536

Problems of Biological Physics. L.A. Blumenfeld. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg,

New York, 1981, ix + 224 pp., DM60, $35.40.

This book makes an attempt to present biological systems as “mechanical-statisti-

cal machines”. Starting with the curious definition of biophysics as “the biology for
scientists with an educational background in physics”, the author concentrates on
some arbitrarily selected topics, such as the ordering of biological structures and
statistical physics, as well as conformational and configurational changes of biopoly-
mers and physics of enzyme catalysis. The two most elaborate chapters on electron
transfer in biological systems and on intracellular energy transformation and accu-
mulation deserve the main interest of bioelectrochemists.
The author admits that the “choice of particular examples is determined exclu-
sively by the author’s knowledge and personal interests”. This may not be a serious
drawback, but it becomes a doubtful guideline if it is based on a very subjective
selection of references. Many chapters read like a review of Soviet publications
(more than 40% of the cited literature are Russian books and papers).
Disregarding this weakness, this book could not convince the reviewer. Some of
the most relevant contributions, e.g. in the field of photosynthesis, are not even
mentioned; furthermore, there are too many oversimplifications. What remains is a
collection of some interesting ideas which it would be interesting to discuss within
the framework of a better balanced treatment.

H. METZNER
University, Tiibingen

Biology of Inorganic Matter and Surfur. H. Bothe and A. Trebst (Editors). Springer-
Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1981, viii + 384 pp., DM89, $46.80.

In May 1980 a conference devoted to a discussion and comparison of all aspects

of nitrogen and the sulfur cycle was held in Bochum, F.R.G. This new book contains
contributed papers on “Nitrogen metabolism” and “Sulfur” presented during that
conference and all the following lectures given by internationally recognized experts
in their fields: Microorganisms Involved in the Nitrogen and Sulfur Cycles; Nitro-
gen Metabolism in Plants; The Assimilatory Reduction of Nitrate; Dissimilatory
Nitrate Reduction; Genetics of Dinitrogen Fixation; Rhizobium Genetics; Some
Aspects of the Physiology of Dinitrogen Fixation; The Biochemistry of Dinitrogen
Fixation; Pathways and Regulatory Aspects of N, and NH: Assimilation in
N,-fixing Bacteria; The Hydrogenase-Nitrogenase Relationship in Nitrogen-fixing
Organisms; Assimilatory Sulfate Reduction; Ecology and Physiology of Some
Anaerobic Bacteria from the Microbial Sulfur Cycle; Dissimilatory Sulfate Reduc-
tion, Energetic Aspects; Photolithotropic Sulfur Oxidation; Oxidation of Ammonia
by Nitrosomonas and of Inorganic Sulfur by Thiobacilli.
The book, presented in the notable Springer-Verlag format, will prove an invalua-
ble source of information to all researchers and advanced students in the field.

M. CIGNITTI
Istituto Superiore di Sanith, Rome