II, CHEMISTRY 



201 



The fundamental knowledge of the l)io('hemicaI function of L-ascorbic 

 acid is still rather limited, and although its sole function seems to be one of 

 preventing scurvy, it is not unlikely that this disease is the manifestation 

 of a number of l)iochemi('al processes that have got out of order. If and 

 when these fundamental processes are brought to light, it will be of in- 

 terest, perhaps, to reinvestigate some of J^he above analogs of L-ascorbic 

 acid to see whether L-ascorbic acid does indeed have polyfunctional bio- 

 logical properties. Quite recently May and his associates have been investi- 



TABLE III 



Antiscorbutically Inactive Substances Related to Ascorbic Acid 



gating the effect of D-ascorbic acid and various analogs of L-ascorbic acid 

 on scorbutic monkej^s showing symptoms of megaloblastic anemia, and it 

 seems that L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may indeed be polyfunctional in its 

 behavior."^'' Samples of L-ascorbic acid labeled at Ci''®' "^' '^ with radio- 

 active C'^ and labeled "uniformly"^" have been made by methods 1 and 2 

 discussed above (see pp. 188 and 191), and it is very likely that a study 

 of these materials in })iological systems will throw light on the fate and 

 function of ascorV)ic acid."* 



"*• C. D. May, A. Hamilton, C. T. Stewart, Blood 7, 978 (1952). 



"« J. J. Burns and C. G. King, Science 111, 257 (1950). 



'" A. A. Bothner-By, M. Gibbs, and R. C. Anderson, Science 112, 363 (1950). 



"« J. J. Burns, H. B. Burch, and C. G. King, J. Biol. Chem. 151, 501 (1951). 



