Max S. Dunn

Blog: Linus Pauling Letter

Posted by: Max Dunn on January 14, 2010 09:44:37

Today I stumbled across this letter that the famous scientist, Linus Pauling, wrote to my granddad back in 1949 asking for some chemicals. Pretty cool!

 

 

 

Professor Max S. Dunn
Department of Chemistry
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles,
California

Dear Professor Dunn:

     As part of our researches on the structure of proteins we are starting a systematic quantitative chromatographic determination of the peptides and other products which result from the partial hydrolysis of proteins. Preliminary to the investigation, it will be necessary to collect data concerning the behavior on the chromatographic column of a very great variety of simple peptides of known composition. It occurred to me that as a result of your long experience in the preparation, purification, and characterization of amino acids and peptides you might have in your laboratory samples of simple peptides, small quantities of which could perhaps be made available to us. Although we should probably require 100 milligrams or more of a peptide in order to explore thoroughly its chromatographic characteristics, we could get a great deal of very helpful and valuable information from amounts as small as 10 to 20 milligrams.

     I recall that at one time it was possible to purchase small quantities of amino acids specially prepared and purified in the UCLA Laboratory. I wonder if this is still possible, and if so, whether it extends to preparations of peptides.

     I shall indeed be grateful for any help you can give us, or for any suggestions you may make concerning possible reliable sources of well-characterized peptides for this work.

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling