Mortimer Louis Anson
Encyclopedia
Mortimer Louis Anson (1901 – 16 October 1968) was an early protein scientist.
He is famous for having proposed that protein folding
was a
reversible, two-state reaction, and for being the founding
editor of the journal Advances in Protein Chemistry.
, Anson was the first to propose
that conformational protein folding was a reversible process. He
later proposed that it was essentially a two-state process, i.e.,
that the folded and unfolded states were well-defined thermodynamic
states separated by a large activation energy barrier. He also
was the first to note that the energy barrier typical of folding
(5 kcal/mol) was small compared to the absolute magnitudes of the
energies and entropies involved (~100 kcal/mol) and, hence,
proposed that energy and entropy were continuously traded off
during the folding process.
Anson moved to the Rockefeller Institute in 1927, where he remained
for fifteen years (1927-1942). He worked closely with John H. Northrop.
In 1937, Anson first purified and crystallized carboxypeptidase A
, a
classic model system of protein science.
which remains one of the leading journals for reviewing the state
of biochemical problems. Anson conceived the journal in long
discussions with Kurt Jacoby, who had fled Nazi Germany
and had once headed the Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft in
Leipzig
.
world by poor nutrition, and in 1942, left a prestigious research
position at the Rockefeller Institute to investigate
biochemical and genetic methods for improving the nutrition
of foods, e.g., amino acid fortification.
died on 1 October 1968 of his third heart attack (the first two having been in early 1966 and the summer of 1968).
Anson was good friends with Béla Bartók
, especially during Bartók's final years in America.
He is famous for having proposed that protein folding
Protein folding
Protein folding is the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. It is the physical process by which a polypeptide folds into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure from random coil....
was a
reversible, two-state reaction, and for being the founding
editor of the journal Advances in Protein Chemistry.
Protein folding studies
Together with Alfred MirskyAlfred Mirsky
Alfred Ezra Mirsky was an American pioneer in molecular biology.Mirsky graduated from Harvard College in 1922, after which he studied for two years at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons until 1924 when he moved to the University of Cambridge on a US National Research...
, Anson was the first to propose
that conformational protein folding was a reversible process. He
later proposed that it was essentially a two-state process, i.e.,
that the folded and unfolded states were well-defined thermodynamic
states separated by a large activation energy barrier. He also
was the first to note that the energy barrier typical of folding
(5 kcal/mol) was small compared to the absolute magnitudes of the
energies and entropies involved (~100 kcal/mol) and, hence,
proposed that energy and entropy were continuously traded off
during the folding process.
Anson moved to the Rockefeller Institute in 1927, where he remained
for fifteen years (1927-1942). He worked closely with John H. Northrop.
In 1937, Anson first purified and crystallized carboxypeptidase A
Carboxypeptidase A
Carboxypeptidase A usually refers to the pancreatic exopeptidase which hydrolyzes peptide bonds of C-terminal residues with aromatic or aliphatic side chains...
, a
classic model system of protein science.
Advances in Protein Chemistry
Anson was the founding editor of Advances in Protein Chemistry,which remains one of the leading journals for reviewing the state
of biochemical problems. Anson conceived the journal in long
discussions with Kurt Jacoby, who had fled Nazi Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and had once headed the Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft in
Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
Nutritional research
Anson was haunted by the suffering caused in the underdevelopedworld by poor nutrition, and in 1942, left a prestigious research
position at the Rockefeller Institute to investigate
biochemical and genetic methods for improving the nutrition
of foods, e.g., amino acid fortification.
Personal history
In 1945, Tim Anson married Nina Anton, who was active in the theater. Together, they had at least one daughter, Jill (Mrs. John Szarkowski). Nina Anson died of a heart attack in October 1963. Tim Ansondied on 1 October 1968 of his third heart attack (the first two having been in early 1966 and the summer of 1968).
Anson was good friends with Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, especially during Bartók's final years in America.