HORMONE ACTION MECHANISM.

The problem areas investigated were 1 The interaction of neutral molecules with proteins. The system used was testosterone binding with serum albumin. 2 Rotatory dispersion studies in which the original intent was to detect and elucidate the conformational changes that occur in serum albumin when it binds testosterone. 3 Microorganism studies to determine the effect of steroids on biological cells and to attempt to determine if there were any characteristics of steroid effects common to the different cells that would permit interpretation in terms of binding mechanisms. The cell types decided upon were 1 the red cell, b the nerve cell and c a free living protozoa, Euglena gracilis. Preliminary studies indicated that the presence of the steroid did influence the lysing time of the RBC but the possiblity of interpretation seemed remote. Diffusion problems of the steroid through the myelin sheath of the nerve resulted in no follow-up of this problem. However, steroids did have an effect on the growth of E. gracilis.