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Letter from Linus Pauling to Wendell M. Stanley. May 11, 1942.
Pauling notifies Stanley that a sample of bovine gamma globulin has been shipped to him for use in the manufacture of antibodies. Pauling discusses methods for separating antibodies from antigens in globulin, noting the success of experiments ongoing at Caltech.

Transcript

May 11, 1942

Dr. Wendell M. Stanley

Rockefeller Institute for

Medical Research

Princeton, New Jersey

Dear Wendell:

We have sent separately to you a portion of bovine gamma globulin, which we have been using in our manufacture of antibodies. We have usually used a solution one per cent or two per cent in globulin, dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride. As you know, we have found that procedure of heating at 57° for a number of days in the presence of antigen pretty satisfactory. Adding alkali to pH 11 and then slowly returning to neutrality by dialysis against butter also works, but of course cannot be used with your virus. For separating the antibody from antigen precipitation by one-third saturated ammonium sulfate seems to be very satisfactory.

I hope that you will carry out some experiments on the preparation of antisera against viruses, and let me know how they come out.

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling

LP:jr

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