I. The Energy Relationships in the Ornithine-Citrulline-Arginine-Urea Cycle. II. Thermal Data for other Biochemicals. III. A Study of Sperm Agglutination

Citation

Fox, Sidney Walter (1940) I. The Energy Relationships in the Ornithine-Citrulline-Arginine-Urea Cycle. II. Thermal Data for other Biochemicals. III. A Study of Sperm Agglutination. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/sz3g-8t03. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01302025-014752334

Abstract

I. Methods for preparation and purification of arginine, citrulline, and ornithine were developed. The necessary entropies, heats of formation, solubilities, dissociation constants, activities, and vapor pressures were evaluated from the appropriate physical measurements of these compounds. These and other data were combined to calculate the free energy changes in each step of the ornithine-citrulline-arginine-urea cycle.

II. Methods of preparation, and purification, for other thermal data, of many biochemicals were developed. The entropies of creatine hydrate, glycyl glycine, hippuric acid, hippuryl glycine, 1-proline, and taurine were evaluated from specific heat measurements. Heats of combustion of fumaric and maleic acids were measured.

III. The biological properties of egg-borne marine sperm agglutinins were studied. Bio-assays were developed and active extracts were prepared. These extracts were shown to be of a protein nature. Activation and agglutination of marine sperm by various substances were studied. Correlations of the relation of molecular structure to agglutinating activity were made and discussed.

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