82 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION

For the speeidista concerned with cubic crystals they represent composition of proteins and the results of protein analysis. He a considerable saving in time and labor. emphasizes the precautions that have to be taken in order to

0 IABORATORY STUDIES IN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY

Joseph A. Bahor, Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York, and Alexander Lehrmon, Aeaociate Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1952. xii + 277 pp. Line diagrams and tables. 27.5 X 20.5 Em. $2.50.

THIS laboratory m u d consists of a compilation of 72 erer- cises in which the students are directed to cheek, in the labors, tory, the qualitative properties of those substancee commonly in- troduced into the course far college chemistry.

There seems little doubt that, as the authors say in their pref- ace, "All of the experiments have been carried out by students, and none is. beyond the capabilities of the average college fresh- man." Unfortunately, there is little to excite the interest of a hetter-than-average student. A first-class student would prob- ably spend a good deal of his laboratory time repeating activities performed quite adequately in high school.

The directions are clear, though labored in places, and the il-

achieve high accuracy, essential when the results are to he a p plied to a consideration of protein structure.

In a very detailed chapter (Chapter 4), B. W. Low approaches the problems of structure and configuration of amino acids, p e p tides, and proteins from the resulta of crystal structure, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray crystallographic studies. The problems of molecular configuration of folded or coiled polypeptide chains in fibrous and globular proteins, the nature of interehain bonding and the resulting intermolecular packing are critically considered, The limitations as well as future possibilities of X-ray methods in evaluating protein model structure are discussed. Also, in con- siderable detail, P. Doty and E. P. Geiduschek report in Chapter 5 on optical properties of proteins such as birefringence, refraction, optical rotation, ultraviolet, infrared and polarized infrared spec- tra, and photochemicd reactions.

In Chapter 6, R. A. Alherty writes on the electrochemical prop erties of proteins: their ionization and acid-base binding capacity and titration. The methods and theory of moving-boundary electrophoresis are considered in detail as well as the electropho- resis-convection method. The annlication of these methods to . the analysis of protein mixtures, their use as a criterion of purit:, and as a means of preparing pure proteins are discussed.

Extensive literature references, some as late as 1952, are given as footnotes by all the authors. The indexes will appear in the second part of Volume I

hstrations, though well done, are tiny. F. A. CAJORI An unusual feature of this book consists of complete page ref- U N I V E R B ~ Y 01 COLOBADO 8 ~ x 0 0 ~ OF ~IEDICINE

erences, for each of the experiments, to 21 textbooks of college D ~ n v e n . COLORADO

chemistry.

BENTLEY EDWARDS 0 THE HARVEY LECTURES

Delivered under the auspices of The Harvey Society of New York. 1951-52. Series 47. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1953. viii + 271 pp. Illustrated. 14 X 21 cm. $7.50.

THE PROTEINS: CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGICAL ACTIV- TEE following titles and rtuthors are included: "The nuclec- ITY AND METHODS. VOLUME I. PART A tides: Some recent chemical research and ita biolopieal imnlica-

Edited by Hans Neurath, Department of Bioehemiatry, Univer- sity of Washington, and Kenneth Bailey, Department of Bio- chemistry, University of Cambridge. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1953. xi + 548 pp. 108 figs. 16 X 23.5 om. $12.

DURING the last few years a number of hooks have appeared in which various phases of protein chemistry have been the subjeot of review. This is ss i t should he, for the progress toward an un- deratanding of the complete structure of proteins has been very rapid during the last decade. The application of new physical and chemical techniques and the results from such diverse a p proaches to the problems of protein structure necessitate fre- quent and critical discussion.

The present book is tho first part of s. two-volume treatise (each volume to consist of two p d r t ~ ) in whieh the editors hope "to present s comprehensive, integrated account oi the chemical, physioal, and biological properties of the proteins." Part A mnsists of six chapters in whieh general properties of proteins are discussed.

In Chapter 1, J. F. Taylor surveys the various methods, chem- ical and physical, that have been employed far the isolation of proteins. The precautions necessary to avoid denaturation, the evaluation of homogeneity, and the preservation and stabiliea- tion of proteins are considered in detail. Under the heading "The general chemistry of amino acids and peptides," P. Desnuelle (Chapter 2) presents qualitative and quantitative reactions of amino acids and methods of separation of peptides. The results of studies on peptide structure before and after partial hydrolysis and peptide synthesis are included. The author has given few details of these many methods but has over 500 literature cita-

tions," by A. R. Todd: "Hydrostatic pressure s f ~ e k n g the flow of urine m d bloodin the kidney," by F. R. Winton; "An aseend- ing reetieular activating system in the brain stem," by H. U'. Magoun; "Studies an the cellular immunology of acute bacterial infections," by W. Barry Wood, Jr.; "Metabolic blacks in car- bohydrate metabolism in diabetes," by I. L. Chaikoff; "Mar- phogenesis and the metamorphosis of insects," by Carroll M. Williams; "The development of the cerebral cortex: A cytc- logical, functional, and biochemical approach," by Louis B. Flexner: "Coaeulation of the blood." bv Walter H. Seeeers: "Some biochemiial studies based on chronktographie meth&s." by L. Zechmeister.

SELECTED VALUES OF PHYSICAL AND THERMO- DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBONS AND ~ A T E D COMPOUNDS: COMPRIS~G THE TABLES OF THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE RE- SEARCH PROJECT 44 EXTANT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1952

Frederick D. Roasini, Professor of Chemistry, Carnagie Insti. tute of Technology, Kenneth S. Pitzer, Professor and Dean of the College of Chemistry, University of California, Raymond L. Arnett and Rita M. Braun, Carnegie Institute of Technology. and Georoe C. Pimentel. Assistant Professor of Chemistrv. > , . University of California. Carnegie Press, Rttsburgh, Penn- sylvania, 1953. ix + I050 pp. 21 X 27.5 em. $7.

A CRITICAL review of a bwk like this is impoasible, but even s tiana. casual ininspeetion will lead one to agree with the Advisory Com-

G. R. Tristrsm, in Chapter 3, critically evalustes the methods mittee of the A. P. I. that "thisvolume serves as today'sstandsrd that hrwe been employed in the determination of the amino acid of physical and thermodynamic data, on hydrooarbons."