48
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
ing with configuration have also been incorporated. For example, most of the 1953-54 references to the absolute configuration of steroids rue given in the section on nomenclature and stereochemistry. Although the literature prior to 1937 was covered in the original volume, a considerable portion of this has acquired new significance in the light of more recent developments and has been referred t o in this Supplement. Illustrative of this .thorough treatment is the section of more than 100 pages on choleateral. Of the nearly 1100 referenoes, approximately one-third are to the literature prior to 1937. As in previous supplementary volumes, referenoes to the patent literature have been ineorporated. With respect to nomenclature, the aim has been to make a selection from the nomenclatures in use durine the oeriod covered
changes in steroid nomenclature recommended more recently which could have been profitably introduced. The editors and publisher me to be congratulated on the excellent organization of material, format, printing, and general appearance of the volume. It is of interest to note that this volume, "Steroids, Part I," is the fourteenth part of the work t o appear. Publication is proceeding a t the rate of about 2000 pages per year. The puhlisher has made the Encyclopaedia available on a deferred payment plan. GEORGE H. COLEMAN WATNDUN~VERBITY DETROIT, MICHI.*N
ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY. VOLUME IX
0
Edited by M. L. Anson, Lever Brothers Co., K e n n e t h Bailey University of Cambridge, England, a n d l o h n T. Edsall, Harvard University. Academic Press, Inc., New Y a k , 1954. viii 542pp. Illustratsd. 16 X 23.5 cm. $10.50.
+
THE appearance of another volume in this well-established set of reviews re-emphasizes the fertility of protein research and the rate a t which data are aeeumulating as a result of this research. The present volume contains eight selected topics covered by 12 prominent investigators. These topics are considered in the order in which they appear in the book. The first represents a new trend in subject matter for these reviews, and allows the reader to anticipate the appearance of similar material on other amino acids in future volumes. "The metabolism of glycine," by H. R. V. Amstein, represents one of the most comprehensive treatises on the subject that is currently available. Listing a total of 445 references, the author effectively presents his "discussion of the occurrence of glycine in proteins and tissues and its metabolism by higher animals." Understandably, it is difficult to decide in parts of the metabolic considerations whether the amina arid glycino or serine is being reviewed. An excellent subdivision of this chapter considers glycine as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of important compounds, which section stresses, in many instances, the growing reoognition of 8-aminolevulinic acid as an important intermediary metabolite. After perusal of this fine review by Dr. Arnstein, one is impressed with the wide gaps which still remain in the knowledge of this, the simplest of amino aeids. The author has not hnsit,nted to mesent fullv the controversial issues and the ~ -~~~ -. unsettled problems. A short review follows by M.I. Chalmers and R. L. M. Synge on "The digestion of protein and nitrogenous compounds in ruminants." By outlining the evidence obtained from direct study of rumen function as well as from feeding experiments, the fundamental conclusion is presented that excessive attention has been centered an "the substitution of nonprotein nitrogen for protein in ruminant diets, t.o the neglect of study of the economical use of pre-existing protein." The point is noteworthy. ~~
~
In aremarkably efficient manner the general methods of resohtion as applied to the various individual amino acids are prosented by J. P. Greenstein in the chapter, "The resolution of raoemic a-amino acids." Coupled with the pages covering the criteria of optical purity and certain aspects of molar rotation, this review will unquestionably be invaluable as s, rde~.ence source in research. Tlw a+rrnhling oi inicmmation on " S ~ t ~ r : i
