Irwin Gunsalus
Encyclopedia
Irwin C. "Gunny" Gunsalus (June 29, 1912 – October 25, 2008) was an American
biochemist
who discovered the lipoic acid
, a vitamin-like substance (an enzyme cofactor
) that has been used as a treatment for chronic liver disease
, and pyridoxal phosphate, one of the active forms of vitamin B6
. In his role as assistant secretary general at the United Nations
, he led the international body's research on genetic engineering
.
, at the homestead of his family farm. His father was killed in a threshing machine accident before Gunsalus started college. He attended South Dakota State University
before transferring to Cornell University
, where he studied bacteriology
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1933, a master's in 1937 and was awarded a doctoral degree in the field in 1940.
In 1950, he took a faculty position as professor of microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, shifting his specialty in 1955 to head the biochemistry department until 1966. While there, he co-authored The Bacteria: A Treatise on Structure and Function with Roger Y. Stanier, a five-volume work that served as a basic textbook for scientists entering the field.
In the 1950s, while studying Enterococcus
, a lactic acid bacteria
found in the gastrointestinal tract
, Gunsalus discovered various forms of lipoic acid
, as well as pyridoxal phosphate, an active form of vitamin B6, and was granted a patent in 1962 on lipoic acid. In further research, he discovered the role that lipoic acid plays in metabolism, allowing for the more effective use of carbohydrate
s in the diet. By the 1970s, other researchers and hospitals had begun to use lipoic acid for the treatment of chronic liver disease
. It has since been used experimentally to treat pancreatic cancer
and its use as a dietary supplement to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease
and Parkinson's disease
has been proposed.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Gunsalus studied Cytochrome P450, researching its role in metabolism in the human liver. His studies led to an understanding of how the family of P-450 proteins and their role in metabolizing natural and man-made compounds.
He also researched the way that soil microbes exchange plasmid
s, giving the organisms the ability to adapt to differing nutritional substances available in their environment. Gunsalus was a postdoctoral advisor to Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty
, who later used genetic engineering
techniques for plasmid transfer to create microbes that could digest petroleum.
In February 1967, Gunsalus was one of four scientists who delivered to President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson
a petition that had been signed by more than 5,000 scientists demanding an end to the use of biological and chemical weapons in Vietnam. The petition included 17 Nobel Prize-winners and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences.
, Italy
and in New Delhi
, India
. He was later chosen to conduct ecological studies of the Gulf of Mexico
for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
from 1993 to 2003, where he studied methods for microbiological bioremediation of coastal ecosystems.
Gunsalus was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, the American Academy of Microbiology. He was also elected to the National Academy of Sciences
, where he served as the chairman of the biochemistry section from 1978 to 1981. He was the founding editor of the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. In 1982 he was the recipient of the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
from the National Academy of Sciences.
Gunsalus died at age 96 on October 25, 2008 at his home in Andalusia, Alabama
of congestive heart failure
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biochemist
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:...
who discovered the lipoic acid
Lipoic acid
Lipoic acid , also known as α-lipoic acid and Alpha Lipoic Acid is an organosulfur compound derived from octanoic acid. LA contains two vicinal sulfur atoms attached via a disulfide bond and is thus considered to be oxidized...
, a vitamin-like substance (an enzyme cofactor
Cofactor (biochemistry)
A cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound that is bound to a protein and is required for the protein's biological activity. These proteins are commonly enzymes, and cofactors can be considered "helper molecules" that assist in biochemical transformations....
) that has been used as a treatment for chronic liver disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic liver disease in the clinical context is a disease process of the liver that involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of the liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis.- Causes :...
, and pyridoxal phosphate, one of the active forms of vitamin B6
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B complex group. Several forms of the vitamin are known, but pyridoxal phosphate is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of amino acid metabolism, including transamination, deamination, and decarboxylation...
. In his role as assistant secretary general at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, he led the international body's research on genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
.
Early life
Gunsalus was born June 29, 1912 in Sully County, South DakotaSully County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,556 people, 630 households, and 442 families residing in the County. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 844 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, at the homestead of his family farm. His father was killed in a threshing machine accident before Gunsalus started college. He attended South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
before transferring to 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...
, where he studied bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1933, a master's in 1937 and was awarded a doctoral degree in the field in 1940.
Academic career
Gunsalus taught bacteriology from 1940 to 1947 at Cornell University. There he studied issues of food safety and disease risk. From 1947 to 1950, he was a professor of bacteriology at Indiana University. Gunsalus was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1949 for his work on intermediary metabolism of microorganisms.In 1950, he took a faculty position as professor of microbiology 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...
, shifting his specialty in 1955 to head the biochemistry department until 1966. While there, he co-authored The Bacteria: A Treatise on Structure and Function with Roger Y. Stanier, a five-volume work that served as a basic textbook for scientists entering the field.
In the 1950s, while studying Enterococcus
Enterococcus
Enterococcus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Enterococci are Gram-positive cocci that often occur in pairs or short chains, and are difficult to distinguish from streptococci on physical characteristics alone. Two species are common commensal organisms in the...
, a lactic acid bacteria
Lactic acid bacteria
The lactic acid bacteria comprise a clade of Gram-positive, low-GC, acid-tolerant, generally non-sporulating, non-respiring rod or cocci that are associated by their common metabolic and physiological characteristics. These bacteria, usually found in decomposing plants and lactic products, produce...
found in the gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
, Gunsalus discovered various forms of lipoic acid
Lipoic acid
Lipoic acid , also known as α-lipoic acid and Alpha Lipoic Acid is an organosulfur compound derived from octanoic acid. LA contains two vicinal sulfur atoms attached via a disulfide bond and is thus considered to be oxidized...
, as well as pyridoxal phosphate, an active form of vitamin B6, and was granted a patent in 1962 on lipoic acid. In further research, he discovered the role that lipoic acid plays in metabolism, allowing for the more effective use of carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
s in the diet. By the 1970s, other researchers and hospitals had begun to use lipoic acid for the treatment of chronic liver disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic liver disease in the clinical context is a disease process of the liver that involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of the liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis.- Causes :...
. It has since been used experimentally to treat pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
and its use as a dietary supplement to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
has been proposed.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Gunsalus studied Cytochrome P450, researching its role in metabolism in the human liver. His studies led to an understanding of how the family of P-450 proteins and their role in metabolizing natural and man-made compounds.
He also researched the way that soil microbes exchange plasmid
Plasmid
In microbiology and genetics, a plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular...
s, giving the organisms the ability to adapt to differing nutritional substances available in their environment. Gunsalus was a postdoctoral advisor to Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty
Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty
Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty , Ph.D. is an Bengali American microbiologist, scientist, and researcher, most notable for his work in directed evolution and his role in developing a genetically engineered organism using plasmid transfer while working at GE....
, who later used genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
techniques for plasmid transfer to create microbes that could digest petroleum.
In February 1967, Gunsalus was one of four scientists who delivered to President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
a petition that had been signed by more than 5,000 scientists demanding an end to the use of biological and chemical weapons in Vietnam. The petition included 17 Nobel Prize-winners and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences.
Post-academic career
After retiring from the University of Illinois in 1982, Gunsalus was named the founding director of the United Nations International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, which is responsible for increasing international cooperation in the development and use of genetic engineering and biotechnology in issues related to development. He oversaw the establishment of research centers in TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was later chosen to conduct ecological studies of the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
from 1993 to 2003, where he studied methods for microbiological bioremediation of coastal ecosystems.
Gunsalus was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, the American Academy of Microbiology. He was also elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, where he served as the chairman of the biochemistry section from 1978 to 1981. He was the founding editor of the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. In 1982 he was the recipient of the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
The Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of excellence in the field of microbiology." Named after Selman Waksman, it was first awarded in 1968....
from the National Academy of Sciences.
Gunsalus died at age 96 on October 25, 2008 at his home in Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
.