Franz Leuthardt (biochemist)

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Franz Leuthardt (born September 13, 1903 in Liestal ; † August 28, 1985 in Rüschlikon ) was a Swiss biochemist.

Life

He was the son of the natural scientist Franz Leuthardt and studied botany and mathematics at the University of Basel, where he turned to biochemistry (then physiological chemistry) under the influence of Karl Spiro . In 1932 he completed his habilitation under Spiro's successor, Siegfried Edlbacher, and in 1936 became head of the chemical laboratory at the University Clinic in Zurich. In 1937 he completed his habilitation in clinical chemistry in Zurich and in 1942 he became professor of physiological chemistry in a newly created chair at the University of Geneva . In 1947 he succeeded Emil Abderhalden as professor of physiological chemistry at the University of Zurich and director of the associated institute. From 1958 to 1960 he was dean of the medical faculty. In 1973 he retired.

He dealt particularly with the amino acid metabolism, including the biosynthesis of glutamine , citrulline , arginine , glycine and hippuric acid . He was also able to localize various biochemical enzymatic reactions in body cells. He localized the enzymes of the citric acid cycle in the mitochondria (also found in the USA by Albert Lester Lehninger ). Another area for which he was known was the detailed elucidation of the fructose metabolism, in particular the breakdown of fructose in the liver and the enzymes involved (such as aldolase , their purification and structure elucidation ). He also dealt with the biosynthesis of purines and pterines .

In 1958 he became a member of the Leopoldina . He was a member of the Swiss Research Council. In 1961 he received an honorary doctorate from the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern. In 1960 he received the Otto Naegeli Prize .

In 1932 he married Edith Bolza.

Fonts

  • with S. Edlbacher: Textbook of Physiological Chemistry , De Gruyter 1954 and more often, (originated from the processing of S. Edlbacher Brief Textbook of Physiological Chemistry ), new edition 1977 as Leuthardt: Intermediärstoffwechsel , De Gruyter.

Web links

References and comments

  1. ^ Member entry of Franz Leuthardt at the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina , accessed on January 13, 2016.
personal data
SURNAME Leuthardt, Franz
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss biochemist
DATE OF BIRTH September 13, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Liestal
DATE OF DEATH August 28, 1985
Place of death Rüschlikon