Friedrich Miescher (1844-1895) on nuclein
Miescher
collected single-cell leucocytes from pus in bandages, and
and
subjected them to various chemical treatments. Gentle lysis of
of leucocytes in
salt solution produced intact nuclei, which upon precipitation
and
chemical analysis produced a substance with a very high content
of phosphoric acid. This contrasted sharply with sulfur-containing
protein, and other known
cell
components such as carbohydrates and lipids. Miescher
named this
material nuclein. The significance of
the difference in composition remained
unknown in Miescher's lifetime. We now know this substance as nucleic acid.,
and recognize the PO4 as a component of the backbone.
All text material © 2011 by Steven M. Carr