Sir John Cornforth

Sir John Cornforth. Sir John Warcup Cornforth was an Australian-British chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalysed reactions. His pioneering research, conducted primarily at the University of Oxford and the University of Sussex, elucidated the three-dimensional course of biochemical transformations, fundamentally advancing the fields of organic chemistry and enzymology. Despite becoming profoundly deaf in early adulthood, Cornforth's brilliant experimental insights made him one of the most respected chemists of his generation.

Early life and education

John Cornforth was born in Sydney and showed an early aptitude for science, conducting chemistry experiments in his family's home. He attended Sydney Boys High School before enrolling at the University of Sydney, where he earned a Bachelor of Science with first-class honours in 1937. At Sydney, he met his future wife and lifelong scientific collaborator, fellow chemist Rita Harradence. In 1939, both Cornforth and Harradence won 1851 Research Fellowships to study at the University of Oxford, where he began his doctoral work under the supervision of Robert Robinson, a leading figure in organic synthesis. His early research at Oxford focused on the synthesis of cholesterol, laying the groundwork for his future Nobel-winning investigations.

Scientific career and research

After completing his D.Phil. at Oxford, Cornforth joined the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council in 1946, working at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. There, in collaboration with George Popják, he began his seminal studies on the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Using innovative techniques with radioactive tracers, particularly carbon-14 and tritium, they meticulously mapped the intricate steps by which the simple precursor acetic acid is assembled into the complex steroid. This work required the synthesis of stereospecifically labelled compounds, a formidable challenge that Cornforth mastered, allowing him to trace the fate of individual hydrogen atoms during enzymatic reactions.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry

In 1975, John Cornforth was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalysed reactions." He shared the prize with Vladimir Prelog, who was honoured for his research on molecular chirality. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences specifically cited Cornforth's elegant studies on the enzymes of the mevalonate pathway, which controls terpenoid and steroid biosynthesis. His experiments provided the first detailed three-dimensional picture of how enzymes manipulate their substrates, demonstrating an unprecedented level of precision in bioorganic chemistry. The award was widely seen as a triumph for his persistent, meticulous experimental approach to solving profound biochemical problems.

Later life and legacy

Following his Nobel Prize, Cornforth's stature in the scientific community grew. He served as a Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Sussex from 1975 to 1982. His later work continued to explore enzyme mechanisms and the chemistry of penicillin. Among his many subsequent honours were the Copley Medal of the Royal Society in 1982 and a knighthood in 1977. He remained an active and influential figure in chemistry, contributing to the work of organisations like the Royal Institution and mentoring younger scientists. His legacy endures in the continued study of enzymatic stereochemistry and chemical biology, fields he helped to define.

Personal life

In 1941, John Cornforth married fellow chemist Rita Harradence, who was an indispensable partner in both his life and his laboratory work, often preparing the critically pure compounds his research demanded. The couple had three children. Cornforth began losing his hearing in his late teens due to otosclerosis, and was profoundly deaf by the age of 20. He relied on lip-reading and the support of his wife to communicate. Despite this significant challenge, he maintained a sharp wit and a deep love for classical music, feeling the vibrations of the instruments. He died in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2013 at the age of 96.

Category:Australian chemists Category:Nobel laureates in Chemistry Category:1917 births Category:2013 deaths