BOOKREVIEWS
on I V but none on I and 11. _Ifter hydrolysis, total ninhydrin values corresponded to those obtained for the DNP derivatives. Acknowledgments.-I would like to thank Dr. AI. Kornberg for the purified nucleotide pyrophosphatase, Dr. L. Heppel for the phosphomonoester-
Vol. 77
ase, and Dr. K. Redfield for assistance in chroiriatographic techniques. LABORATORY OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOCV BARBARA I< \I.RIC,H I
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Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Volume 9. By The Chemistry of Lipids of Biochemical Significance. BY MELVILLE L. WOLFROM,Editor, R . STUART TIPSON, J. A . LOVERX. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 440 Fourth Assistant Editor, and E . L . HIRST, Associate Editor for Avenue, S e w York 16, S. Y . 1935. xiii 132 pp. the British Isles. Academic Press, Inc., Publishers, 123 11 X 17 em. Price, $1.73. East 23rd Street, S e w York 10, N. Y. 1954. xviii 426 ‘This relatively short monograph is intended to give a i l pp. 16 X 23 cm. Price, $10.50. over-all general picture of lipid chemistry and therefore I t is most appropriate t h a t this, the latest volume of a does not fully cover either subject matter or bibliography. distinguished series, should begin with a biographical sketch In general only major points are presented with a minimum of the late C. S. Hudson, written by the present editor, amount of experimental detail. The monograph brings to hI. L . Wolfrom. S o t only did Professor Hudson play a focus many important aspects of the lipids in a manner major part in the development of carbohydrate chemistry that the reader is not bothered with less important minutia. in this country but he was also closely associated in various Although the text covers lipid structure, preparation and capacities with this series of reviews from its inception until analysis, a considerable portion is devoted to the distribuhis death in 1952. tion, dynamic state and biochemical functions of the lipids. The present volume, like its predecessors, reminds the Emphasis is placed on the phosphatides. The carotenoids writer of the medieval Speculum Alchemiae, for it is a kind and fat-soluble vitamins are not included in the monograph. of mirror, a mirror of the state of carbohydrate chemistry, I t is the opinion of the reviewer that the title of the hook and affords even the most casual reader a n opportunity to might have been more appropiatel>- chosen since a l x g c see what areas of this fertile field are being tilled most part of the monograph deals with topics other than lipid intensively. I n this light two aspects of the latest volume chemistrj-. seem particularly worthy of note. First, several of the The author gives constructive comments on lipid nomciicontributions illustrate the gratifying extent t o which modern clature and classification and indicates the need for mor? theories of the mechanism of organic reactions have been uniform and discrete terminology. The interrelationships applied in the carbohydrate field and, second, the volume, of the various lipid classes are stressed and a n attempt i i taken as a whole, caters to a surprisingly broad spectrum of made to integrate the entire lipid subject. interests. The organic chemist concerned with reaction The reader will find the personal comments of the author mechanisms will find a chapter by R . U. Lemieux (“Some interesting, helpful and provocative. An excellent evaluaImplications in Carbohydrate Chemistry of Theories R r - tion of the various methods of lipid preparation arid analysi\ lating t o the Mechanisms of Replacement Reactions” 1 , is presented including a n informative discussion on lipid one by Clinton E . Ballou (“Alkali Sensitive Glycosides”) extraction and purification. In addition, therc is a stimuarid a third by Mary Grace Blair (“The 2-Hydroxyglpcnls”~. latiug discourse on the limitation5 of radioactive isotoi)cs The worker in natural products will turn especially to techniques for the study of lipid metabolism. Topics sclch Ballou’s chapter as well as to one by Dexter French entitled as lipid complexes with proteins and carbohgdrates, and lipicl “The Raffinose Family of Oligosaccharides.” If he i i digestion, absorption and biosynthesis are briefly covered. among the increasing number who deal with the uronic The subject matter of the book is well presented ai1d should have particular appeal to those interegted iri 01)acids, G. 0.Aspinall’s chapter on “The Methyl Ethers of Hexuronic Acids” will prove a useful compilation of imtainirig the essential highlights of the biochemistry of the portant data which have heretofore been widely dispersed major lipids. hIoreover, the fine integration of the m i t e in the literature. H e will also find a contribution by rial should make the monograph especially useful to thc l x Robert S. Teague entitled “The Conjugates of D-Glucuronic ginner in the lipid field. Acid of Animal Origin” which mill, of course, appeal as DEPARTMEXT OF BIOCHEMISTRY well to the biochemist and physiologist. One interest (>, 1..> I A K I \ li I I I THEUNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER of the sugar technologist is represented by “Color and MEDICAL CESTER Turbidity of Sugar Products” written by R . \\:. Liggett ROCHESTER 2 0 , S E ~YORR V and Victor R . Deitz. The chemist interested in the indus-~ trial utilization of carbohydrates will find a contribution by T. V. Karabinos and Marjorie Hindert on “Carboxymethylcellulose” while laboratory workers in several fields will note The Vitamins. Chemistry, Physiology, Pathology. 1.01much of practical value in a review on the “Paper Chromaunie 111. Edited by \V, H. SEBRELL,J R . , Director, tography of Carbohydrates arid Related Compounds” bjSational Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, a i d George X . Kowkabany. The present volume is, incidenROBERTS.HARRIS,Professor of Biochemistry of S u t r i tally, the first of the series in which a n attempt has been tion, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, made t o use the new carbohydrate nomenclature [ Chem. Massachusetts. Academic Press, Inc., Publishers, 12.5 East 23rd Street, S e w York 10, S . Y . 1954. xi 663 Eng. -Vews, 31, 1776 (1953)]throughout. Taken as a whole, this volume, together with the precedpp. 16.5 X 23.5 cm. Price, $15.00. ing ones, forms a set which is of great utility to chemi5t. ’I‘liia i-, tlir third a11d last volulilr UT a w r k . I t i-, of griirrdly arld invalualjlt- t u tho>? >pc4aliyiiig i l l I I l r (~arli,i I Y ~ I I I X , ditficult L O rrvirw a ~ l e q i i ~ ~ toitr.tliird cl~. \jitliout Ii>,clr:ttvfirlii. rcfereucr t o t l i r otlirr t i 1 1 1 t l r i r i l ~ . l o 1 1 1 c . \ \ l i o I t ~ \c.r-iv, t.lii, S A I . I O ? ’ A I . ~ Y S l ’ I I ~ J l RORF I I F . I I . I ~ I T vit:iiiiiri\ urr lir-?,,erl1v(l i i i a l p I ~ ~ l ) r ~order i c ~ ~ i~i il t i l ? hioI , I ~ I . F ~ l c ‘ l i F KI ,R k.lleiiiiit, c.iieinist znd cliriiciLn, to \ \ 1 l i 1 1 n the wrirs i., dirrctr(1,
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