Letter from Michael Heidelberger to Joshua Lederberg
- Contributor(s):
- Heidelberger, Michael Lederberg, Joshua
- Publication:
- Produced: 28 November 1956
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Polysaccharides Molecular Structure
- Genre(s):
- Archival Materials Letters (correspondence)
- Abstract:
- In this exchange between Heidelberger and the molecular geneticist Joshua Lederberg, the two agree on the need to elucidate in detail the chemical composition and three-dimensional structure of pneumococcal and other antigenic polysaccharides, a need Heidelberger was addressing at the time through his examination of immunological cross-reactions. Such cross-reactions, in which antigens react with certain non-homologous antibodies (antibodies formed against another antigen with which the first antigen shares closely-related or identical antigenic determinants, a site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which a single antibody binds), told organic chemists like Heidelberger much about the arrangement of the sugars in the repeating chemical units of polysaccharides, which in turn determined their immunological properties.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 pages
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101584940X193 (See in Profiles in Science)
- Profiles in Science ID:
- DHBBMM
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584940X193
- Archival Collection:
- The Michael Heidelberger Papers (Profiles in Science)