Correspondence

Francis Crick to LP. April 14, 1953

< Previous Correspondence     LP to Ava Helen Pauling

Back to Correspondence Index

Next Correspondence > LP to Max Delbrück

Title:	Francis Crick's correspondence to Linus Pauling
Creator:	Crick, Francis, 1916-
Publisher:
Date:	1953-04-14
Subject:	Crick, Francis, 1916- -- Correspondence DNA -- Structure
Description:
Type:	Text
Format:	text/plain
Language:	en
Identifier:	crick01-pg01.jpg
Source:	Master file format: TIFF, 600 dpi, Epson GT-10000+ flatbed scanner.
Rights:	http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/specialcollections/coll/pauling/dna/copyright.html
Full Text:	Dear Prof. Pauling, I hope you are not puzzled because he said very little about coiled-coils when you are here, but your letter to to Perutz about them only reached us on the day after you left. My recollection of our conversation in the summer is very similar to yours, except that, as I recall it, it was slightly longer than you've remembered it. In particular attached on knobs-into-holes packing and the possibility of a seven-strand cable. He pointed out to me that this might explain the 27 equatorial for the reflection. It was natural, therefore, that Peter told us you were working on coiled-coils that the idea should do it around that I had suggested the idea to you. When your nature article was eventually published it was clear to me that there were very little grounds, if any, for such a belief. In particular you had suggested a definite model, whereas I had not, and, more important, you had put forward a different reason for the coiling. In my view the idea that the alpha helix might be inclined is an obvious one, and it is only a small step from bad to the idea of coiling. I attach much more importance to the reasons underlying the coiling, and the proof that the coiled-coil gives both 5.1 and 1.5 reflections on the Meridian. On these points we have followed independent paths. On reflections I think it might have made things easier if you had let me know you're writing a paper on the idea, so that I would have had the opportunity to put forward my ideas simultaneously. However, as things turned out, thanks to that many channels of communication between Cal Tech and the Cavendish, this is effectively what happened. With a much enjoyed your visit here Watson and I would be most interested to learn what you feel about our D.N.A. structure when you have had time to digest the idea and the experimental data.