The Structure of Proteins: Two Hydrogen-Bonded Helical Configurations of the Polypeptide Chain in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 37, 1951, pp. 205-211 WITH The Pleated Sheet, a New Layer Configuration of Polypeptide Chains in PNAS, 37, 1951, pp. 251-256 WITH Configurations of Polypeptide Chains with Equivalent CIS Amide Groups, PNAS, 38, 1952, pp. 86-93

Easton, PA: National Academy of Sciences. 1st Edition. FIRST EDITION OF THREE OF SEVEN PAPERS BY PAULING AND COREY ON THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS. A decade before x-ray crystallography first revealed the structures of proteins, Pauling and Corey deduced their main structural features: the 'alpha-helix,' the 'gamma helix' and the 'beta sheet.' Their work had the same significance for proteins as the Watson and Crick papers (published two years later) had for the structure of DNA. "Instead of tackling the structure of an entire protein, the two scientists' efforts centered on discrete bits of proteins -- tiny crystals made up of repeating units called amino acids. When numberous amino acids link together to form chains, the chains assemble into one of several different configurations. Because an entire protein can encompass hundreds of these configurations folded into a tangled and sometimes impenetrable bundle, Pauling and Corey focused on elucidating the structure of each configuration one by one" (Brownlee, 'The Protein Papers,' on the PNAS at 100: Classics of the Scientific Literature, PNAS Website). "Pauling and Corey's research, now over a half-century old, guides today's biotechnology revolution and the search for hundreds of disease cures" (ibid). Linus Pauling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 "for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances" (ibid). CONDITION & DETAILS: Easton, PA: National Academy of Sciences. Two volume first edition Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 37 and 38, 1951. Entire volumes. Quarto. (10 x 7 inches; 250 x 175mm). Bound in dark tan buckram, gilt-lettered at the spine. Moderate surface rubbing and scuffing. Tightly and very solidly bound. Bright and very clean throughout. Very good condition.