Alfred Gottschalk (biochemist)
Encyclopedia
Alfred Gottschalk was a German biochemist who was a leading authority in glycoprotein
research. During his career he wrote 216 research papers and reviews, and four books.
Gottschalk was born in Aachen
, the third of four children to Benjamin and Rosa Gottschalk. He choose to study medicine, from 1912 he attended the Universities of Munich, Freiburg im Breisgau
and Bonn
; the War
interrupted his studies, but he completed them in 1920 graduating MD
from the University of Bonn. He completed clinical work experience at the medical schools of Frankfurt am Main and Würzburg
and physiology
-biochemistry
studies at Bonn, that led to his first publications, an award from the University of Madrid
and an invitation to work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Experimental Therapy and Biochemistry with Carl Neuberg
. In 1923 he married Lisbeth Berta Orgler, together they had one son.
Gottschalk left the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry in 1926 to become Director of the Biochemical Department at the General Hospital in Szczecin
. He left the hospital in 1934 following upheaval in Nazi Germany
and entered private practice, left for England
in the spring of 1939, and on to Melbourne
in July. He was offered a position as a biochemist by Charles Kellaway
Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
, he also taught biochemistry and organic chemistry at the Melbourne Technical College
and later at the University of Melbourne
. In 1945 he became a naturalized British citizen.
At the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Gottschalk collaborated with Frank Macfarlane Burnet
. They discovered neuraminidase
. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Science
in 1954.
In 1959 he was invited by Frank Fenner
to research at the John Curtin School of Medical Research
at the Australian National University
. He left Canberra for Germany in 1963, where he was appointed Guest-Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Virus Research
in Tübingen
. He continued active research and for his contributions to science was elected to the Fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
in 1967 and received honorary doctorates from the University of Melbourne (DS) and the University of Münster
(DM).
The Gottschalk Medal
for medical research awarded by the Australian Academy of Science is named in his honour.
Glycoprotein
Glycoproteins are proteins that contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to polypeptide side-chains. The carbohydrate is attached to the protein in a cotranslational or posttranslational modification. This process is known as glycosylation. In proteins that have segments extending...
research. During his career he wrote 216 research papers and reviews, and four books.
Gottschalk was born in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, the third of four children to Benjamin and Rosa Gottschalk. He choose to study medicine, from 1912 he attended the Universities of Munich, Freiburg im Breisgau
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
and Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
; the War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
interrupted his studies, but he completed them in 1920 graduating MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Bonn. He completed clinical work experience at the medical schools of Frankfurt am Main and Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
-biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
studies at Bonn, that led to his first publications, an award from the University of Madrid
Complutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of...
and an invitation to work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Experimental Therapy and Biochemistry with Carl Neuberg
Carl Neuberg
Carl Alexander Neuberg was an early pioneer in biochemistry, and often referred to as the "Father of Biochemistry".He was the first editor of the journal Biochemische Zeitschrift. This journal was founded in 1906 and is now known as the FEBS Journal. Neuberg was born in Hanover, Germany and...
. In 1923 he married Lisbeth Berta Orgler, together they had one son.
Gottschalk left the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry in 1926 to become Director of the Biochemical Department at the General Hospital in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
. He left the hospital in 1934 following upheaval in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and entered private practice, left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the spring of 1939, and on to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in July. He was offered a position as a biochemist by Charles Kellaway
Charles Kellaway
Charles Halliley Kellaway, MB, BS, MD, MS, MC, FRS, was an Australian medical researcher and science administrator.-Early years and education:...
Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
, he also taught biochemistry and organic chemistry at the Melbourne Technical College
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
and later at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. In 1945 he became a naturalized British citizen.
At the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Gottschalk collaborated with Frank Macfarlane Burnet
Frank Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, , usually known as Macfarlane or Mac Burnet, was an Australian virologist best known for his contributions to immunology....
. They discovered neuraminidase
Neuraminidase
Neuraminidase enzymes are glycoside hydrolase enzymes that cleave the glycosidic linkages of neuraminic acids. Neuraminidase enzymes are a large family, found in a range of organisms. The most commonly known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase, a drug target for the prevention of the spread...
. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
in 1954.
In 1959 he was invited by Frank Fenner
Frank Fenner
Frank John Fenner, AC, CMG, MBE, FRS, FAA was an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology...
to research at the John Curtin School of Medical Research
John Curtin School of Medical Research
The John Curtin School of Medical Research is a major biomedical research centre in Australia, and part of the Australian National University, Canberra. The school was founded in 1948, as a result of the vision of Australian Nobel Laureate Sir Howard Florey and Prime Minister John Curtin.The Nobel...
at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. He left Canberra for Germany in 1963, where he was appointed Guest-Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Virus Research
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. He continued active research and for his contributions to science was elected to the Fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
in 1967 and received honorary doctorates from the University of Melbourne (DS) and the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
(DM).
The Gottschalk Medal
Gottschalk Medal
The Gottschalk Medal is awarded every year by the Australian Academy of Science to recognize outstanding research by Australian scientists under 40 years of age in the medical sciences.This medal commemorates the work of the late Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, FAA....
for medical research awarded by the Australian Academy of Science is named in his honour.