THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Madison 6

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS

Profesror Y. Heidelberger
Ins titutb of Microbiology
Rutgers University
New Brumwick, N,J.

Dear Dr, Heidelberger:

While writ5ng a mrbw on recombination gerrstibs, I have been catching
up on old reading, and am struck by my inability to find much recent work
on the structure of the pmaumcoccal capsular polysaccharides. Am I right
in thinking that type 111 ia the only bns for which a reasonably detailed
structure can be written (after Reeves & Goebd)? Or tam I overlooked
equally pertinant studies on the com;position and linkages of other types?
I hope so, and that you can refer me to more recent aceounts of thkr field.
NOR that ths experhntal basis for genetic skrlies on ths determination
of these substance8 is so well established, it seema to m, a pity that the
structurerl and biosynthatic aapectrr have lost the p'imacy of interest that
they eneaged so- yeam ago, As far as I can tell, no one seem to have a
clue a8 to &e itmediate precursors, though I ~~ppose 101pbone will coae~ up
soon with urldh~-diphospho-conjugatel

Your help on W mattar rrpuld be gsaknS greatlyapprecioted.

If Iaa ask another question, Zaraenhof ha8 reporbd In the structure
of so= of the Hanophilue polysaccharides a8 poly-ribphosphates askin to
apurinic acids: is thsre any reason to dispute his clnieur?