No. 2, September, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 159 



METABOLISM (GENERAL) 



lOOR. Anderson, R. J. Acerin: the globulin of maple seed (Acer saccharinum). Jour. 

 Biol. Chem. 46^: xxxvi. 1921. — The jirincipa! protein of the majjle seed has been isolated 

 and purified. The name acerin is proposed. It was not obtained in crystalline form, but 

 separated on dialysis in small globular particles. Purified acerin is a nearly white, heavy 

 powder which on combustion leaves no weighable ash. — G. B. Rigg. 



1007. Clowes, G. H. A., and E. Bachman. A volatile sperm-stimulating substance 

 derived from marine eggs. Jour. Biol. Chem. 46^: xxxi. 1921. 



1008. Colin, M. H. L'lnuline chez les vegetaux, genese et transformation. [Formation 

 and transformation of inulin in plants.] Rev. Gen. Bot. 31 : 75-80, 179-195, 229-250, 277-286. 

 1919. — A method for the separation of inulin from the other carbohydrates is given. Inulin 

 is formed by the condensation of sugars in the tissues of the root and stem, both glucose and 

 fructose serving as materials for its formation, although hydrolysis yields, of course, only 

 levulose. In the plants studied by the author, inulin appears in special members, as in the 

 fleshy roots of dahlia, and in the subterranean stems of the tuberous sunflower. The tuber- 

 cules of dahlia at the beginning of their development are rich in saccharose. In some of 

 the plants studied inulin is replaced, at the time of rapid growth, by substances hydrolyzed 

 with extract of yeast. In other cases saccharose appears in such quantities as cause the sap 

 to become dextrorotary. — In the roots and tubercules of some of these plants is found an 

 enzyme which is similar to sucrase of the yeast. It hydrolyzes not only saccharose, but also 

 levulosans of low molecular weight. — J . M. Brannon. 



1009. Cook, F. C. Composition of tubers, skins and sprouts of three varieties of potatoes. 

 Jour. Agric. Res. 20: 623-635. 1921. — Chemical analyses are furnished of the 3 varieties 

 Rural New Yorker, Green Mountain, and Irish Cobbler. — D. Reddick. 



1010. Ellis, N. R., H. Steenbock, and E. B. Hart. Some observations on the stability 

 of the antiscorbutic vitamine and its behavior to various treatments. Jour. Biol. Chem. 46: 

 367-380. 1921. 



1011. Felton, L. D. a colorimetric method for determining the hydrogen ion concentra- 

 tion of small amounts of fluid. Jour. Biol. Chem. 46: 299-305. 1921. 



1012. Freudenberg, Karl. Neuere Ergebnisse auf dem Gebiete der Gerbstoff-For- 

 schung. [Results of recent investigations on tannin.] Naturwissenschaften 8: 903-907. 

 1920. — This is a presentation of the recent studies of Fischer and others on the chemistry of 

 the complicated group of tannic substances. The term tannin covers a large range of sub- 

 stances for which it is difficult to give any general characterization. Freudenberg classifies 

 the tannins into 4 groups, (a) ester tannic substances, (b) catechin and its tannins, (c) tannins 

 of the oak, and (d) ellagentannins. — Orton L. Clark. 



1013. Jorissen, a. Recherches sur !a cyanogenese. Une reaction de I'acide citrique. 

 [Investigations on cyanogenesis ; a reaction of citric acid.] Bull. Acad. Roy. Belgique, CI. 

 Sci. 1919: 731-737. 1919. — The author has recently shown that hydrocyanic acid is rapidly 

 formed, in the cold, when very dilute aqueous solutions of citric acid are exposed to difYuse 

 light in the presence of traces of iron compounds and of nitric acid. The reaction occurs 

 under conditions comparable with those in the living cell. — He now gives further precise indi- 

 cations upon this topic of cyanogenesis and also indications concerning the identification of 

 citric acid. — Henri Micheels. 



1014. Menaul, p. Note on the formation of hydrocyanic acid in plants. Jour. Biol. 

 Chem. 46: 297. 1921. — Experimental results indicate that prussic acid may be formed in 

 plants by the action of formaldehyde on nitrates. — G. B. Rigg. 



