© Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford 2023 Published by Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval systems, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Concept, production and editing Professor Dame Amanda Fisher Stories and research Kirstin von Glasow Illustrations Elina Ellis Design and layout Richard Adams Associates Printed by Northend, Sheffield
Stories and research by Kirstin von Glasow and iIlustrations by Elina Ellis
Contents
Introduction
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100 Years of Biochemistry
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Rudolph Albert Peters: A biochemistry enthusiast
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Hans Krebs and the metabolic cycles
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Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin: Captured for life by
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chemistry and by crystals Louise Johnson and the elusive enzymes
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Edwin Southern: I’d have loved to have been a craftsman
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Acknowledgements
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Introduction
Biochemistry unwraps the chemical processes that underlie biology. Biochemistry in Oxford is more than 100 years old. Over the century many researchers and students have passed through Oxford’s biochemistry community and contributed to numerous scientific and medical breakthroughs - in metabolism, the structure and functions of antibodies, vitamins, hormones and antibiotics - advances that we now take for granted in the modern world. Some of these achievements were recognised by Nobel Prizes, for example to Hans Krebs, Rodney Porter and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, and it is timely to remember these. However, many more biochemistry researchers and students have contributed to our success over the years, and this book is also a reminder of their talent and dedication. Our aim in putting this book together was to provide a light-hearted look back at some of the wonderful characters who helped develop the field of Biochemistry over the century. We hope you enjoy learning more about some of those characters and their scientific contributions. This isn’t intended as an exhaustive history of the department – we simply couldn’t feature everyone we would have liked to – so apologies for that. However, as more stories emerge, there is plenty of room for a sequel! Professor Francis Barr, EP Abraham Professor of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Head of Department in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford
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Acknowledgements
Storylines told in Celebrating a Century of Brilliant Biochemistry were researched and developed by Kirstin von Glasow with illustrations provided by Elina Ellis. The book was designed by Richard and Sam Adams and printed by Emma Nunnington, Northend printers, Sheffield. Amanda Fisher helped produce and edit the book with expert advice from Madhusudhan Srinivasan, Sarah-jane Scard and Francis Barr. Our team is extremely grateful to all members of Oxford’s Biochemistry Department, past and present, and their families, who have enabled the inspiring stories of scientific discovery to be gathered. We particularly thank Edwin Southern and Sonia Morgan, Neil Brockdorff, John Krebs, Elspeth Garman, Konstantina Foteinou and staff at the Bodleian Library. We hope you enjoy reading these celebratory tales of the amazing scientists that have been leading biochemistry for over a century. To continue to support a new generation of outstanding biochemists in Oxford, we ask you to consider making a donation. Your money will be used by us to help provide support for talented PhD and summer students, at the very start of their biochemistry careers. Continue the legacy of brilliant biochemistry and give what you can.
Supporting the development of Biochemists for the future.
Contact: sarah-jane.scard@bioch.ox.ac.uk 64