du Vigneaud Speaks on Transmethylation Before the Central Pennsylvania Section, A. C. S.

TΗΕ 113th meeting of the Central Pennsylvania Section of the AMERICAN

CHEMICAL SOCIETY was addressed by Vincent du Vigneaud, head of the Depart­ment of Biochemistry at Cornell u n i ­versity Medical School. Dr. du Vigneaud chose for his subject "Transmethylation as a Metabolic Reaction". He brousght

KAY-HART P H O T O

Vincent du Vigneaud

out the fact that the essential nat ur-ts of the methyl group in the diet is a new principle in nutrition. He developed at some lefegth two theses—namely, that the animal body cannot synthesize methyl groups and tlhat, on the other hand, it can transfer mefchyl groups from choline, methionine, and be-taine to form the methyl corapoiEJids essential to the metabolism of nitrogen, sulfur, fats, and carbohydrates. He showed the important metabolic relations of choline, homocystine, and methionine. Choline plus homocystine was foaund capable of substituting for methionine in the growth of the rat ; on the other ha,nd, in the presence of adequate methionine it was not necessary to feed any choline to obtain growth. This led to the suspicion that choline can be utilized by the bod^y to form methionine and conversely that methionine can be utilized for the syn­thesis of choline. Such a relationship would explain the similar beharvior of choline and methionine in the prevention of fatty infiltration of the liver. This con­clusion was checked b y the use of methio­nine containing a heavy methyl group, —CD 3 . When this heavy methionine was fed, the choline isolated from the anl mal

1 Abstract prepared by F . C. Whitmore.

was found to contain heavy methyl groups. Moreover, evidence was obtained that when heavy choline (containing a heavy methyl group) was fed along with homo­cystine the animal produced heavy methio­nine. It was thus demonstrated that in the body, transmethylation involving choline and methionine is continuous and reversible.

Similar studies were described with other methylated nitrogen compounds such as creatine. It was demonstrated that the methyl group of creatine had i t s origin in the choline and methionine of the diet. The genesis of the guanidoacetic

Y7[7~ALTER SAVAGE LANDIS, vice president of American Cyanamid, has been

awarded the gold medal of the American Institute of Chemists. Presentation will take place at the annual meeting of the institute on May 15.

This medal, which is awarded annually for outstanding services to the science of chemistiy, is being presented to Dr . Landis not only in recognition of his contributions to chemical engineering and development work, largely in the field of

W. S. Landis

nitrogen derivatives, but also for his services to the professional side of chem­istry.

Dr. Landis is a graduate of Lehigh University with the degree of metallurgical engineer (1902), M.S. (1906), and t h e honorary degree of Sc.D. (1922). During 1905 and 1906, he studied mineralogy and ciystallography at Heidelberg, Germany,

acid portion of creatine from arginine and glycine had already been demonstrated by the use of the N15 isotope by Schoen-heimer and Bloch and the precursors of the creatine molecule have thus been eluci­dated. However, the methyl group of creatine is not available for transmethyla­tion.

B y means of compounds containing heavy methyl groups, transmethylation has been found to occur in the rat, in the rabbit, and in man. Many iV-methyl and £-methyl compounds are known to exist in the animal body. The indications are that the methyl group in these compounds can be derived by transmethylation in the body from choline, methionine, or betaine, if a t least one of these is fed in adequate quantity. On the other hand, if these three substances are rigidly excluded from the diet, normal life is impossible.

and spent some time at the Krupp In­stitute in the Technical High School at Aachen, in 1909. H e later taught in the Department of Mineralogy and Metal­lurgy at Lehigh, resigning as associate professor in 1912 to join American Cyanamid as chief technologist. H e has been actively associated with this com­pany ever since. H e established i ts first research laboratory in 1913, was made a director in 1922, and vice president in 1923.

Following a business session to be held in the morning, the afternoon session will be devoted to a discussion of the parts being played by certain vital products in the war. Speakers include Bruce K. Brown, assistant deputy petroleum co­ordinator, "Petroleum in the War"; Robert J. Moore, manager, Research and Development Laboratories, Bakélite Corp., "Synthetic Resin Plastics"; H. E. Robinson, Research Laboratories of Swift & Co., "Meats in the War"; and David Klein, president of Wilson & Company Laboratories, "Vitamins in the War".

At the banquet, the medal of the Ameri­can Institute of Chemists for outstanding service to the science of chemistry will be presented to Dr. Landis. Gustav Egloff, president of the institute, will present the medal, after addresses by Maximilian Toch on "Landis, the Man", and Harry L. Derby, president of American Cyana­mid and Chemical on the achievements of Dr. Landis. An acceptance address will be delivered by Dr. Landis.

Gulf Employee Awards Τ FRANK DRAKE, president, Gulf Oil, re-

* ports that 2,352 employees will be given awards for 10 to 40 years' service with the organization. Awards will be made on April 15 to those in refineries, laboratories, and production fields in 32 states b y local Gulf officials.

Landis to Receive A . I. C. Meda l A w a r d M a y 1 5 Derby and Toch Announced as Dinner Speakers

524 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S