Mareh 23, 1948.
Dr. Stanley Peat,
ATECHil1s Laboratories,
fhe University,
Birmingham, England.
Dezz Dr. Peat,

I have just read your review article "fhe Chemistry of Anhydro
Sugars" which appeared in Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry,V.II.
Your brief comment on p. 54 concerning the possbble biological r6le
was of special interest since I have been working on the genetic
control ofithe metabolism of galactose and galactosides in Escherichia
coli. So far as I have been able to ascertain, no attempt has ever
been made to investigate the biological availability of such deri-
vatives. In connection with our.current research program, I am pre-
pared to test such derivatives on a variety of metabolic mutants of
Escherichia coli. The main problem is to acquire samples of these
compounds, in amdtnts not less than 200 mg. each, and preferably
at least 1 g. I am writing to enquire whether you have yourself pre-
pared any of the glucose er galactose derivatives that would be of
interest in this connection, and, if @o, whether you might be willing
to transmit such samples to me. In addition to the conpounds which
you can best hae yourself that might be involved in the glucose-galac-
tose conversion, I would be interested also in the (146) galactosan
in ordex to determine whether it can be split by sangxofxkka lactases
of any of the several mtant strains. I realize that other workers
have published these preparations, but it seemed wisest to enquire first
at a single source. Your help would be greatly appreciated.