RESEARCH.
Mahler and coworkers have shown DPN-cytochrome reductase, an important enzyme concerned in terminal respiratory chain, contains iron as well as flavin. Both these components appear to undergo reversible oxidation and reduction during cycle mediated by the enzyme. Work of this nature, says Mahler, may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism on a molecular level not just of flavin protein enzymes, but of respiratory enzymes in general. Cancer Studies. Thymidine is present in much greater amounts in malignant tumor tissues of rats and mice than in normal tissues, according to William Shive, E. M. Lansford, and J. M. Weaver, University of Texas. Thymidine is one of the pyrimidine nucleosides, important because they form building blocks of nucleoprotein, present in cell nucleii. According to Lansford, it appears possible that uncontrolled and excessive cell reproduction is related to unusually high amount of thymidine now found to be present in tumor cells. High content found more than outweighs variations which could be expected from differences in desoxyribonucleic acid content, which compound contains thymidine in b o u n d form. Lipoic Acid. Evidence is accumulating to indicate lipoic acid is required for oxidative decarboxylation of a-keto acids by animal, vegetable, and bacterial cells. L. J. Reed and B. G. DeBusk, University of Texas, provided substantial evidence that in case of certain bacteria, lipoic acid functions in form of an amide with thiamin pyrophosphate, which has been named lipothiamide. Their recent studies reveal bacterial and animal preparations contain enzymes which can form lipothiamide pyrophosphate from lipoic acid and thiamin pyrophosphate. Aderosine triphosphate (ATP) and coenzyme A are required for this biosynthesis, which is result of two steps, an "activation" of lipoic acid, and an acylation of thiamine pyrophosphate. A purified enzyme system which effects this biosynthesis has been obtained from Escherichia coli and from Streptococcus faecalis. With enzyme preparations of bacterial origin, lipoic acid and thiamin pyrophosphate function in same form of a distinct chemical entity, lipothiamide pyrophosphate. It is significant that preparations of pyrunic oxidase from pig heart have been obtained which are activated by lipothiamide pyrophosphate, and that extracts of pigeon liver contain the necessary enzyme system for synthesizing lipothiamide pyrophosphate from lipoic acid and thiamin pyrophosphate. Growth Factor. During investigation 5284
of the nutritive of t h e Coprophyllic fungi, it was found that the Pilobolus species requires a hithertofore undescribed growth factor. R. L. Hutchin gs, Lederle Labs, says this growth substance is widely distributed in natural materials. Culture filtrates from an unknown Penicillia are especially rich sources of the factor. By partition chromatography, active substance was isolated as a red crystalline compound. Elemental analysis indicates presence of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and iron in the ratio: Ces H« Ne Oia F e . Approximately 0.05 micrograms of the compound per milliliter allows for maxim u m growth of the fungus. Compound appears to function in t h e iron nutritive of the Pilobolus. T h e role, if any, that the substance plays in animal nutrition
has not as yet been determined Role of Biochemistry· Roger Williams, director of T h e Biochemical In stitute, says their over-all emphasis or use of microorganisms as tools is noi «-»asc*_i upon a IUCK ox interest, in nurnàr beings, but upon recognition of the biochemical kinship of all living things and fact that microorganisms and othei lower forms can be extremely useful tools in discovering more about human beings. Cognizant of the biochemical individuality problem, he notes the possible contributions toward human understanding which can b e made in this area. Studies in biochemical and anatomical differences of h u m a n beings ; and knowledge of this variability will prove indispensible, decades to come, in a new era of h u m a n understanding.
M i d w e s t Research Institute Arrives Construction starts on Sl^oC^OOO-laboratory building, marking fourth milestone in MRI's development KANSAS CITY.-Midwest Research Institute passes the fourth significant milestone in its development with the start of construction of its new laboratory building here, said Charles N . Kimball, MRI's president. Previous milestones were: first organizational meeting, granting of state charter (both in 1943), and actual start of operations in the fall of 1944. At the ceremonial ground breaking ceremonies-, first spadefuls of earth were d u g b y the nine original founders or their family representatives. N e w laboratory will replace MRI's present facilities, scattered through six separate buildings, and will house about 250 people.
it is estimated that about 15 months will be required to complete the threestory, $l,250,000-building. The lab is located in the center of Kansas City's cultural area near the Linda Hall Library (said to be third largest technical library in t h e U . S.), University of Kansas City, and Nelson Gallery of Art. Special facilities will include a cold room which can maintain temperatures as low as —150° F, 7 a special optics instrument room with a false floor to d a m p e n vibration, and special quarters with constant temperature and humidity to house a new computation center w h e r e electronic calculating devices will be kept.
Midwest llesearch Institute will have new headquarters when this $l,250,000-building is completed in 15 months. Ground was broken for the new structure on Dec. 7. All operations will b e consolidated in the one building from six now in use
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Building α n e w Ethylene Plant Shown here in its final stages of construction, National Petro-Chemicals Corpora tion's new ethylene plant a t Tuscola, Illinois is t h e largest in the world—the t e n t h ethylene plant which L u m m u s has designed and built. Perhaps our experience in designing, engineering and building petrochemical and chemical plants can be of use on your next project.
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RESEARCH, just a start of a research laboratory, but a turning point in the growth of the great midwestern area. For many years only the large industrial concerns and the heavily endowed universities could afford large-scale research centers or organizations. Today, through our cooperative efforts, we have here a re search foundation which can work for many organizations at the same time at costs which bring it in reach of all." Α Μ Α Blocks Hope f o r Quick Settling of Krebiozen Dispute
Founders, or family representatives, break ground at Midwest's new lab. Left to right are: Miller Nichols, son of late J. C. Nichols; Mrs. Robert L. Mehornay, repre senting her late husband: Kenneth A. Spencer,, president of Spencer Chemical and chair man of MRI's trustees; P. D. Bartlett; C. T. Thompson; B. C. Adams; J. F. Stephens I'( >cla\. 43 states and several coun cal companies, food processors, pipe tries are represented in sponsored re line companies, household equipment search projects, although MRI was manufacturers, and many others. originally organized to serve the inter Public Service. Besides regular con ests of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Mis sulting service MRI does work on be souri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The half of the general public and in the year was the best and most successful field of education. It has assisted in the institute's history, Kimball says. the Chamber of Commerce in its ac Research volume was almost S15 mil tivities concerning development of the lion, a 2 1 /.-fold increase over 1950. Kansas City area and has also rendered MRI is on a sound self-sufficient technical assistance to public agencies. financial basis with respect t o opera In spite of restrictions imposed upon tion; it has been in the black for the institute by almost all sponsors, the several years. In nine years of opera staff has made a large contribution to tion, 1147 different projects for 504 scientific literature. different sponsors have been under Staff. Kimball pays tribute to the taken. Sponsors have included chemi- technical people engaged in super visory- work. He believes supervision Charles N. Kimball, MRI's president, tells of technical people is a fine art. A trustees that 1953 has been most suc cessful year the research establishment research man's technical competence, his book learning, is only part of his has had in its nine-year history necessary over-all aptitude. He is a special breed of cat, trained to question the obvious. He must be mature emo tionally, must have courage and not give up at the first negative answer. He must follow through and drive to get things completed. H e must have ability to express himself so that his findings may be m a d e known to others. He must be conscious of costs, budgets, and time schedules. Kimball says that MRI has no desire to b e "big." If all of the 2 2 fields covered by the insti tute are adequately manned, bigness only makes it difficult to maintain good technical supervision and often sacrifices quality or results for quantity of volume. At the ground-breaking ceremonies, Kenneth A. Spencer, president of Spencer Chemical, said, "This is not 5286
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in an executive session with mem bers of legislative commission investi gating krebiozen dispute, American Medical Association blocked hope for "quick" settlement by its flat refusal to have anything further to do with the drug. ΑΜΑ says it has fairly tested it on 100 patients and found it worthless. However, ΑΜΑ says it will not stand in way of research project by recog nized federal body, such as National Cancer Institute or National Research Council, but it will not participate in any way. Federal agency idea was to have been basis for quick settlement, but University of Illinois' Andrew C. Ivy, chief krebiozen proponent, ob jected, and suggested instead a fivedoctor panel—two appointed by ΑΜΑ, two by Krebiozen Research Founda tion, and fifth appointed by first four. AMA's rejection of this plan caused negotiations to collapse. Mechanics of setting up research procedure now seems only major ob stacle to settlement, since virtually all parties involved have agreed to drop charges of "obstruction," "persecution," "collusion," and "dishonesty." But Stevan Durovic, krebiozen's inventor, might still upset the peace, since he was reportedly repeating old charges in mimeographed statements distributed outside the conference chamber. These statements have not yet been admitted into the evidence. While often seeming to have lost sight entirely of their stated objective, hearings appeared briefly to be back on the track—with the calling of former U of I president George D. Stoddard as a witness. In first appearance in Illi nois since his ouster, Stoddard proved to be one of the calmest of all wit nesses who have appeared before the commission. He denied under ques tioning that any commercial implica tions had been involved in his decision to ban further krebiozen research at Illinois, and indicated decision had been based on a medical report sub mitted by a university committee, whose findings were interpreted as un favorable to the drug. AND
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