OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

CARBIDE AND CARBON CHEMICALS DIVISION

              rn

OPERATED BY

UNION CARBIDE AND CARBON CORPORATION

POST OFFICE BOX P
OAK RIDGE. TENN.

brch 15, 1951

Dr. Arthur Kornberg
Federal Security Agency
Public Health Service
Natioml Institutes of Health
Bethesda U., Ihryland

Dear Arthur:

Volkin and I are not quite with you in your discussion of our

Ita, blr nucleotides.
linkage, be it 5' or 3'.
one in greater number than the other.  We hope that something like our
new diphosphates my prove to be the junctions between similar polynucleo-
tides in the intact nucleic acid.  Also, as Volkin pointed'out to me today
when we were discussing these matters, there are two bonds for each phos-
phorus atom so that summation of all phosphorus linkages is 200% of the
amount of phosphorus','of all mononucleotides present.
we are o* a profitable tack as far as chemical structure is concerned.

     Doherty and I are in agreement on the following:  the chemical
evidence is in the same state as the enzymatic evidence with regard to
the structure of the llafr nucleotides; both are fiat unequivocal.  Enzymes
which differentJate between alpha and beta isomers are known; phospho-
migration andphosphates doubly bound to a single sugar molecule are also
known.  The problem is right where it was a year ago and it will remain
there until someone like Todd synthesizes a 2' nucleotide or the cyclic
phosphorus compound referred to or until better degradative conditions
are worked out.
and has sent him a gram of each of the adenylic acids of the highest purity.

We do not see tJhy there should only be one type of
  \,!e would like to think of at least two kinds,

At any rate, we think

S(n e

Doherty feels that Todd will be the one to do these jobs

We have used up the last of that wonderful preparation of bull

semen 5' nucleotidase that Leon sent Carter a long time ago.  Before we
start on the job of prepring some for ourselves, we would like to know
whether Leon would consider letting us have some more, that is assuming
he has any on hand.
as you can well imagine.

It was a great help to have this preparation on hand,

Dr. Arthur Kornberg

2

March 15, 1951

to, but do
Conference

I am afraid that I cannot get to Boston, mch as I would like
hope to see you In Cleveland.
the last week in August?

Are you going to the Gordon

Best regards to Bernie and Leon.

Sincerely,

Waldo E. Cohn

MEC : cee