Advances in protein chemistry. Volume 14 (Anfinsen, CB, Jr.; Anson

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ions are included. One chapter each on the maving-boundary method and electrophorefiis in a. support,ing medium are the largest and most important. The commercial apparatus available for both types of electrophoresis (European models) and the optical systems used to detect the boundaries in solution electrophoresis are covered in some detail. Particular attention is given to the effect of in paper electrophoresis and b u f f ~ flow r how its influence ran he minimized or correct,ed. Another chapter covers the practical use of paper electrophoresis, including such topic8 as detection methods, quanbitative measurements, and mobility equilibria. A brief discussion of prepar* tivr elretrophorosis in gels, columns, and on a hanging curtain of paper and a chapter on applicat,ionsend the hook. The trestment given is fairly complete, especially far such a small book, and offers many practical snggestiona which should bc useful to s, heginner in the field. I t does not give a long series of specific uses, but does includr enough examples to illustrate the points discussed. In e o n t r a ~ tto this, Lcwis has w i t t e n a more limited book, with only 30 pages of general discussion preceding the phyiological applications. Nearly half of the book is devoted to step-by-step instructions for electrophoresi~of different types, a list of equipment manufacturers, and the bibliography. A short chapter on immuno-electrophoresis illustrates the possibilities of this method and the complexity of proteins, even n-hen apparently homogeneous according to other methods. For a. general introduction t o electrophoresis, in both theory and practice, Audubert and de ivfende is very good. Lewis' book will be much less useful to chemist,s.

DONALD A. TARR The College of Wooster Woostm. Ohio Advances in Protein Chemistry. Volume 14

Edited by C. B. Anfinsen, Jr., National H e a t Institute, b t h e s d a , Meryland, M. L. Anson, London, England, Kenneth Bailey, University of Cambridge, England, and John T. Edsall, Harvitrd University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Academic Press, Inc., 1959. xxiii 520 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $14.

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The current volume of this series differs from the previous ones in that it contains a concise biography of Kaj U. Linderst@-Lang, who died in Copenhagen in 1959. Written by Dr. John T. Edsttll, the obituary is not only a tribute to one of the outstanding pioneers in biochemistry, but also an excellent historical survey of much of the fundamental theories and substantiating experim~ntal work pertaining to the physieo-chemical properties and molecular structures of proteins. The remainder of the book is similar to previous volumes, consisting of thorough reviews, with extensive bihliographies, of the accomplishments of the

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last 20 years in several aspects of protein chemistry. Recently developed techniques, theories, and interpretations are given, and enough experimental data are included to permit evaluation of the validity of the conclusions. The first review, by W. Kauzmsnn, is a critical and thorough summary of the various fact,ors involved in the interpretation of the processes of protein denaturation. Various applications of the technique d zone electrophoresis in starch gels to the separation and identification of the proteins in blood serum are presented in the second article by 0.Smithies. The third review, by Msrbhn Vrsughm and Daniel Steinberg, is entitled "The Specificity of Protein Biosynthesis." The section on genetic determination of amino acid sequences is especially thorough including a table of proteins and polypeptides in which certain amino acid s e quenccs me known to ha genetically determined and a critical discussion of the one-gene+ne-enzyme hypothesis. Much of the work involving the synthesis, by microorganism^, of enzymes containing analogues is described. Thp authors eonelude that "dl t,he evidence obtained to date points to the specificity of protein biosynthesis." In the fourth article, by H. FraenkelConrat and L. K. Ramachnndran, many of the concept8 and techniques discussed in the third revicn are applied to the elucidation of the structure of tobacco mosaic virus. A noteworthy feature of the review is a thorough discussion of the iunctional relationships hetween the protein and nncl& acid oomponents, especially with respect to significant diiferences between the properties of the intact virus and the virsl RNA. The brevity of tho fifth review, by R. A. Kekwick, indicates the paucity of knowledge pertaining to the serum prc+ teinfi of the fetus and young of mammals. Most of the data summarize the available information with respect to the percentages of total protein and of albumin, the several globulinr and fibrinogen in the blood of fetuses and young of several species, chieflj- homsn8, bovines, sheep, rabbits, and rats. The sixth review, by R. Cecil and J. R. McPhee, should be of interest st oornanic chemists as well as to biochemists, since most of it is concerned with the comparative reections of and analytical methods for dctrrmining thiols, disulfides, and thioethers. I n the last third of tho article the knowledge obtained hy applying these m d h o d ~to 13 difierent proteins is presented. The last article in the volume, by Michael Sela and Eohraim Katchitlski. summarizes the biol&ical properties of poly-alpha-amino acids. The emphasis in this review is on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of various polymers of alpha-amino acids, rather than on met.hods for preparing them. The usefulness of these polymers in studying the actions of known proteol.ytic enzymes as well its in discovering new ones is well documented. ~ o ~ n PRITHAM o ~ Pennsylvania Slate Univemity University P a d

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