"The molecular structure of polyadenylic acid"

Date:
1957-1960
Reference:
PP/CRI/H/2/19/1
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: "The molecular structure of polyadenylic acid". Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Molecular Structure of Polyadenylic Acid The isolation of polynucleotide Phosphorylase by Grimberg-Manago and Ochoa (1955) had made possible the synthesis of a variety of ribo nucleotide polymers all having the same covalent backbone as natural ribo nucleic acid (EHA). Physical and chemical studies on these polymers have been widespread and have led to a better understanding of the general principles underlying nucleic acid structures. Among the first of these polymers to be investigated by the technique of X-ray diffraction was poly adenylic acid. In this paper we describe our studies of this material and give the precise coordinates for a molecular model which is in excellent agreement with all the experimental facts. Preliminary accounts of this work have appeared previously, (Watson, 1957; Rich, 1957, a; Crick, 1957). Since that time additional information has been obtained from the physical chemical investigations of Beers and Steiner (1957), Fresco and Doty (1957), and Fresco (1959), and the results of these investigations will be incorporated into the present discussion. Materials and Methods The polyadenylic acid originally used in this investigation was kindly supplied by S. Ochoa. Later preparations were synthesized by methods