Letter from Linus Pauling to Alexander Todd. December 19, 1952. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• AHP writes cheque to: Manor Market amount: $50.00 [Filed under LP Biographical: Box #4.021, Folder #3]
• AHP writes cheque to: Pasadena Dry Cleaners amount: $3.00 [Filed under LP Biographical: Box #4.021, Folder #3]
• Article from Chemical and Engineering News challenging the claims that have been made out of the health benefits of chlorophyll. [Filed under LP Science: Box 10.008, Folder 8.3]
• Letter from Dr. R. F. Mouton to LP RE: writes in reference to their discussion concerning the interest of oxypolygelatin as a suitable human albumin substitute, which they had at the Second International Congress of Biochemistry in Paris. Requests reprints and other documentation that LP mentioned was available on the subject, as he is currently building up a biochemical laboratory specializing in the study of methods of isolation and characterization of proteins and other natural macromolecules. [Letter of response from LP to Dr. Mouton December 23, 1952] [Filed under M: Correspondence 1952, Box #256, Folder #3]
• Letter from Frank Pace, Jr. to Lee DuBridge RE: Pace thanks DuBridge for Caltech's contribution to national security and, in particular, its work on Project VISTA. [Filed under: LP Biographical, Box 1.030, Folder 30.3]
• Letter from Jerry Donohue, University of Cambridge, to LP. [Reply from LP to Donohue December 23, 1952]. [Filed under LP Science: Box 9.001, Folder 1.14]

  Dec. 15

  Dear Dr. Pauling

  I have discovered three more satisfactory helices. In the notation of Bragg, Kendrew and Perutz, these are 3.0₁₀, 4.4₁₄, and 4.4₁₆. They have 2.00, 1.20 and 1.15 Å per residue along z. I suspect that 4.4₁₆ is the π of Barbara Low, but her description, unfortunately, fits both 4.4₁₄ and 4.4₁₆. 4.4₁₄ is somewhat strained (angle at α-carbon=102 degrees, and each residue is twisted 6 degrees [0.4 Kcal/mole/residue]), 4.4₁₆ is planar, but α-carbon angle is 114 degrees. This could probably be decreased a little. 3.0₁₀ is entirely satisfactory. I have written to Barbara for clarification, and when I get it, I am going to write these up, and will send you a copy before I submit it anywhere. I think it should be a letter to the editor of J.A.C.S.

  I am also calculating radial distribution functions, in order to test the sensitivity of the method. I do not check your curves for the α-helix. Would it be possible for you to have a copy made of the list of interatomic distances (i.e., kind and length) so that I can see what went wrong?

  I got another letter from Prof. Stanley in which he is rather more hopeful, but would rather talk things over with me personally. In as much as I should much prefer to locate in California rather than anywhere else, and since negotiations at this distance for any position are rather difficult, I am wondering if it would not be better for me to come back to Crellin for a year before taking a permanent place. You mentioned this possibility in one of our talks last spring, and I must confess it looks more attractive to me now than it did then.

  Francis Crick's α-keratin letter appeared in the Nov. 22 Nature. it is now three issues later and yours is not out yet. I do not know any reason for the delay, but Francis is rather embarrassed by it, as he assumed the two letters would appear together. I believe that he is going to write you about it.

  Arndt and Riley have found a 1.5 Å reflection in some oriented fibrous insulin which Freddie Gutfreund gave them. It will take some checking before they're sure, though. They have put all manner of proteins in their radial distribution machine, and are now chewing on the results. We hope to learn them shortly.

  Merry Christmas

  Jerry

  I enclose a drawing of the 3.0₁₀, which I should like returned.

• Letter from LP to Dr. Jack Sherman RE: responds to Dr. Sherman's letter and discusses his lecture at Vassar. Is glad to learn about his success with the IBM cards at the API meeting in Chicago. [Letter from Dr. Sherman to LP December 11, 1952] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #378, Folder #6].
• Letter from LP to Mr. H. H. Wheeler RE: in response to Mr. Wheeler's letter, he writes that Caltech does not carry on the sort of work that Mr. Wheeler enquires about. [Letter from Mr. Wheeler to LP December 8, 1952] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #443, Folder #20].
• Letter from LP to Mr. Mohammed Kira RE: answers Dr. Kira's letter by enclosing an application form for the Arthur Amos Noyes Fellowship in Chemistry. [Letter from Mr. Mohammed Kira to LP December 2, 1952] [Filed under K: Correspondence 1952, Box #200, Folder #17]
• Letter from LP to Prof. Sir Lennard-Jones, F.R.S. RE: writes of his gladness to learn that Sir John Lennard-Jones will be accepting a position as Principal of a new university in England. Goes on to state his opinions about Universities in England. Mentions that he will continue to work with Martin Karplus in deciding where he should continue his training after he receives his doctorate at Caltech. [Letter from Prof. Sir John Lennard-Jones to LP December 2, 1952, letter from Sir John Lennard-Jones to LP January 12, 1953] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #215, Folder #4 (Lennard-Jones, Sir John E.)].