UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY
BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA November 1, 1951

Dr, Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Josh,

I do not know whether you and Esther have heard about Rita's sudden
death about two weeks ago, This is just to let you know that I am bearing
up all right and I am taking more interest in our Laboratory work than I
have for a long time,

We have some very exciting results on non-glycolytic metabolism of
glucose and apparently a new mechanism of maltose utilization, I hope to
see you this winter since Lardy has invited me to give a seminar, Ed
Adelberg is delighted with "velvet bacteriology" and finds it a great help
in the search for mtants,

I am very sorry that I have no culture of W-108 left, The man who was
taking care of the culture collection left and we have had some confusion
in continuing the stocks,

With regard to the glucose negative coli, we have found the cells to
contain hexokinase and phosphohexoisomerase in quantities roughly equal to
those in-the parent strain, These enzymes appear whether the organisms are
grown with or without sugars, Since the presence of these enzymes should
bring the glucose into the metabolic scheme together with the non-reducing
moiety of maltose , there is no explanation on the enzymatic basis for the
matant's inability to use glucose, I therefore feel that the term "glucozymase"
Should not be used in reference to genetic pattern of the a ganism, I have
reported this at the phosphorus Symposium and it will be in print soon,

Now I must ask you for another favor, Since our Associate left, the notes
for our advanced course have been lost including your letter for the genetic
experiment using 2 strains of K-12, We have in our collection W~1177 and
58-161, Are these the strains you sent us? If not, could you send us the
proper strains and could you let us know their characteristics? In addition,
we would like a reprint of the method of crossing and the: ~ subsequent Suggestion

which you made about using smaller volumes, Unfortunately I have forgotten the
details,

With warmest regards to Esther and yourself, I am
Sincerely yours,

MD zhis Michael Doudoroff