DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE                         BETHESDA `4, MD.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
       OLivcr 6-qooo

November 22, 1961

Dr. G. Schramm
Max-Planck - Institut fur Virusforschung
Tubingen, Germany

Dear Dr. Schramm:

      I read your synthetic procedure for obtaining
deoxypolynucleotides with great interest. I very much
would like to get or make 2 to 5 mg of deoxypoly A, de-
oxypoly T, deoxypoly C, deoxypoly G, and also mixed
polymers.  I am interested primarily in cell-free pro-
tein synthesis from an enzymatic point of view.  Recently
we found that polyribo U served as a synthetic messenger
RNA which directed the synthesis of polyphenylalanine in
a cell-free system.  I am enclosing reprints of this work
which describe these experiments in detail.  I would like
to use the deoxypolynucleotides in this work for I feel
certain that some will work in our enzymatic system.
I would be glad to collaborate with you, if you would
like to, on aspects of our work dealing with these
polymers.  Certainly they would have a great deal of poten-
tial in our cell-free system.  Such a collaborative effort
could yield important results in a short time.

      I would be glad to either synthesize the polymers
if you would send me the detailed protocol, or to receive
the polymers from you.

Looking forward to hearing from you, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Marshall W. Nirenberg

Enclosures

National Cancer Imritute    National Heart Inatiture   National Itutitute of Allergy and Infecdow Diicaaa   Natiod Irmitm of Arthritb and Mcmbolic Diwwa
National lnsritute of Dental Reuarch    National Imitute of Menml Health   Nahmal Inrdtute of Ncurologiul LXacasa md Bhdna   * Tbc C!&ial Center
Divtioo of Biologia Standards         Division of General Medical Scienca        Division of Research Cnnu         Division of Research Sewica