BOOK REVIEWS The Nucleic Acids.
Volume 3
Edited by Enuii C k ~ g a f fColumbia , University, New York, New York and J. N. Da-dmn, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. Academic Press, 588 pp. Inc., New York, 1960. xvi Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $18.
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A two volume, multi-authored treatise on nucleic acids, edited by E m i n Chargaff and J. N. Davidson, was published six years ago. In line with a prediction by this reviewer these two volumes are now considered as an authoritative work essential to both those who have become participants in some one of the many areas of research involving the nucleic acids as well as those who require background material in order to keep abreast of recent advances. The first two volumes have now been joined by a third. In the third volume the editors have chosen to provide "a selection of chapters cutting across . . . the systemic arrang* ment observed in the preceding volumes," rather than follow the procedure of revision of earlier chapters. Contributions to the present volume were limited to those who had not collaborated in the preparation of chapters for the preceding volumes. The volume has been oomposed by its contributors under the following chapter headings: "Deoxyribonucleio Acids as Macromolecules," by C. L. Sadron; "Photochemistry of Nucleic Acids and Their Constituents," by D. Shugar; "Chemical and Enzymic Synthesis of Polynucleatides," by H. Gobind Khorana; "Chemistry of the Nucleic Acids of Micrw organisms," by A. N. Belozersky and A. S. Spirin; "The Nucleic Acids of the Bacterial Viruses," by Robert L. Sinsheimer; "The Ribonucleic Acids of Viruses," by Heinz Schuster; "Biosynthesis of Purine Nucleotides," by John M. Buchanan; "Biosynthesis of Pyrimidine Nucleotides," by George W. Crosbie; "The Relationionship of Nucleic Acid and Proteinsynthesis as Revealed by Studies in Cell-free Systems," by Mahlon B. Hoagland; "Biosynthesis of Proteins in Intact Bacterial Cells," by F. Gros; "Agents Which Influence Nucleic Acid Metabolism" by R. E. Haudschumacher and A. D. Welch; and "The Effect of Ftadiations on Nucleic Acid Metabolism," by L. G. Lajtha. Each of the chapters is characterized by thorough preparation by individuals with intimate acquaintance with and d i e tiict feelings for the subject matter, yet after reading, one is faced with the uncomfortable realisation that a too high percentage of the material has appeared elsewhere, st least once and in same instances several times, in review or symposium format and that the appearance has been too recent to warrant another printing. Owing to the choice of format for publication certain achievements of lastine nature that have been recorded in t h i original literature concerning research on nucleic acids for the past six yeem have been overlooked or mentioned merely in (Calinued a p a p A848)
A846
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Journal of Chemical Fdumfion
types, including partial and romplete miscibility in both the liquid and solid states, nnd the formation of both congruently n n d inrongrumt,ly melting compounds. An passing. In thc opinion of this revicwtv introdurtion on theory is followed by the purpose of an authoritative tcxthoak seven chapters illustrating various typps is the evaluation of those achievements of phase lhclmvior and threr rh;~ptrrson which experience seems t,o indicate to be sperifir alloy ~ystems. worthy of spccial consideration ior the Thp dilficulty encoontcrrd hy students less experienced. If thia position is ncof phase equilihria in onderstnntling tprcepted, volume 3 should have hoe" cornnary syatcms rcsults from the rxtrs diposed t o provido s better relationship brnimsion rcquircd lly the ndrlitional romtween the amount of revision of alder mnposition vnrinblr, Imt the author, an auterial which should have been nntlrrtakm thority in his firlrl, does a conunrndahlc and the shift t o newcr perspectivrs. jal, ofrlenring away thr mysteri~softhe tria n g u l x prism with rarrt'ully dmwn perspwtivr diagrams, aertians, and projertions. Thc exposition is rlenr and the 1:angusgr simple. Frequent pngr turning is svaided Ily t h r repetition of dingmnm. The dewription of actual systnns is, Ternary Systems underst,andal~ly, postponed until the G. Masing. Translated by l3 A. simpler, more id~alizrdtypes art: d ~ s r r i b ~ d , Rogers. Dovcr Pul,liextions, h e . , Npw sinre most a r t u d systems, especially with York, 1960. Originally published by mctals, combine many rornplnitiw at Reinhold Carp., 1!)14. v IT3 pp. oara. By intrlligrnt pernphmsing (e.g. Figs. and tables. 14 X 21 em. P R ~ P I . - replacing the wards 'solid' l)y 'liq~~id', honnd. 81.45. 'liquid' I,y 'v:tpor3, 'mclting' I,$ .hniling3, 'crystnllisstinn' by 'rondonsstion', ptr.) This is a reprodnrtion of t,hr English Chaptrrs I , 2, :3, 5, 6, and 8 ma>- all hetrsnslation whieh ; L ~ ~ P I L IinP ~1944, "11rr..zd with profit by t h o s ~who i h h to altered excopt for its cover and price. lrarn of t,he 11ha.s~'r&~tionsof liquid-v:qior TVhilr written wit,h t,ha met,nllurgiat in cquilihria. herausc of the rrtensivc but mind, the principle8 which i t epoonds are often overlooked r~nalagicshetween meltthose of ternar,v qysbems in general, ing and vaporization, and the ronseqwnt whether metallic or not. The author ssidcntity of diagram types. sumes that t,he reader already hss n good .4s stated by an earlier reviewer (sep working krlowledge of phase equilibria in THIS J 22, 204 (1945)) Inore binary .systems. Phase h~havior is desrrihrd for solid-liquid equilihrin af many
BOOK REVIEWS
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A848 / Journal o f Chemicol Edvcotion
