book reviews analysis. Mention of coulometry and pulse polarography in the electraanalytical section would have seemed desirable. In Chapter Four, the nmr discussion would have benefited from illustration of effect of magnetic field on resolution. Also, in this and in some other sections, mention of the type of instrument employed to obtain the spectra shown would have been helpful to the reader. For crystalline substances, X-ray diffraction is often the simplest and fastest method for identification, pmtieularly where reference can be made to the Hanawalt or ASTM tables. The deseription of thermal methods beginning on page 132 would have been improved considerably by use of one or two DTA thermogrsms showing the response to different types of thermally induced transitions; e.g., sulfur which in a single t,hermogram can show solid-solid, solidliquid, and liquid-gas transitions. In Chapter Six, reference to specific dispersion would have been useful since the combination of refractive index and density often defines class of compounds. In Chapter Twelve, reference to compttter techniques (on-line and off-line) would have been desirable for both programming and data reduction. On the whole, this reviewer was quite idpressed with this text. Dr. Siggia demonstrates very well how a little chemistry, together with instrumentation, often provides the most efficient and effective approach to analysis of complex systems. The book, which is modestly priced, is recommended as a good survey hook well supplied with fine references from which the reader may obtain details. JOHNM I T C H ~ JR. L, E. I. du Pont de Newmum & Co., Inc. Wilmingta, Delaware
Calculdionr of Analytical Chemistry
Leieester F. Hamiltan, Stepha
a. S i m p
son,both of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and David W. Ellis, University of New Hampshire. 7th ed. MeGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 511 pp. Figs. and tahles. 1968. xiv 17 X 23.5 em. $8.50.
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When a. book has, as in the present instance, appeared in six previous editions it seems unnecessary to comment on features retained from its predecessors. Those familiar with earlier editions will find almost the same format and material in the first thirteen chapters, although a few new problems have been added. The chapter on Compleximetry has been improved by the addition of a section on organic chelating agents, and the chapter on Potentiometry now includes a brief mention of specific ion electrodes. Similarly the section on Polarography has been expanded to include ehronopotentiometry. The principal change from the pre-
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ceding edition lies in the considerable expansion of material on "instrumental" analysis. The chapter on Absorptiometry has been revised to include photometrio titrations, precision spectrophotometry, infra-red and atomic absorption. Completely new chapters have been added an emission methods, X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, refractometry and polarimetry, mdiochemistry, thermal methods, chromatography, extraction methods, kinetic methods and functional group analysis. Many of the problems in these new sections are made more meaningful by the inclusion of references to the original literature. A welcome change is the practice of writing half-cell resctions as reductions. This should serve to reduce confusion among students. As in earlier editions answers are included for a majority of the problems. Those who have used the hook in its earlier editions will find this latest revision to be a distinct improvement. It can be recommended for those who find that a supplementary problem book is desirable.
life, excluding the cofsctors of biological oxidation. Section I11 (Volumes 12161, is entitled Biochemical Reaction Mechanisms and is concerned almost exclusively with enzymology. Volume 13, now in its second edition, comprises the report on nomenclature of the Enzyme Commission of the International Union of Biochemistry. Section IV, Metabolism (Volumes 17-21) is devoted to the anabolic and catabolic reactions occurring at all levels of cellular organization and the control mechanisms to which these pathway8 are subject. Section V, Chemical Biology (Volumes 22-31) is designed to deal with some of the forefront problems of modern biology to which the prefix "molecular" will ultimately be attached. Volume 30 of this last section will be devoted to the History of Biochemistry, and Vohune 31 will comprise the General Index. Obviously, far a work so comprehensive the index will be a critical section and will have to he compiled with great diligence and accuracy. In reviewing a treatise as large as "Comprehensive Biochemistry," one can only hope to take note of those parts JOHNR. HAYES which, in this reviewer's lone opinion, The Pennsylvania Slate University are the most appealing. The many auUniversity Park, 18802 thors whose chapters may not he mentioned need no6 feel that their eontributions are any less scholarly. The first section, whose major mission is to review areas of physical and organic chemistry pertinent to biochemistry, is perhaps open to the most criticism and suggestion. For example, Chapter I1 of Volume 1 provides an excellent treatment Comprehensive Biochemistry of the electronic theory of organic moleclues but is slim in its references to probEdited by Marcel Flmkin, University of lems of application to biological structure. Liege, and Elmer If. Stotz, University of Chapter I of Volume 2, treating MeehRochester School of Medicine. Amerianisms of Organic Reactions, is superb can Elsevier Publishing Co. 52 Vanand is highly relevant to one of the forederbilt Ave., New York. Volumes front areas of contemporary biochemistry. 1-16, 20, 22, 23, 26A, 26B, 27, and 28. This chapter is indeed a book within a 15.5 X 23 cm. Entire series approx. book and could well be used as such in $450. Individual volumes a v a i l a b l e any advanced course in organic chemistry price varies with volume. for a graduate hiochemistry department. When the thirty-one volumes of "ComChapters 111-VI, dealing with Emission prehesive Biochemistry" are completed in Spectroscopy, Spectrophotometry in the the near future, they will truly represent Ultraviolet and Visible Region, Infra-red ". . . . a monumental labor of scholarship." Spectra, and Fluorescence are extremely In this courageous work, Professors F l o ~ relevant and understandable to any adkin and Stote and their distinguished ad- vanced student of biochemistry and pervisory board have sought out the most haps nowhere else in current treatises will competent scholars in biochemistry and vet tharoueh. one find such a concise.. , ., t,he results are indeed amazing. It would trcatlucl~tirf thw iniporln!bt nrca of analytibe highly presumptuous for one student cal b~urhcn~isrry.in \ol~tnw4, Sepxmof biology to serve as critic for a comtion \Ictbuds, the f i n d chapter deuli~tg prehesive treatise such as this, and, there with gas chromatography presents an fore, it is with trepidation and humility elegant introduction to a relatively new that this reviewer offers his perspective of technique whichis now reaching the height the work. of its evolution. In addition to treating the main body Section 11, dealing with the chemistry of information, which mav be termed of biological compounds, has presented a "classical," the'treat.ise has'also aimed to unique challenge for a treatise such as include selected topics on the origins and Comprehensive Biochemistry. It can be projections of hiochemistry. With this argued that much of the material covered objective, the work is divided into five has been presented in much more detail sections. Section I, Physico-Chemical elsewhere, often by the same authors. and Organic Aspects of Biochemistry Possibly for this reason, one finds in this (Volumes 1 4 ) presents a collection of sectibn the greatest variation in the ratios chapters which are relevant to the underof the numbers of literature references to standing of chemical structure, reaction the numbers of chapter pages. As an mechanisms, and hiochemicdmethodology. example, in Volume 6, the excellent chapSection 11, Chemistry of Biological Comter an phospholipids, glycolipids, and pounds (Volumes 5-11), treats the organic sphingolipids contains no references to the chemistry of the major constituents of original literature. One other personal
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book reviews prejudice of the reviewer which might he underscored with regard to the entire seetion is the scarcity of spectra, particularly in those chapters dealing with pigments. Aside from such compilations as the DMS UV Atlas (Plenum Press, New York), few comprehensive treatises today present compilation of spectra of biologically important compounds and each investigator mmt for all purposes assemble his own collection of such data. during the course of his investigative career. The chapters in this section which should be of great general use to the advanced students of biochemistry are those by H. Fraenkd-Conrst (Volume 7, Chapter 11, Chemistry of Proteins), R. Trautman (Volume 7, Chapter 111, AcidBase Properties and Electrophoresis of Proteins), H. A. Seherags. (Volume 7, Chapter IV, Reactions of Proteins; Denaturation), K. 0.Pedersen (Chapter VI, Sedimentation, Diffusion, and Partial Specific Volume), D. W. Green (Volume 7, Chapter VII, Spatial Configurstion in Proteins), and J. E. F d k (Volume 9, Chapter I, Chemistry and Biochemistry of Porphprins and Metalloporphyrins). Section 111, Biochemical Reaction Mechanisms, could form the basis of an advanced course in enaymology for any modern chemistry or biology department. Volume 12, especially, could stand on its own as a text for such a course. The opening chapter on history and general concept,^ in this volume, by E. C. Webb, is somewhat terse, hut gives an evcellont perspective of the role of enzymes in living systems. The succeeding chapters deal in the proper order with equilibrium and thermodynamic considerations, oxidationreduction potentials, kinetics, metal eoordination, stereo-specificity, and enzyme structure. Volume 13, devoted exclusively t o enzyme nomenclature may be considered a. companion volume to 12. The remaining three volumes of this section are concerned with t,he details of current eneymology, treating biological oxidation, group transfer reactions, and hydrolytic reactions. However, this is not to imply that the chapters in these volumes would not he of great value to a beginning student or any one inexperienced in these areas. Each chapter is by an established authority in thet particular field and is probably the best of the several reviews that he has already written on thesubject. Section IV, Metabolism, will consist of five volumes, hut a t the time of this review only Volume 20 (Metabolism of Cyclic Compounds) had heen published. Anyone involved in s biochemistry course, either st the arts college level or in a medical school, will admit that "metabolism" is the part of the course with the most detail. Every conscientious teacher strives to minimize the minutia (i.e., formulas) presented to the student and ttttempts instead to provide perspectives of metabolic pathways. However, even with the most conscious effort toward this end, the kcture notebooks are soon filled with formulas, and if all the prtges a t the end of the course were pieced together one would have a beautiful wall paper pattern.
Understandably, this section of the treatise will be the "detail section!' However, i t will be very valuable as a reference for the experts because proper attention will be given also to comparative and abnormal metetabolism. Section V, Chemical Biology, focuses on those tonics which nrovide the most coeent As would be reasonable to expect of a frontier field, the subjects treated in this section represent a. wide spectrum of topics, ranging from bioenergetics to morphogenesis. Volume 22, Bioenergetics, has two excellent chapters on ehargetransfer complexing (by F. J. Bullock). The concluding chapter on active transport by P. Mitebell gives this stimulating author an opportunity for a full treatment of his perspective of %-progress" thinking in this important field of biology. Volume 23, Cytoehemistry, provides a selective treatment of cell structure and deals with the nucleus, the nucleolus, lysosomes, and the plasma membrane. The volume is concluded with s. chapter by M. R. J . Salt,on on structurefunction relations in microorgsnisms. Throe volumes, 26,-A, B, and C, are devoted to extracellular and supporting structures. Part A in this sequence has excellent chapters on plant cell and bacterial cell walls. The ehapler on somatic and cqxttlm antigens of gram-negative bacteria. provides one of the most comprehensive reviews currently available in this area. Part B of Volume 26 treats one of the currently important areas of biochemistry,
nmnely the chemistry of ebllagen, eartilage, and the keratins. Not only is the usual attention given to biosynthesis and metabolism of these substances, but each chapter also has critical treatments of macromolecular structure. Alt,hoogh these chapters are obviously written for the advanced student and expert, they nonetheless will be invaluable to anyone needing an initial perspective of the field. Part B also h m an interesting chapter on silks as extracellular fibrous proteins. Volume 27 is devoted entirely to photobiology and effects of ionizing radiation on biological systems. Three chapters deal with the photobiology of plantsphototropism, photomorphogenesis, and photosynthesis. These sections are beautifully organized, well written, and will be a pleasurable, introduction to this subject for any serious student of biology. The chapter on the biochemistry of visual processes (C. D. B. Bridges) is also an elegant synopsis. The illustrations and formulae format will he of particular help to anyone not in the field. F. H. Johnson's chapter on bioluminescence presents a well-organized summary of requirements and spectrographic properties of luminescence systems in extracts of sixteen organisms. The remaining three chapters in Volume 27 treat the related tonics of nhatasensitization. effects of bldugicnl ~nln
