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NEW BOOKS
Crystal Form,” by M. A. Peacock; XIII. “Crystallochemical Analysis,” by J. D. H. Donnay; XIV. “X-Ray Diffraction,” by I. Fankuchen; XV. “Electron Diffraction,” by L. 0.Brockway; XVI. “Refractometry,” by N. Bauer and K. Fajans. RICHARD T.ARNOLD.
Photosynthesis and Related Processes. Volume I : Chemistry of Photosynthesis, Chemosynthesis and Related Processes i n Vitro and i n Vivo. By EUGENE I. RABINOWITCH.16 x 23.5 cm; xv 4-599 pp.; 63 fig. New York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1945. Price: $8.50. This, the first monograph on photosynthesis since 1926, should be enthusiastically welcomed by all students of the subject. I n addition to a brief but well-written historical introduction, the book contains a n extensive bibliography of the more recent papers and a clear and critical presentation of all of the more important contributions. The author has made a definite effort to integrate information arising from widely different sources, and to correlate the more important current theories of photosynthesis with this information. While the present volume is devoted largely to the chemical and physicochemical aspects of the field, a second volume dealing with the spectroscopy and fluorescence of the pigments and with the kinetics of photosynthesis is promised. Although the author’s approach is predominantly that of a physicist or physical chemist, much information of a purely bio. logical nature is included in the book. I n a field as complex and diversified as photosynthesis, i t would be surprising if all those interested in the subject would be equally satisfied with any monograph, no matter how comprehensive i t was. In the present instance, some botanists may object t o the omission of a discussion of the relation of photosynthesis t o plant ecology as well as to the lack of emphasis on higher plants in genkral and on those of economic importance in particular. The book is clearly and attractively printed, and the editorial work appears to have been carefully performed. However, the reviemer noticed the following minor errors : On page 115, the sign has been omitted from the symbol for hydrogen ion. On page 159, a page reference was left incomplete. On page 232, the designation of the 0-and p-quinoid forms has been reversed. On page 412, i t is stated “that carotene is a carbohydrate.” ROBERTLIVINGSTON.
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Advances i n Enzymology. Volume V . F. F. NORDAND C. H . WERKMAN, Editors. vii 268 pp. New York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1045. Price: $5.50. This fifth annual volume maintains the high standard established by earlier volumes. A note from the publishers indicates that wartime conditions have delayed certain manuscripts originally scheduled for this issue. With the exception of hemoglobin, no protein system has been as thoroughly investigated as have the virus proteins. A most satisfying summary of the findings in the tomato bushy virus and several strains of the tobacco mosaic virus is presented by N. W. Pirie. The two viruses differ markedly in their properties; consequently the article presents a picture of the difficulties and the advantages of studying these as types of protein systems. A great deal of confusion exists in the voluminous literature dealing with the mechanism of blood coagulation. The second chapter, by Erwin Chargoff, offers a critical evaluation of the more significant experimental results, which include the properties of the various components involved in the clotting of blood and the factors which inhibit this phenomenon. The third and the eighth chapters deal with enzymatic phenomena which are of recent interest. “The Amino Acid Decarboxylases of Mammalian Tissues” is treated by H. Blaschko and “Some Enzyme Reactions on Sulfur Compounds” by C. V . Smythe. The theories of zymase action on the monoses have opened the field to the possibilities of a generalized scheme to include the polysaccharides and, more particularly, the disaccharides. J . Leibowitz and S. Hestrin have considered the inadequacy of the hydrolase-
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