Vincent du Vigneaud
Encyclopedia
Vincent du Vigneaud was an American biochemist
. He won a Nobel Prize
in Chemistry
in 1955 for the isolation, structural identification, and total synthesis of the cyclic peptide
, oxytocin
.
in 1918. He began studying chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. He was influenced by lectures of Carl Shipp Marvel
. After receiving his M.S. in 1924 he joined DuPont
.
He married Zella Zon Ford on June 12, 1924. Restarting his academic career in 1925, he joined the group of John R. Murlin at the University of Rochester
for his Ph.D thesis
. He was graduated in 1927 with his work, The Sulfur in Insulin.
After several post-doctoral positions with John Jacob Abel
at Johns Hopkins University
Medical School, Max Bergmann
at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Leather Research in Dresden
, and others, he became professor at the University of Illinois.
He next went to George Washington University
Medical School in Washington, D.C.
in 1932 and to Cornell Medical College in New York City in 1938, where he stayed until his emeritation
in 1967. Following that retirement, he held a position at Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York
.
In 1974 he suffered from a stroke which ended his academic career. One year after his wife's death in 1977, he died.
and vasopressin
, he had established a reputation for work on insulin, biotin, transmethylation, and penicillin.
He also began a series of structure-activity relationships for oxytocin and vasopressin, perhaps the first for peptides. That work culminated in the publication of a book entitled, A Trail of Research in Sulphur Chemistry and Metabolism and Related Field.
while at the University of Illinois
in 1930.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
. He won a Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1955 for the isolation, structural identification, and total synthesis of the cyclic peptide
Cyclic peptide
Cyclic peptides are polypeptide chains whose amino and carboxyl termini are themselves linked together with a peptide bond that forms a circular chain. A number of cyclic peptides have been discovered in nature and they can range anywhere from just a few amino acids in length, to hundreds...
, oxytocin
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that acts primarily as a neuromodulator in the brain.Oxytocin is best known for its roles in sexual reproduction, in particular during and after childbirth...
.
Biography
du Vigneaud was graduated from Schurz High SchoolSchurz High School
Carl Schurz High School is a public secondary school located in the old section of the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.This school is named after German–American Carl Schurz, a statesman, soldier, and advocate of democracy in Germany....
in 1918. He began studying chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He was influenced by lectures of Carl Shipp Marvel
Carl Shipp Marvel
Carl Shipp "Speed" Marvel was an American polymer chemist who worked at developing polybenzimidazoles, which are temperature-resistant polymers that are used in the aerospace industry and as a replacement for asbestos.He obtained the nickname "Speed" early on in his career as a chemist from his...
. After receiving his M.S. in 1924 he joined DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
.
He married Zella Zon Ford on June 12, 1924. Restarting his academic career in 1925, he joined the group of John R. Murlin at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
for his Ph.D thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
. He was graduated in 1927 with his work, The Sulfur in Insulin.
After several post-doctoral positions with John Jacob Abel
John Jacob Abel
John Jacob Abel was a significant American biochemist and pharmacologist.Born near Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated with a Ph.D. in 1883 from the University of Michigan. In 1891 he founded and chaired the first department of pharmacology in the United States at the University of Michigan...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Medical School, Max Bergmann
Max Bergmann
Max Bergmann was a Jewish-German biochemist. He was the first to use the Carboxybenzyl protecting group for the synthesis of oligopeptides.-Life and work:Bergmann was born in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany on February 12, 1886....
at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Leather Research in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, and others, he became professor at the University of Illinois.
He next went to George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
Medical School in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1932 and to Cornell Medical College in New York City in 1938, where he stayed until his emeritation
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
in 1967. Following that retirement, he held a position at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
.
In 1974 he suffered from a stroke which ended his academic career. One year after his wife's death in 1977, he died.
Career
His career was characterized by an interest in sulfur, proteins, and especially, peptides. Even before his famous work on elucidating and synthesizing oxytocinOxytocin
Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that acts primarily as a neuromodulator in the brain.Oxytocin is best known for its roles in sexual reproduction, in particular during and after childbirth...
and vasopressin
Vasopressin
Arginine vasopressin , also known as vasopressin, argipressin or antidiuretic hormone , is a neurohypophysial hormone found in most mammals, including humans. Vasopressin is a peptide hormone that controls the reabsorption of molecules in the tubules of the kidneys by affecting the tissue's...
, he had established a reputation for work on insulin, biotin, transmethylation, and penicillin.
He also began a series of structure-activity relationships for oxytocin and vasopressin, perhaps the first for peptides. That work culminated in the publication of a book entitled, A Trail of Research in Sulphur Chemistry and Metabolism and Related Field.
Legacy
He joined Alpha Chi SigmaAlpha Chi Sigma
Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional fraternity specializing in the field of chemistry. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 63,400 members...
while at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1930.
External links
- http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1955/vigneaud-bio.html
- http://www.nndb.com/people/456/000100156