1914] CURRENT LITERATURE 441 
Hydrogen and alcoholic fermentation.—Through a study of the reduction 
of methylene blue, in the presence of yeast, Lvorr? has found further Beast 
that reductase plays an essential réle in alcoholic astemaggws 
blue is rapidly decolorized when placed in a yeast culture. This fee 
is brought about through the absorption of two atoms ie nascent hydrogen 
(molecular H is not effective) at the double bond of the color group. Reduc- 
tase activates the hydrogen. He finds the output of alcohol and CO, greatly 
lowered while the methylene blue is being reduced. Therefore the hydrogen, 
activated by the reductase, probably goes directly to the methylene blue mole- 
cule, thereby arresting the further normal steps of the fermentation process. 
Quantitative determinations of the CO, and alcohol produced and the hydrogen 
absorbed (by the methylene blue) showed that one gram-molecule of methylene 
blue takes from the fermentation medium one gram-molecule of hydrogen and 
“inactivates”? one gram-molecule of hexose, thus preventing the splitting into 
alcohol and CO,. Unfortunately, a study of this “inactivated” carbohydrate 
* has not been made. 
in, yeast when mixed with water only still has the capacity for reducing 
ei iece blue. CO, is given off at the same time in amount directly related 
to the methylene blue reduced; for example, one gram-molecule methylene 
lue, under conditions favoring self-fermentation, takes one gram-molecule of 
hydrogen from the medium, liberating one gram-molecule of CO,. The source 
of this CO, is yet unexplained. However, the author suggests the possibility 
that it comes from the fermentation of amino acids in the yeast, a suggestion 
in agreement with the work of Exrticu, and Snorage with that of Bacu, 
where from amino acids in the presence of alloxan, NH;, CO., and 2H are 
eliminated (the a passing to the alloxan), leaving an aldehyde in the medium. 
>-E. M. Harve 
Cytology and embryology of Smilacina.—Smilacina was studied some 
time ago by Lawson,” who reported that synapsis is due not to a marked con- 
traction of the nuclear contents, but to a sudden enlargement of the nuclear 
cavity, which gives the appearance of a contraction. McALLisTERr™ claims 
that synapsis is due to contraction and not to any considerable enlargement of 
the nuclear cavity. It would seem as if this should be settled by measurement 
rather than by discussion, but since both men studied Smilacina and both made 
measurements, an extensive series of measurements of various forms would 
seem to be in order. 
*Lvorr, Gercrus, Hefegirung und Wasserstoff. Zeitschr. Garungsphysiol. 3: 
289-320. 1914 
0 LAWSON, - A., The phase of the nucleus known as synapsis. Trans. Roy. Soc. 
Edinburgh 47: 591-604. pis. 2. 1911. Rev. in Bor. Gaz. §1:313- 1911. 
* McAuuster, F., On the cytology and embryology of Smilacina racemosa. 
Trans. Wis. Acad. Sci. 17:599-660. pls. 56-58. 1913. 
