BOOK REVIEWS logical and physiologicnl approaches, with relatively little discussion of the chemistry involved, except for several papers relating to brain lipids. This emphasis may indicate a relatively lower level of usefulness lor the chemist, unless he is pilrtirularly interested in the interaction of radiation on livitrg syst,ems. If he is involved in t,he radiobiology area, access to this report is imperative, since muoh of the current work in radiobiology is being done a t the molecular and cellulm level. There was general agreement, on the part of the eonferees that the field was complex, but this book represents a serious effort to hegin meet,inp t,he challenge of learning the effects of radiation on the behaving or~snism. I t is probable that the book will find its usefulness more a t t,hegraduate level than a t the undergraduate, at least in the field of chemistry.
RALPHT. OVERMAN Ralph T. Ove~manConsulting Services Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Structure and Function in Biological Membranes. Volume 1
J. Lee Kavanau, University of California, Las Angeles. Holden-Day, Inc., San Franci~co,1965. xiv 321 pp. Figs. and tables. 18 X 25.5 cm. $10.95.
+
This book is a monograplr, in t,wo volnmes, purporting to deal with the properties of biologics1 membranes. I t will doubtless be useful to research workers and specialists, but it is distinct,ly not a text book and, despite the flyleaf assertion that "it will he useful as a. t,ext in courses in colloid and surface chemistry" the reviewer has some doubt about this assertion. I t is very likely an injastice to the author to yeview only Volume I of his work, for this contains relatively little that deals with actual biolagir~l membranes: it is essentially a review of (1) micellar solutions, (2) monomolecular films, (3) surface (and, to a limited extent, bulk) properties of probeins, (4) the properties of ice and wat,er. Dr. Krwanau has clearly combed the literatnre very thoroughly in these areas, and this is evident in the multiplicity of references cited in the body of the text and the many excellent ilhlstrations-eqperiauy those of molecular models. As review material it does extend the coverage of a nnmber of now slightly outdated works dealing with the topics listed above, and the reader has no doubt that in Volume 2 the author will utilize some of the material collected here. Unfortunately, the writing is terse, frequently summarising investigators' findings even more briefly than chemical abstracts, so that the undergradnat,e student would be forced to read Lhe original literature very heavily in order to form much of a view of t,he material presented. The author cites much thermodynamic information about the systems under discussion, and he refers to the more recent Volume 42, Number 9, September 1965
/
A691
BOOK REVIEWS uses of NMR techniques in colloid systems, all of which will be of value, particularly t o biologists. He also includes the recent, rather limited work on "bilayers" formed between two aqueous phase-films of obvious bheoretical i m ~ o r t a n c e t o the biologist. The author has a, definite thesis, which he states a t the beginning of chapter 3 and t o which he direct,s the reader's attention in many of the pages that follow. Dr. Xavanan is a t pains t o provide a mechanism for the change from an openand readily penetrated-to a closed membctne, s change in terms of which he proposes to explain protoplasmic streaming, active transport, impulse conduction, growth, contraction, etc. The meehaniam chosen involves a sandwich structure far the membrane. The outer layers of this sandwich arc protein networks and t,he "filling" of the sandwich eompriser; phospholipids and lipids. I n t,he "nnsqueesed," open state of the membrane, the lipid-phospholipid phase is in the form of cylindrical micelles, arranged with their long axes normal to the protein covering and with much open space hetween them. When the sandwich is "squeezed," the cylindrical micelles are changed into stubby himolecular lamellae whidl are closely spaced and leave little room for the movement of cell components in the interstitial voids. The mechanism is argued plausibly and consistently, but thereviewer wondem whether other models will be presented in \rolume 2 to offeet this rather one-sided picture of membranes. There is no doubt that practicing colloid and surface chemiats will find much here to suggest important topics still waiting t,, be investigated, and the ailthor deserves our thanks for bringing together subject mattel. which is widely scattered in the liternturo. The production is good, the format attractive, and attention to proofreading has obviously been rxreful. A n extensive hihliography and good indexes round oB n good proclnction.
ERICHUTCHIXSOS Stanford Uniuersit!i Stanford, Colilornin
Electronic Processes in Ionic Crystalr
F. Mott ed. Dover York, 1964. tables. 14 52. A'.
and R. Ti'. Gurney. 2nd Publications, Ine., New rii 276 pp. Figs. and X 21 rm. Paperhound
+
Origiually reviewed in
THIS
JOURNAL,
18, 246) (1041) in its first. edition, this
I h v e r paperback is an unabridged, unaltered replication of the second edition of t,his work whirh appeared in 1948. As stated by the authors in the preface t,o the second edition, ". . .recent advances i l l the subject lmve changed the t,heony very little.'' Therefore, few changes were incorporated in the second edition and the material remains useful in many fields.
.I. \-. I). A692
/
lournol o f Chemical Education
