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Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose: Theory and applications
Source Book of Experiments for the Teaching of Microbiology Editors: S. B. Primrose and A. C. Wardlaw Academic Press, London, 1982 xvii + 766 pp., f28.80, US859.50
‘Source book of experiments for the teaching of microbiology’ is an edited volume which provides detailed information for carrying out and teaching experiments in microbiology, using prokaryotes, eukaryotes or viruses. The book is divided into nine parts and each part covering various aspects of microbiology is duly represented. The first part depicts experimental designs of testing various equipments employed for microbiological processes; parts two to five are devoted to experimental procedures for studying various aspects of microbial physiology, including nutrition, growth, excretion and death of the organisms. The contexts of parts six to eight of this book provide coverage of experimental design to study the role of microorganisms in the environment and their relationship to commercial aspects of plants and animals and industrial microbiology, whereas the last part gives details of procedures for genetic manipulations in the organisms. In each contribution to this volume, detailed information about experimental procedure, materials and their source has been provided. Presentation of the material is good, being clearly laid out in sections; figures have been provided to an adequate level to illustrate the text. The book provides valuable information which is useful not only to teachers teaching undergraduate classes in microbiology and to students who are taking those courses, but also the research workers, because the systematic presentations of various experimental procedures in this volume are helpful for design and plan of experiments and for keeping up to date records. The only criticism is that in this book the editor has provided methods of experiments with specific organisms, instead of general procedure, but this does not stop the reviewers from recommending this book for teaching experimental microbiology.
S. S. Marwaha University
472
Enzyme
John F. Kennedy of Birmingham, UK
Microb.
Technol.,
1983,
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose: Theory and Applications By: C. R. Wilke, B. Maiorella, A. Sciamanna, K. Tangnu, D. Wiley and H. Wong Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, New Jersey, USA, 1983, pp. 164, US824.00 In the foreword the publishers state that advanced methods were employed to get this book out ‘on time’ and that special techniques were used to close the gap between manuscript and completed book. They also apologize for the fact that because of the photooffset process used portions of the book ‘may be less legible than desired’. The latter is certainly true. Indeed, one’s first impression of this book is the poor legibility. To compound the situation many pages are given over to diagrams occupying only a small part of an otherwise empty page. Almost all of the tables and figures lack legends even though many would benefit from their inclusion. Space has been found for unnecessary figures, e.g. two pages of enzyme fractionation schemes, yet there is no real index - merely a combined contents and subject index at the beginning. Numerous misspellings spotted on the first run-through suggest that the original article was not thoroughly proof-read. However, with respect to the publisher’s claim, the most outstanding deficiency of this book, published in 1983, is that no reference later than 1980 is included. Indeed, there are few as late as this. The opening chapter entitled ‘Theory of Enzymatic Hydrolysis’ consists of about 44 pages of type and 6 pages of diagrams. Thus, it is hardly surprising that the subject matter is treated in a very superficial fashion. One notes, for example, that exo-acting enzymes that remove glucose rather than cellobiose from chain ends are not mentioned. Oxidative enzymes involved in lignocellulose hydrolysis are not mentioned either while topics such as the complex kinetic behaviour of these enzyme systems are given very short shrift. The second chapter deals with the practical aspects of the production of cellulase by Trichoderma reesei and of xylanase production by Streptomyces xylophagus and, to a lesser extent, by Chaetomium trilaterale. The strength of this book and the only reason for
vol. 5, November
buying it lies in chapters 3, ‘Hydrolysis of Agricultural Residues’, and 4, ‘Enzymatic Hydrolysis Processes’. In chapter 3, saccharification of several agricultural residues is discussed as are the effects of various physical and chemical pretreatments on *he saccharification process. One notes from the examples cited that regardless of the agricultural residue to be digested the cellulase used was derived from T. uiride (reesei),grown on Solka Floe. If this practice is superior to using the residue to be digested as the ‘inducer’ no mention of this fact is given. In chapter 4, the various enzymic hydrolysis processes are described and compared. This chapter will be of most use to those wishing to embark on biomass conversion projects and will, no doubt, also find favour with established research teams. The book finishes off with a chapter on high productivity fermentation systems for ethanol production and a discussion on ethanol economics. Being familiar with the quality of research publications by Wilke and colleagues one expected more from this book. However, it never really amounts to more than the report to the US Department of Energy on which it is purportedly based. Michael P. Coughlan University College, Galwa y, Ireland
Overproduction of Microbial Products Editors: V. Krumphanzl, B. Sikyta and Z. Van.Gk Academic Press, London, 1983, xi + 731 pp., f39.50, US$75.00 ‘Overproduction of microbial products’ an edited volume represents the proceed. ings of the FEMS Symposium no. 13 ; organized jointly by members of the Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Charles University, Hradec, Kralova, and the Czechoslovak Society for Microbiology. The purpose of this meeting was to facilitate discussion, by acknowledged experts, of recent achievements in the fields of microbial physiology, genetics and biotechnology as they relate to the development of processes for the
‘Source book of experiments for the teaching of microbiology’ is an edited volume which provides detailed information for carrying out and teaching experiments in microbiology, using prokaryotes, eukaryotes or viruses. The book is divided into nine parts and each part covering various aspects of microbiology is duly represented. The first part depicts experimental designs of testing various equipments employed for microbiological processes; parts two to five are devoted to experimental procedures for studying various aspects of microbial physiology, including nutrition, growth, excretion and death of the organisms. The contexts of parts six to eight of this book provide coverage of experimental design to study the role of microorganisms in the environment and their relationship to commercial aspects of plants and animals and industrial microbiology, whereas the last part gives details of procedures for genetic manipulations in the organisms. In each contribution to this volume, detailed information about experimental procedure, materials and their source has been provided. Presentation of the material is good, being clearly laid out in sections; figures have been provided to an adequate level to illustrate the text. The book provides valuable information which is useful not only to teachers teaching undergraduate classes in microbiology and to students who are taking those courses, but also the research workers, because the systematic presentations of various experimental procedures in this volume are helpful for design and plan of experiments and for keeping up to date records. The only criticism is that in this book the editor has provided methods of experiments with specific organisms, instead of general procedure, but this does not stop the reviewers from recommending this book for teaching experimental microbiology.
S. S. Marwaha University
472
Enzyme
John F. Kennedy of Birmingham, UK
Microb.
Technol.,
1983,
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose: Theory and Applications By: C. R. Wilke, B. Maiorella, A. Sciamanna, K. Tangnu, D. Wiley and H. Wong Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, New Jersey, USA, 1983, pp. 164, US824.00 In the foreword the publishers state that advanced methods were employed to get this book out ‘on time’ and that special techniques were used to close the gap between manuscript and completed book. They also apologize for the fact that because of the photooffset process used portions of the book ‘may be less legible than desired’. The latter is certainly true. Indeed, one’s first impression of this book is the poor legibility. To compound the situation many pages are given over to diagrams occupying only a small part of an otherwise empty page. Almost all of the tables and figures lack legends even though many would benefit from their inclusion. Space has been found for unnecessary figures, e.g. two pages of enzyme fractionation schemes, yet there is no real index - merely a combined contents and subject index at the beginning. Numerous misspellings spotted on the first run-through suggest that the original article was not thoroughly proof-read. However, with respect to the publisher’s claim, the most outstanding deficiency of this book, published in 1983, is that no reference later than 1980 is included. Indeed, there are few as late as this. The opening chapter entitled ‘Theory of Enzymatic Hydrolysis’ consists of about 44 pages of type and 6 pages of diagrams. Thus, it is hardly surprising that the subject matter is treated in a very superficial fashion. One notes, for example, that exo-acting enzymes that remove glucose rather than cellobiose from chain ends are not mentioned. Oxidative enzymes involved in lignocellulose hydrolysis are not mentioned either while topics such as the complex kinetic behaviour of these enzyme systems are given very short shrift. The second chapter deals with the practical aspects of the production of cellulase by Trichoderma reesei and of xylanase production by Streptomyces xylophagus and, to a lesser extent, by Chaetomium trilaterale. The strength of this book and the only reason for
vol. 5, November
buying it lies in chapters 3, ‘Hydrolysis of Agricultural Residues’, and 4, ‘Enzymatic Hydrolysis Processes’. In chapter 3, saccharification of several agricultural residues is discussed as are the effects of various physical and chemical pretreatments on *he saccharification process. One notes from the examples cited that regardless of the agricultural residue to be digested the cellulase used was derived from T. uiride (reesei),grown on Solka Floe. If this practice is superior to using the residue to be digested as the ‘inducer’ no mention of this fact is given. In chapter 4, the various enzymic hydrolysis processes are described and compared. This chapter will be of most use to those wishing to embark on biomass conversion projects and will, no doubt, also find favour with established research teams. The book finishes off with a chapter on high productivity fermentation systems for ethanol production and a discussion on ethanol economics. Being familiar with the quality of research publications by Wilke and colleagues one expected more from this book. However, it never really amounts to more than the report to the US Department of Energy on which it is purportedly based. Michael P. Coughlan University College, Galwa y, Ireland
Overproduction of Microbial Products Editors: V. Krumphanzl, B. Sikyta and Z. Van.Gk Academic Press, London, 1983, xi + 731 pp., f39.50, US$75.00 ‘Overproduction of microbial products’ an edited volume represents the proceed. ings of the FEMS Symposium no. 13 ; organized jointly by members of the Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Charles University, Hradec, Kralova, and the Czechoslovak Society for Microbiology. The purpose of this meeting was to facilitate discussion, by acknowledged experts, of recent achievements in the fields of microbial physiology, genetics and biotechnology as they relate to the development of processes for the