“Although thiamin, vitamin B1, was the first water-soluble vitamin discovered knowledge of its exact mode of action has apparently been more difficult to obtain than similar information about some of the other water-soluble vitamins.” As pointed out on the cover flap; “This book represents the first attempt at a comprehensive summary of the mechanism of the biochemical action of thiamin diphosphate, and gives a historical development of the subject.”

The author, Dr. Lester O. Krampitz, Director of the Department of Microbiology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, is well-qualified to summarize our current knowledge in the area of thiamin diphosphate (TDP) function. As an investigator he has made a number of substantial contributions to intermediary metabolism and, in particular, to the function of thiamin diphosphate as a coenzyme.

This small but excellent book has particular value to graduate students and to investigators interested in the mode of action of coenzymes.