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The proteins. Chemistry, biological activity and methods. Vol. II, part B
Book Reviews The Proteins.
Chemistry,
Biological
Activity and Methods.
Vol. II, Part B.
Edited by HANS NEURATH and KENNETH BAILEY. Academic Press, New York, Y. Y., 1954. x + 756 pp. Price $16.50. The last part of this treatise (part B of Vol. II) has now appeared. The problems dealt with here are more general than in part A of Vol. II. W. L. Hughes in his Chap. 21 on the proteins of blood plasma has undoubtedly had the most difficult job in uniting the vast amount of partly contradictory data to form a homogeneous entity. He is hardly to blame for not having fully achieved his object considering that blood itself is something between a life-giving fluid and a garbage can. The article is very stimulating and has the merit of giving, in an appendix, one of the few detailed descriptions of methods found in The Proteins, viz., that of the inclusive systems of plasma fractionation developed in E. J. Cohn’s laboratory. Chapter 22 by W. C. Boyd deals with the proteins of immune reactions, a subject which was also discussed by Hughes. It is a highly instructive article also to those who, like the reviewer, are relatively unfamiliar with the subject. It brings a wealth of material and applies a mild and sober criticism to many of the theories which in this field often approach wild speculations. Chapters 23 and 24 on structure proteins, written by J. C. Kendrew and Kenneth Bailey, respectively, are very interesting to compare. They are both admirable in their clarity and mastery of the subjects, but while Kendrew’s article on the static systems of body proteins has a definite poise, Bailey’s chapter on muscle is lively and dynamic as if the nature of the subjects had come off on the treatments. Chapter 25 by N. Michael Green and Hans Neurath on proteolytic enzymes is warmly recommended to workers in enzyme chemistry. It gives an excellent survey over this rapidly growing field to which Neurath and his school have contributed so basically. With respect to both aspects of this topic, viz., that of specificity and that of structure, the contributors are among the greatest authorities of our time. The final chapter by H. Tarver on the biological synthesis of proteins and protein turnover is also extremely stimulating and presents a handsome conclusion to a most valuable volume. As mentioned in a previous review, The Proteins is not a textbook in the common sense of the word but rather a collection of monographs which cover the entire protein field adequately. It is unavoidable that overlapping occurs and that certain topics are more generously treated than others, but a great wealth of information can be extracted from it, and the successful choice of a limited number of eminent contributors has placed the book in a very high class. It is a book which was greatly needed, and one must he very
516 grateful to its two and time-consuming
BOOK
REVIEWS
editors and their contributors for undertaking work and for carrying it out in such a splendid Ii. LINDERSTR~M-LANG, Copenhagen,
this difficult way. Denmark
Chromatographische Methoden in der Protein-Chemie. By FRITZ TURBA, Professor Dr. Rer. Nat. Organisch-chemisches und Pharmakologisches Institut, University of Mainz. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Giittingen, Heidelberg, 1954. viii + 358 pp. Price DM69. In the last decade, chromatographic and allied techniques have virtually revolutionized protein chemistry. This revolution is far from over, but the extent of the advances already made are epitomized by the classical work of Sanger whose brilliant exploitation of these modern methods has resulted in the elucidation of the complete sequence of the amino acids in the peptide chains of the insulin molecule. It is fitting, therefore, that the various techniques which have made possible such striking progress should be described in great detail in a single volume. The monograph is divided into three major parts, each of which is divided and subdivided in turn. In the first, or general, part (134 pages) are found discussions of the theoretical and mathematical bases of chromatography, followed by an extensive general treatment of the apparatus and techniques used in column and paper chromatography including methods of collecting and analyzing fractions, reagents used as sprays for paper chromatograms,and a considerable discussion of various adsorbents: inorganic, organic, and ion exchange. In the second, or special, part (174 pages), detailed treatment is given to chromatographic methods for the separation, identification, and determination of amino acids; the isolation, separation, and characterization of peptides, peptide derivatives, and related substances; amino acid analysis of proteins and biological fluids; end-group analysis of proteins; and separation and characterization of proteins. The last part (42 pages) deals with the techniques related to chromatography, namely, countercurrent distribution, ionophoresis, and paper electrophoresis. Throughout the volume the treatment is detailed and encyclopedic. Professor Turba has done an extraordinary job in compiling and organizing a literature that has grown to astronomical proportions in the last few years. The subjects covered are documented not only by extensive bibliographic references (some as recent as 1953), but also by 258 figures and photographs and 101 tables, most of them taken directly from the original publications. The result is a compendium in the classic German tradition that will prove of great value to all who work or expect to work with amino acids, peptides, or proteins. In view of the thorough treatment accorded the text, it is surprising that the volume has no subject index. This omission is only partially counteracted by a very detailed Table of Contents and an author index. The paper, typography, and reproductions of figures and photographs are all excellent, but the price is regrettably high. WILLIAM H. STEIN, New York, New York
Chemistry,
Biological
Activity and Methods.
Vol. II, Part B.
Edited by HANS NEURATH and KENNETH BAILEY. Academic Press, New York, Y. Y., 1954. x + 756 pp. Price $16.50. The last part of this treatise (part B of Vol. II) has now appeared. The problems dealt with here are more general than in part A of Vol. II. W. L. Hughes in his Chap. 21 on the proteins of blood plasma has undoubtedly had the most difficult job in uniting the vast amount of partly contradictory data to form a homogeneous entity. He is hardly to blame for not having fully achieved his object considering that blood itself is something between a life-giving fluid and a garbage can. The article is very stimulating and has the merit of giving, in an appendix, one of the few detailed descriptions of methods found in The Proteins, viz., that of the inclusive systems of plasma fractionation developed in E. J. Cohn’s laboratory. Chapter 22 by W. C. Boyd deals with the proteins of immune reactions, a subject which was also discussed by Hughes. It is a highly instructive article also to those who, like the reviewer, are relatively unfamiliar with the subject. It brings a wealth of material and applies a mild and sober criticism to many of the theories which in this field often approach wild speculations. Chapters 23 and 24 on structure proteins, written by J. C. Kendrew and Kenneth Bailey, respectively, are very interesting to compare. They are both admirable in their clarity and mastery of the subjects, but while Kendrew’s article on the static systems of body proteins has a definite poise, Bailey’s chapter on muscle is lively and dynamic as if the nature of the subjects had come off on the treatments. Chapter 25 by N. Michael Green and Hans Neurath on proteolytic enzymes is warmly recommended to workers in enzyme chemistry. It gives an excellent survey over this rapidly growing field to which Neurath and his school have contributed so basically. With respect to both aspects of this topic, viz., that of specificity and that of structure, the contributors are among the greatest authorities of our time. The final chapter by H. Tarver on the biological synthesis of proteins and protein turnover is also extremely stimulating and presents a handsome conclusion to a most valuable volume. As mentioned in a previous review, The Proteins is not a textbook in the common sense of the word but rather a collection of monographs which cover the entire protein field adequately. It is unavoidable that overlapping occurs and that certain topics are more generously treated than others, but a great wealth of information can be extracted from it, and the successful choice of a limited number of eminent contributors has placed the book in a very high class. It is a book which was greatly needed, and one must he very
516 grateful to its two and time-consuming
BOOK
REVIEWS
editors and their contributors for undertaking work and for carrying it out in such a splendid Ii. LINDERSTR~M-LANG, Copenhagen,
this difficult way. Denmark
Chromatographische Methoden in der Protein-Chemie. By FRITZ TURBA, Professor Dr. Rer. Nat. Organisch-chemisches und Pharmakologisches Institut, University of Mainz. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Giittingen, Heidelberg, 1954. viii + 358 pp. Price DM69. In the last decade, chromatographic and allied techniques have virtually revolutionized protein chemistry. This revolution is far from over, but the extent of the advances already made are epitomized by the classical work of Sanger whose brilliant exploitation of these modern methods has resulted in the elucidation of the complete sequence of the amino acids in the peptide chains of the insulin molecule. It is fitting, therefore, that the various techniques which have made possible such striking progress should be described in great detail in a single volume. The monograph is divided into three major parts, each of which is divided and subdivided in turn. In the first, or general, part (134 pages) are found discussions of the theoretical and mathematical bases of chromatography, followed by an extensive general treatment of the apparatus and techniques used in column and paper chromatography including methods of collecting and analyzing fractions, reagents used as sprays for paper chromatograms,and a considerable discussion of various adsorbents: inorganic, organic, and ion exchange. In the second, or special, part (174 pages), detailed treatment is given to chromatographic methods for the separation, identification, and determination of amino acids; the isolation, separation, and characterization of peptides, peptide derivatives, and related substances; amino acid analysis of proteins and biological fluids; end-group analysis of proteins; and separation and characterization of proteins. The last part (42 pages) deals with the techniques related to chromatography, namely, countercurrent distribution, ionophoresis, and paper electrophoresis. Throughout the volume the treatment is detailed and encyclopedic. Professor Turba has done an extraordinary job in compiling and organizing a literature that has grown to astronomical proportions in the last few years. The subjects covered are documented not only by extensive bibliographic references (some as recent as 1953), but also by 258 figures and photographs and 101 tables, most of them taken directly from the original publications. The result is a compendium in the classic German tradition that will prove of great value to all who work or expect to work with amino acids, peptides, or proteins. In view of the thorough treatment accorded the text, it is surprising that the volume has no subject index. This omission is only partially counteracted by a very detailed Table of Contents and an author index. The paper, typography, and reproductions of figures and photographs are all excellent, but the price is regrettably high. WILLIAM H. STEIN, New York, New York