JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
HEAVY METAL PROSTHETIC GROUPS AND EN- in the Proceedings of the Moscmu Academy of Scimces. The author shows that neither the cell structure nor the chloroolast ZYME ACTION structure is necessary for the photochemical formation of oxygen Otto Worburg. Translated by Alexander Lawson. First and that this photo reaction is a surface reaction. The last edition. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, New York. 1949. di chapter describes hitherto unpublished experiments on the 230 pp. 49 figs. 14 X 23 cm. $3.75. quantum requirement of carbon dioxide assimilation. They THE distinguished author presents in this volume essentially were inspired by Emerson's criticism of Warburg's emlier studies. a summary of his and his collaborators' work achieved over a The author arrives by new methods at the identical quantum period of more than twenty-five years. The first chapter deals number, 4, which he had determined in his previous work. The book will unquestionably he very useful to all workera with oxidations in model systems, such as the oxidation of alcohol to acetic acid by means of finely divided platinum. It is followed interested in hiocatalysis by bringing the author's views, crystalby four chapters giving an analysis of the action of narcotics and lized during a lifetime of intensive work, into sharp focus. I t is cyanide on biological systems, and iron catalysis at surfaces written by a forceful personality who does not avoid controverand in solutions. In the subsequent 11 chapters, which repre- sies and who on occasion criticizes divergent views rather sharply, sent the main body of the hook, the author develops his views on an aspect of the book that may arouse some antagonism. The the role of iron in the oxygen transport of the living cell. He on& book contains a table of contents, hut neither an author nor sublines first bis basic conceot that molecular oxveen does not react ject index; the literature is quoted in connection with the text. directly with biological kbstrates "hut alwiis and exclusively THEODOR YON BRAND with divalent iron combined in a complex." He then proceeds NATIONAG I N ~ T I T D T EOF ~ HBALTB Bemmo*, MARYLAND to the differentiation of the oxygen-transporting eneyme from the cytochromes and to its identification as a "haem" compound. This is done primarily by a full physicochemical treatment of the CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS photochemical reactions of carbon-monoxide-iron compounds and by the elucidation of the absorption spectrum of the enzyme. H.Stephen and S. S. Iraelstam, Professor and Senior Lecturer Warburg reaches the interesting conclusion that the oxygen- of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, respectively, University transporting enqme must be phylogenetically older than either of Witwatersrand. Johannesburo. South Afiica. Edward Arndd -----hemoglobin or chlorophyll and that the letter compounds may and Co., ond do*, 1949. second edition. viii 117 pp. 6 have arisen from the former. A tentative constitution formula tables. 14 X 22.5 cm. 51.50. of the oxygen-transporting ensyme explains these relationships. The next three cht~ptersdeal more briefly with the copperT m s book, quite thorough in many respects, consists of ten containing eneymes, primarily phenol oxidase, and with the hy- chapters headed ( 1 ) Calculations Based on the Fundamental drogen-evolving enzymes, and stress the importance of heavy Lam of Chemistry (23); (2) Equivalent Weights of Elements metals for yeast fermentation. Chapter 20 is entitled Photo- (17); (3) Determination of Atomic Weights (9); (4) Deterchemical Reduction of Quinane in Green Cells and Granules. I t mination of Molecular Weiehts of Substances in the Vanour State is an account of work &me during the war and published only (6); (5) Solutions (3); (67 Molecular Weight of ~udstancesin 0
.
+
+
~~
