited field covered, this volume will be an indispensable addition to the library of the organic chemist. PAUL L. KIRK, Berkeley, California
Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 8. Edited by CHARLES E. CLIFTON. Annual Reviews, Inc., Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1954. 536 pp. Price $6.99. The present useful volume emphasizes the changing interests in the field of microbiology since the series began some eight years ago. Nowhere is this shift of interest more evident than in the field of nutrition. Only a few years ago investigators were still concerned with isolation and identification of growth factors and vitamins and with their microbiological assay. The present review by D. Hendlin shows that this phase has ended and workers in this field are now concerned with complex problems of biosynthesis and with antagonisms and interactions between growth factors and antibiotics. The “Metabolism of Microorganisms” has been covered by J. J. R. Campbell. In a stimulating and critical review, C. B. van Niel has discussed recent work on “Chemoautotrophic and Photosynthetic Bacteria.” This chapter is also noteworthy because of its complete coverage of papers which appeared in foreign language journals. The difficult task of organizing and reviewing the growing and popular field of “Genetics of Microorganisms” has been successfully undertaken by S. Spiegelman and 0. E. Landman, who cite a bibliography of almost 599 papers which appeared during 1953. “Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action” of antibiotics have been concisely reviewed by W. W. Umbreit. A. H. Coons, in a clear and critical manner has discussed the use of “Labelled Antigens and Antibodies” in the histochemical detection of antigens; in determining the distribution and persistence of antigens in the body and in investigating sites of antibody formation. In an interesting essay on “Foods and Feeds from Fungi,” F. S. Thatcher considers the possibilities of using microorganisms to supplement the world’s food supply in the face of an ever-increasing world population. The above chapters will prove of particular interest to biochemists. Other chapters include “Cytology of Bacteria,” S. Mudd and E. D. DeLamater; “Leptospira,” H. Schlossberger and H. Brandis; “Life History of Malaria Parasites,” P. C. C. Garnham; “Bacterial Virus,” E. A. Evans, Jr.; “Changes in the Host Flora Induced by Chemotherapeutic Agents,” E. McCoy; “Physiological Aspects of Protozoan Infection,” B. G. Maegraith; “Hepatitis, Yellow Fever, and Dengue,” W. P. Havens, Jr.; “Antigenic Variation of Influenza Viruses,” M. R. Hilleman; “Immunological Properties of Polysaccharides from Animal Parasites,” J. Oliver-Gonzalez; “Nonspecific Factors in Immunity,” W. J. Nungester; “Ef-
BOOK
REVIEWS
311
fects of Viruses on Tumors,” A. E. Moore; “Bacterial Toxins,” C. L. Oakley; J. J. Jeeeski; and “Cytopathology of Virus “Microbiology of Dairy Products,” Infections,” J. F. Enders. It is the reviewer’s impression that articles in foreign journals are, in general, inadequately covered in this volume. Perhaps this difficulty could be overcome in the future by soliciting a greater number of chapters from investigators in the non-English-speaking countries. A. M. PAPPENHEIMER, JR., New York, New York
Methods in Enzymology. Vol. I. Preparation and Assay of Enzymes. Edited by SIDNEY P. COLOWICK and NATHAN 0. KAPLAN, McCollum-Pratt Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Academic Press Inc., New York, N. Y., 1955. 835 pp. Price $18.96. The publication of this book will be welcomed by all active laboratory workers in biochemistry and related subjects. It is the first part of a four-volume work set out to present a comprehensive compilation of the methods used in the study of enzymes. A large number of investigators, each a specialist on the particular subject to which he has contributed, has been enlisted. The editors must be complimented on having secured the collaboration of many distinguished workers whose names in view of their large numbers-well over a 106 in this volume alone-cannot be here enumerated. An Advisory Board consisting of Britton Chance, Carl F. Cori, K. Linderstr@m-Lang, F. F. Nord, Sever0 Ochoa, James B. Sumner, and Hugo Theorell has helped in the selection of subject matter and authors. This first volume deals with the preparation and assay of enzymes and contains 126 sections. It begins with a description of general procedures such as the tissue slice technique, the preparation of tissue homogenates, the fractionation of cell components, the extraction of enzymes from biological material, the disintegration of bacteria, chromatography, and preparation of buffers. Then follow sections on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, of lipide metabolism, and of the citric acid cycle. An outline is given of the content of the remainder of the work. Volume II continues the description of the preparation and assay of enzymes. Volume III will deal with the preparation and assay of substrates and Vol. IV with special techniques such as electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, various kinds of optical methods, cytochemistry, and isotope techniques. As a result of the rapid progress of biochemical techniques, the last reference book of this kind (by E. Bamann and K. Myrbiick, published in 1941) is now essentially out-of-date, and the publication of this work is therefore very timely. H. A. KREBS, Oxford, England Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives. Edited by EMIL OTT and HAROLD M. SPURLIN (co-editors) and MILDRED W. GRAFFLIN (assistant editor), Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, N. Y., 1954. Second edition. Vol. V of the series High Polymers. Part I: xvi + 599 pp. Price $12.96. Part II: viii + 546 pp. Price $12.69. The second edition of this well known monograph in the “High Polymers” series has been completely revised and increased in size by about one-third. It is being issued in three parts, of which the first two have now appeared. The parts
BOOK REVIEWS
elements. This very active field is not well covered in the general literature, and the addition of this chapter will appeal strongly to those directly concerned with tracer work. A similar situation exists with regard to micropreparative reactions, which have not been discussed adequately since the work of Emich was published, and the newer methods have received virtually no attention in the literature. The printing is up to the usual good standards of the publisher, and the paper binding, and format are good. Few errors were noted, though one rather important one exists in Table XXIV, p. 442 where it is obvious that one or more plus signs have been omitted in the last column. Within the limited field covered, this volume will be an indispensable addition to the library of the organic chemist. PAUL L. KIRK, Berkeley, California
Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 8. Edited by CHARLES E. CLIFTON. Annual Reviews, Inc., Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1954. 536 pp. Price $6.99. The present useful volume emphasizes the changing interests in the field of microbiology since the series began some eight years ago. Nowhere is this shift of interest more evident than in the field of nutrition. Only a few years ago investigators were still concerned with isolation and identification of growth factors and vitamins and with their microbiological assay. The present review by D. Hendlin shows that this phase has ended and workers in this field are now concerned with complex problems of biosynthesis and with antagonisms and interactions between growth factors and antibiotics. The “Metabolism of Microorganisms” has been covered by J. J. R. Campbell. In a stimulating and critical review, C. B. van Niel has discussed recent work on “Chemoautotrophic and Photosynthetic Bacteria.” This chapter is also noteworthy because of its complete coverage of papers which appeared in foreign language journals. The difficult task of organizing and reviewing the growing and popular field of “Genetics of Microorganisms” has been successfully undertaken by S. Spiegelman and 0. E. Landman, who cite a bibliography of almost 599 papers which appeared during 1953. “Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action” of antibiotics have been concisely reviewed by W. W. Umbreit. A. H. Coons, in a clear and critical manner has discussed the use of “Labelled Antigens and Antibodies” in the histochemical detection of antigens; in determining the distribution and persistence of antigens in the body and in investigating sites of antibody formation. In an interesting essay on “Foods and Feeds from Fungi,” F. S. Thatcher considers the possibilities of using microorganisms to supplement the world’s food supply in the face of an ever-increasing world population. The above chapters will prove of particular interest to biochemists. Other chapters include “Cytology of Bacteria,” S. Mudd and E. D. DeLamater; “Leptospira,” H. Schlossberger and H. Brandis; “Life History of Malaria Parasites,” P. C. C. Garnham; “Bacterial Virus,” E. A. Evans, Jr.; “Changes in the Host Flora Induced by Chemotherapeutic Agents,” E. McCoy; “Physiological Aspects of Protozoan Infection,” B. G. Maegraith; “Hepatitis, Yellow Fever, and Dengue,” W. P. Havens, Jr.; “Antigenic Variation of Influenza Viruses,” M. R. Hilleman; “Immunological Properties of Polysaccharides from Animal Parasites,” J. Oliver-Gonzalez; “Nonspecific Factors in Immunity,” W. J. Nungester; “Ef-
BOOK
REVIEWS
311
fects of Viruses on Tumors,” A. E. Moore; “Bacterial Toxins,” C. L. Oakley; J. J. Jeeeski; and “Cytopathology of Virus “Microbiology of Dairy Products,” Infections,” J. F. Enders. It is the reviewer’s impression that articles in foreign journals are, in general, inadequately covered in this volume. Perhaps this difficulty could be overcome in the future by soliciting a greater number of chapters from investigators in the non-English-speaking countries. A. M. PAPPENHEIMER, JR., New York, New York
Methods in Enzymology. Vol. I. Preparation and Assay of Enzymes. Edited by SIDNEY P. COLOWICK and NATHAN 0. KAPLAN, McCollum-Pratt Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Academic Press Inc., New York, N. Y., 1955. 835 pp. Price $18.96. The publication of this book will be welcomed by all active laboratory workers in biochemistry and related subjects. It is the first part of a four-volume work set out to present a comprehensive compilation of the methods used in the study of enzymes. A large number of investigators, each a specialist on the particular subject to which he has contributed, has been enlisted. The editors must be complimented on having secured the collaboration of many distinguished workers whose names in view of their large numbers-well over a 106 in this volume alone-cannot be here enumerated. An Advisory Board consisting of Britton Chance, Carl F. Cori, K. Linderstr@m-Lang, F. F. Nord, Sever0 Ochoa, James B. Sumner, and Hugo Theorell has helped in the selection of subject matter and authors. This first volume deals with the preparation and assay of enzymes and contains 126 sections. It begins with a description of general procedures such as the tissue slice technique, the preparation of tissue homogenates, the fractionation of cell components, the extraction of enzymes from biological material, the disintegration of bacteria, chromatography, and preparation of buffers. Then follow sections on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, of lipide metabolism, and of the citric acid cycle. An outline is given of the content of the remainder of the work. Volume II continues the description of the preparation and assay of enzymes. Volume III will deal with the preparation and assay of substrates and Vol. IV with special techniques such as electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, various kinds of optical methods, cytochemistry, and isotope techniques. As a result of the rapid progress of biochemical techniques, the last reference book of this kind (by E. Bamann and K. Myrbiick, published in 1941) is now essentially out-of-date, and the publication of this work is therefore very timely. H. A. KREBS, Oxford, England Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives. Edited by EMIL OTT and HAROLD M. SPURLIN (co-editors) and MILDRED W. GRAFFLIN (assistant editor), Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, N. Y., 1954. Second edition. Vol. V of the series High Polymers. Part I: xvi + 599 pp. Price $12.96. Part II: viii + 546 pp. Price $12.69. The second edition of this well known monograph in the “High Polymers” series has been completely revised and increased in size by about one-third. It is being issued in three parts, of which the first two have now appeared. The parts