•
RESEARCH
Vasopressin Synthesized D u V i g n e a u d uses s a m e m e t h o d s in synthesizing t w o f o r m s of vasopressin as h e used f o r oxytocin JL H E P I T U I T A R Y H O R M O N E VASOPRESSIN
has been synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud of Cornell. Synthesis of the antidiuretic and blood pressure regulating h o r m o n e follows closely the determination of its structure. T h e polypeptide hormone exists in two forms: lysine-vasopressin, which occurs in hog pituitaries, and arginiue-vasopressin in beef glands. D u Vigneaud synthesized both forms by t h e same methods h e used in making oxytocin (C&EN, D e c . 26, 1955, p a g e 5 5 8 7 ) . D u Vigneaud's work in synthesizing oxytocin, a n important factor in childbirth and lactation, led to his winning the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It was t h e first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone. I n addition, the work helped to earn for h i m t h e Chicago Section's Willard Gibbs Medal, second oldest award given b y the ACS. H e described the vasopressin synthesis in his medal address. • Different Amino Acids. T h e main difference in chemical structure between oxytocin a n d t h e two vasopressins is in the amino acids contained in each. Oxytocin consists of eight amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, tyro-
sine, proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, and cystine. Degradative studies o n arginine-vasopressin show that phenylalanine replaces isoleucine in the ring portion of the molecule, and arginine replaces leucine in the side chain. In lysine-vasopressin, lysine replaces arginine in the side chain. Physiological activity of the synthetic lysine-vasopressin is identical to the activity of the natural product, says du Vigneaud. Synthetic arginine-vasopressin obtained to date has a potency somewhat less than that of the naturally occurring hormone. Efforts to obtain a m o r e potent synthetic arginine-vasopressin are continuing. According t o the medalist, use of synthetic vasopressin in place of n a t u r a l extracts of t h e hormone for treatment of conditions such as diabetes insipidus could obviate allergies caused b y natural contaminants in the extracts. • Marvel Man. D u Vigneaud received his B.S. in chemistry from Illinois in 1 9 2 3 . A year later, h e took his master's under C. S. Marvel, and left t h e Midwest for a two year stay at the Philadelphia General Hospital
Vincent d u Vigneaud ( right ) of Cornell University medical college receives the Chicago Section's Willard Gibbs M e d a l from J. C. W a r n e r , ACS President 2754
C&EN
JUNE
4,
1956
a n d on the staff of the University of Pennsylvania graduate school of medicine. In 1927, du Vigneaud obtained his P h . D . from the Rochester School of Medicine. H e then worked at several schools in this country, including his alma mater, and in Europe. He assumed his current post as head of the chemistry department at Cornell's medical college in 1938. D u Vigneaud holds many honors in addition to t h e Nobel Prize and the Gibbs medal. ( H e was named as Gibbs medalist t w o days before he received word that he h a d won the N o b e l Prize.) His citations include the Nichols Medal and t h e Hillebrand Award. During his brilliant career, du Vigneaud has worked on insulin, interm e d i a r y metabolism, amino acids and peptides, transmethylation and metabolism of one-carbon compounds, transulfuration, bio tin, penicillin, as well as oxytocin and vasopressin.
Singularly Developed New ideas, says Melvin Calvin, Richards Medalist, can only come from a single mind A L T H O U G H this is an age of scientific teamwork, "it is m y feeling that the 'synthesis' of a really n e w conception can b e the p r o d u c t of a single mind only,'' Melvin Calvin, University of California, told the Northeastern Section of the ACS which honored him with t h e 1956 Theodore William Richards Medal. In his award address at Harvard University, Calvin pointed out that the more science a mind can encompass, the more likely a n e w "synthesis" can be achieved. But it is necessary for individuals to gain knowledge in areas other than the one in which they were first trained. Then, newly acquired subject matter must b e p u t to use, even to the point of original contribution in specialized areas which would definitely be considered out of the realm of original training. " I n this day," h e adds, "when the cry is for more scientists and engineers to m a n our increasingly complex environment, I would ask t h a t t h e study of the nature of all things not b e overlooked. Ultimately, w e may thus create new classifications and expose new relationships." But, to do this, explains Calvin, "our method of educating scientists must be carefully examined." Education must be such as to enable young scientists to explore deeply, and well, some area of
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Animal or Vegetable Sources Available in flake or powdered f o r m . Shipped in tank car or carload lots.
RESEARCH
Only Armour's 2-system Fractionation can supply you with such a complete line of highest purity fatty acids tailored for ester manufacturing. Only Armour uses fractional distillation and solvent crystallization to produce a complete line of uniform Neo-Fat fatty acids offering single components in purities as high as 96%. Yet you pay no premhcm in price. Advantages such as these make Armour your one best source for all fatty acids. In the list below, you'll find the specific Armour îsreoFats that will help you produce the finest esters at the lowest cost. Write us for samples and information. PRESSED STEARIC
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Neo-Fat
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AND
STEARIC A C I D N e o - F a t 1 6 Commercially Pure Palmitic 1 6 - 5 4 7 0 % Palmitic 1 8 Commercially Pure Stearic 1 8 - 5 7 65% Stearic 1 8 - 5 8 7 0 % Stearic 1 8 - 6 1 8 0 % Stearic OLEIC
ACIDS
N e o - F a t 9 2 - 0 4 Low Titer Whiter Oleic 9 4 - 0 4 Low Titer Red O i l 9 4 - 1 0 High Titer Red O i l
φ Major Addition to Rohm & Haas Research Facilities Research on industrial enzymes, pesticides, detergents, emulsifiers, and other products will b e conducted in four new laboratories Rohm & Haas is adding to its engineering building on the company's plant site in Bristol, P a . A penthouse provides facilities for radioactive tracer research. Research personnel—origi nally about 65—will start to transfer from R&H's Bridesburg labs by mid-August.
tween enzyme-induced structural changes" and increased tenderness in treated steaks.
Broersma says in the April issue of J. Ghent. Phys.
• Little
which reduces by more than 80% in cidence of hospitalized cases of respira tory disease. The vaccine was pre pared from tissue cultures of monkey kidney infected with the two predom inant viruses. The vaccine was de veloped at the Walter Reed Army In stitute of Research and evaluated at Fort Dix, Ν. J., on army recruits.
• A new vaccine has been developed hydrocortisone
is
absorbed
into the blood w h e n it is used on local inflammations of intact skin, according to research at the National Heart In stitute. Grant W . Liddle administered Δ 1 , 9-a-fluorohydrocortisone to patients, which suppresses A C T H secretion in t h e body; since A C T H stimulates production of hydrocortisone, any hy drocortisone present must have been absorbed from the medication. In the April J. Clin. Endocrinol, and Metabo lism, Liddle says that while only 2% is absorbed through the intact skin, 26 to 29% is absorbed from the mucous surfaces studied (vaginal and rectal). • Viscosity of liquids is being studied b y Northwestern's Sybrand Broersma with a method based on magnetic resonance. Atomic nuclei, irradiated with radio waves, for instance, reorient themselves in the field of a magnet. T h e time a substance needs to recover from t h e effects of radiation is closely related to molecular motion and to the viscous action between particles in a liquid. The system, has been used to study t h e size, mobility, and liftetime of molecular aggregates in water,
• Stanford Research Institute under took 532 projects for research clients in 1955, according to its report of operations. By year's end, contract research was being conducted at an annual rate of $11.5 million. The staff increased from 9 1 4 to 1163 during the year. • Southwest
Research
Institute
did
$3.5 million worth of applied research for business, industry, and the Govern ment during 1955, according to its annual report. This year's budget should reach $5 million. In the past five years, SwRI has grown from a staff of 105 to 533. T o meet the grow : ing demand it has launched a five-year development program to provide new buildings and facilities. JUNE
4,
1956
C&EN
2759
