Books
Advances in a controversial area of biophysics Albert Szent-Gyorgyi's little book, "The Living State and Cancer," outlines one line of research in an interlocking set of rapidly advancing frontier areas of modern biophysical science. Szent-Gyorgyi describes his research and working hypotheses suggesting that charge-transfer complexes of methyl glyoxal with cell proteins may facilitate electron conductivity within protein molecules, and that these complexes may be involved in normal cell growth and in abnormal growth as in cancer. Szent-Gyorgyi's latest book may be considered an updating of his "Electronic Biology and Cancer," published in 1976. It briefly describes chemical studies of methyl glyoxal with a variety of biochemically important compounds and systems, mostly involving charge-transfer complexes and free radicals. It includes numerous imaginative suggestions of how the observed reactions may be related to growth of normal cells and of cancer. It also offers elementary expositions, aimed at the nonscientist, on some of the biochemical and physical chemical principles covered—with special emphasis on semiconduction, charge-transfer complexes, and structured cell water. The book represents the tip of a large mass of highly interdisciplinary, rapidly moving, and very controversial research—in what might be called supramolecular biology—dealing with processes which require aggregates of molecules, resulting in new classes of phenomena not possible in individual molecules. A journal, Physiological Chemistry and Physics, specializes in such research. Szent-Gyorgyi is particularly visible in this field, because it was he who originally suggested or advocated some of its important concepts—such as semiconduction in proteins (in a paper in Science as early as 1941), charge-transfer complexes, and structured cell water—and because his personality happens to be unusually strong, individualistic, and colorful. During his long lifetime (he won the Nobel Prize 42 years ago, in 1937), he has been in violent conflict with the Nazis, the Communists, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the Internal Revenue Service, and, most recently, the
and organic semiconductors. Work continues on lines of investigation summarized in a book, "Organic Semiconductors," written by Guttip of fast-moving work mann and Lawrence Lyons of University of Queensland, Australia, who on semiconduction both spoke at the meeting. I summarized the case for semiand charge-transfer conduction as the rate-limiting process in cytochrome oxidase enzyme complexes in proteins activity of mitochondria in a paper I gave at the conference, updating my "The Living State and Cancer" by Al- previous reviews in Advances in Bibert Szent-Gyorgyi, Marcel Dekker, New ological and Medical Physics (1970) and the Journal of Biological Physics York, 1978, 86 pages, $7.50 (1975). Cytochrome oxidase protein Reviewed by Freeman W. Cope, a re- appears to be unusual among prosearcher at the Biochemistry Lab of the teins: It has special construction feaNaval Air Development Center in War- tures that provide a semiconduction minster, Pa., who has published more activation energy that is only about than 70 papers on solid-state physics in one third the value for other proteins. This provides high electron conducbiochemical and biological systems tivity, permitting this property to play an enzymic role that is not possible in other proteins. In his book, Szent-Gyorgyi argues National Cancer Institute. Despite this, he has survived, and continues that high electron conductivity may active research at the age of 86. be attained in other proteins by The history of science has shown electron donation from methyl repeatedly that most important new glyoxal in charge-transfer complexes. ideas are greeted by hostility, so that Judging by the tone of the bioelecthe only creative scientists who can trochemistry conference, I have the survive are those who have extremely impression these concepts are widely strong personalities. History also acceptable to scientists trained as shows that creativity generally is ac- electrochemists, but widely ignored companied by an individualistic by biochemists and biologists. personality. Szent-Gyorgyi is a conThus, the barrier to more extensive spicuous example of the common study of these concepts seems at the pattern of a creative scientist able to moment to be not any particular survive in a noncreative world. hostility to the ideas, but rather the Two of the subjects Szent-Gyorgyi activation energy necessary to jump discusses in relation to cancer in his over interdisciplinary boundaries. book—biological semiconduction and Electrochemists understand the charge-transfer complexes—were concepts, but lack the experience to major topics of discussion at an Aus- perform biochemical or biological tralian-American Conference on experiments. Biochemists and bioloBioelectrochemistry in August at gists can do the experiments; but they Pasadena, Calif. The conference was are heavily trained in solution physorganized by Hendrik Keyzer and ical chemistry, and mostly untrained Felix Gutmann of California State in solid-state physics and electrode University at Los Angeles. phenomena. Szent-Gyorgyi's contributions were Neither group has, in general, been extensively mentioned at this con- sufficiently activated to jump the ference, especially since some of his barrier. Active progress, therefore, current and former collaborators at- has been confined mostly to a relatended. However, biological semi- tively few laboratories and reported conduction and charge-transfer in relatively few books, conferences, complexes were discussed in much journals, and reviews. Meanwhile, broader perspective. There was heavy most of the scientific world stands emphasis on the physics and chem- aside or takes mildly hostile attitudes, istry of charge-transfer complexes as met by any new field. •
Szent-Gyorgyi book is
Nov. 5, 1979C&EN
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