278 LIFE: ITS NATURE AND ORIGIN 



many other substances under different circumstances. The catalytic decompositions 

 of hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid . . . are apparently continuous proc- 

 esses, although the intermediate compounds have not been determined. 



"Not alone can a small quantity of one substance decompose a large quantity of 

 another, but the same substance yields varied products depending on the nature of 

 the go-between. Ethyl acetoacetate, when hydrolyzed with dilute boiling acids, 

 yields ketones; while if strong alcoholic potash be employed, acids are produced. 

 This latter is not a continuous process because the potash is eliminated by com- 

 bining with the acid produced; but it illustrates the point. 



"Now I believe that the actions of diastase, and in fact of all other enzymes, are 

 in the nature of continuous processes. I base this, as yet, almost entirely upon 

 analogy, but can indicate the line of experimentation necessary to confirm the 

 theory: 



(1) Active enzymes must be isolated, and their chemical constitution and struc- 

 ture investigated. 



(2) The composition of the substances to be decomposed must be understood, and 

 also the nature of the compounds they can form with the structurally deter- 

 mined enzymes. . . . 



"The enzymes and enzyme-like toxins we have just been considering occur only 

 in, or as the products of, living cells. What is their relation to the life of the cells? 

 Do they throw any light upon the actual nature of life itself? After carefully con- 

 sidering the question, it appears to me that life is an enzyme-like continuous 

 chemical process, or rather a series of such processes. Among the facts that led to 

 this conclusion, a few may be discussed: attenuation, immunity, antisepsis and soil 

 nitrification. . . . 



"Enzymic and cell-metabolic processes are so completely dependent upon chemical 

 conditions that they are without doubt purely continuous chemical processes. True, 

 the changes which take place are of great, almost appalling complexity; but they 

 need not overcome us. The sugars, once regarded as of almost unknowable com- 

 plexity, are now known as a series of hydroxy derivatives of normal hexane. . . ." 



The scientific literature shows an ever-increasing realization of the importance of 

 catalysis in life processes. It must be remembered that enzymes are biocatalysts, 

 and that antibody formation occurs catalytically, as indicated in my Protoplasma 

 paper (1931) and in the section on "Immunology and Serology" in the fourth 

 edition (1937) of my book "Colloid Chemistry" (D. Van Nostrand Co.). In 1936 

 Dr. Karl Landsteiner was kind enough to review with me the manuscript of this 

 section, as indicated on p. 413. 



Dr. Alwin Mittasch, well known for his work in industrial catalysis, has recently 

 published the following books (J. Springer, Berlin): "Ueber katalytische Verur- 

 sachung im biologischen Geschehen" (1935), "Katalyse und Determinismus" (1938). 

 and "Kurtze Geschichte der Katalyse in Praxis und Theorie" (1939). A still later 

 book is now on press, entitled "Lebensproblem und Katalyse" (J. Ebener-Nerlag, 

 Ulm/Donau). 



