STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 © (415) 321-1200

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July 27, 1973
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Genetics

Dr. Amel -Menetti.
Bristol Laboratories
P.O. Box 657

Syracuse, New York 13201

Dear Amel,

The enclosed paper in Nature from Merck just came to my
attention and was particularly interesting because it reminded me
of some studies that I had suggested at Bristol many years ago.

As you may note from the enclosed reprint at page 153 the sulfonic
analogue of DAP that was synthesized, I believe by Lee Cheney, was
inactive in vitro under the conditions tested and that effort was

dropped.

Now in the light of the Merck report I would like to suggest to
you that it might be worth retesting this compound -- if you still
have samples -- in vivo.

As I believe we discussed long ago, the half-sulfonic analogue
of DAP might be a more plausible candidate as an inhibitory analogue
but I do not believe this was pursued.

As you know, I am now connected with Cetus Laboratories as a way
of furthering some continuing ideas about antibiotic development.
But, of course, this in no way interferes with my hope that there might
be some last ditch chance of your exploiting this ancient history.

With best wishes,

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

Oo ‘ILLON ay

Enclosure
JL/rr

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR, MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN MENTAL RETARDATION

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEREDITY NEUROBIOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE