Rudolph Schoenheimer

Rudolf Schoenheimer
Born May 10, 1898
Berlin
Died September 11, 1941 (1941-09-12) (aged 43)
Cause of death Suicide
Nationality German/ U.S.
Alma mater Friedrich Wilhelm University
Known for isotope tagging of biomolecules
Scientific career
Fields biochemistry
Institutions Columbia University
Influenced Peter D. Klein, Ph.D.

Rudolf Schoenheimer (May 10, 1898 – September 11, 1941) was a German/ U.S. biochemist who developed the technique of isotope tagging of biomolecules, enabling detailed study of metabolism. This work revealed that all the constituents of an organism are in a constant state of chemical renewal.

Born in Berlin, after graduating in medicine from the Friedrich Wilhelm University there, he learned further organic chemistry at the University of Leipzig and then studied biochemistry at the University of Freiburg[1] where he rose to be Head of Physiological Chemistry.

He spent the 1930-31 academic year at the University of Chicago.

In 1933, following the rise of the Nazis to power he emigrated from Germany to the Columbia University to join the department of Biological Chemistry. Working with David Rittenberg, from the radiochemistry laboratory of Harold C. Urey and later together with Konrad Bloch, they used stable isotopes to tag foodstuffs and trace their metabolism within living things.[1]

He further established that cholesterol is a risk factor in atherosclerosis.[1]

He suffered from manic depression all of his life,[2] which led to him in 1941 committing suicide using cyanide.[1] He had been honoured with the request to give the Dunham Lecture at Harvard before his death. It was read for him following his death.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 [Anon.] (2001)
  2. ↑ Medawar & Pyke. Page 156.
  • Kennedy, E P (2001), "Hitler's gift and the era of biosynthesis", J. Biol. Chem. (published Nov 16, 2001), 276 (46), pp. 42619–31, doi:10.1074/jbc.R100051200, PMID 11559714
  • Young, V R; Ajami, A (1999), "The Rudolf Schoenheimer Centenary Lecture. Isotopes in nutrition research", The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (published Feb 1999), 58 (1), pp. 15–32, PMID 10343336
  • Olson, R E (1997), "The dynamic state of body constituents (Schoenheimer, 1939)", J. Nutr. (published May 1997), 127 (5 Suppl), pp. 1041S–1043S, PMID 9164302
  • Guggenheim, K Y (1991), "Rudolf Schoenheimer and the concept of the dynamic state of body constituents.", J. Nutr. (published Nov 1991), 121 (11), pp. 1701–4, PMID 1941176
  • Ratner, S; Rittenberg, D; Keston, A S; Schoenheimer, R (1987), "The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Volume 134, June 1940: Studies in protein metabolism. XIV. The chemical interaction of dietary glycine and body proteins in rats. By S. Ratner, D. Rittenberg, Albert S. Keston, and Rudolf Schoenheimer", Nutr. Rev. (published Oct 1987), 45 (10), pp. 310–2, PMID 3320825
  • Shemin, D (1987), "On the impact on biochemical research of the discovery of stable isotopes: the outcome of the serendipic meeting of a refugee with the discoverer of heavy isotopes at Columbia University", Anal. Biochem. (published Mar 1987), 161 (2), pp. 365–9, doi:10.1016/0003-2697(87)90464-7, PMID 3555154
  • Sinohara, H (1986), "[Rudolf Schoenheimer: a biographical essay]", Seikagaku (published Dec 1986), 58 (12), pp. 1449–70, PMID 3553368
  • Goldstein, J L (1986), "On the origin and prevention of PAIDS (Paralyzed Academic Investigator's Disease Syndrome)", J. Clin. Invest. (published Sep 1986), 78 (3), pp. 848–54, doi:10.1172/JCI112652, PMC 423687, PMID 3528221
  • Stetten, D (1982), "Rudi", Perspect. Biol. Med., 25 (3), pp. 354–68, PMID 6763679

Bibliography

  • [Anon.] (2001) "Schoenheimer, Rudolf", Encyclopædia Britannica, Deluxe CDROM edition
  • Medawar, Jean: Pyke, David (2012). Hitler's Gift: The True Story of the Scientists Expelled by the Nazi Regime (Paperback). New York: Arcade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61145-709-4.


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