December 11, 1973
Dear Dr. Nathans:
We are planning to isolate the eleven Hin-fragments of SV40 DNA according to the approach and methods which are elegantly developed in your laboratory. Since I understand that different stocks of SV40 virus may give slightly different Hin-fragments due to the possibility of mutations, we would appreciate it very much if you would send us a sample of your plaque purified SV40 stock to start our work. Is it better to use BSC-1 cells to grow SV40 instead of CV-1 cells? Is it correct that BSC-1 cells can be obtained from Microbiological Associates?
If you have laboratory instructions written up, such as the experimental details for growing the cells and SV40 (including composition of grow medium, etc., how to isolate SV40 and store them), how to run gel electrophoreses, etc., we would appreciate it very much if you would send us a copy of such laboratory instructions and procedures.
We are planning to do some DNA sequence work with Hin-fragments, especially with fragment C. Fragments C and D are pretty close to each other on your gel pattern in PNAS 68, 2913 (1971), I wonder if the separation of fragments C and D is complete? What is the best way to separate them and to get reasonable amounts of fragment C?
Is possible, please send the SV40 stock by air freight, collect.
Thanking you in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Ray Wu
Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology