Carl Neuberg
Encyclopedia
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 studied chemistry at the University of Berlin. In his early work in Germany, he worked on solubility and transport in cells, the chemistry of carbohydrate
s, photochemistry
, as well as investigating and classifying different types of fermentation
. He was also a pioneer in the study of the chemistry of amino acid
s and enzyme
s.
Neuberg was head of the biochemistry section of one of the first Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
s (that of August von Wasserman). In the 1910s, after announcing the discovery of an enzyme
he called "carboxylase" (which catalyzed the decarboxylation of pyruvic acid
), he developed a theory of the alcoholic fermentation of glucose
. Support for his theory was bolstered when he helped develop an industrial process that contributed materially to the German war effort in World War I
, manufacturing glycerol
—for the production of explosives—by the fermentation of sugar.
Neuberg made a particularly important discovery in 1916: hydrotropy, a solubilization process where the addition of large amounts of a second solute causes an increase in the aqueous solubility of a different solute.
Due to his Jewish origin, Neuberg was forced by the Nazis
to end his work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry in 1936 and leave Germany in 1937. He moved to the United States, where he continued to work on enzymes and cell transport processes. Successor for the position at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry became Adolf Butenandt
.
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...
, 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
FEBS Journal
FEBS Journal is a scientific journal published by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies . Before 2005, this journal was known as the European Journal of Biochemistry, which itself was the new name of Biochemische Zeitschrift that was adopted in 1967...
. Neuberg was born in Hanover, Germany and studied chemistry at the University of Berlin. In his early work in Germany, he worked on solubility and transport in cells, the chemistry of carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
s, photochemistry
Photochemistry
Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.. Everyday examples include photosynthesis, the degradation of plastics and the formation of vitamin D with sunlight.-Principles:Light is a type of...
, as well as investigating and classifying different types of fermentation
Fermentation (biochemistry)
Fermentation is the process of extracting energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, using an endogenous electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound. In contrast, respiration is where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor, such as oxygen,...
. He was also a pioneer in the study of the chemistry of amino acid
Amino acid
Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...
s and enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
s.
Neuberg was head of the biochemistry section of one of the first Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
The Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science was a German scientific institution established in 1911. It was implicated in Nazi science, and after the Second World War was wound up and its functions replaced by the Max Planck Society...
s (that of August von Wasserman). In the 1910s, after announcing the discovery of an enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
he called "carboxylase" (which catalyzed the decarboxylation of pyruvic acid
Pyruvic acid
Pyruvic acid is an organic acid, a ketone, as well as the simplest of the alpha-keto acids. The carboxylate ion of pyruvic acid, CH3COCOO−, is known as pyruvate, and is a key intersection in several metabolic pathways....
), he developed a theory of the alcoholic fermentation of glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...
. Support for his theory was bolstered when he helped develop an industrial process that contributed materially to the German war effort in World War I
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...
, manufacturing glycerol
Glycerol
Glycerol is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids...
—for the production of explosives—by the fermentation of sugar.
Neuberg made a particularly important discovery in 1916: hydrotropy, a solubilization process where the addition of large amounts of a second solute causes an increase in the aqueous solubility of a different solute.
Due to his Jewish origin, Neuberg was forced by the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
to end his work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry in 1936 and leave Germany in 1937. He moved to the United States, where he continued to work on enzymes and cell transport processes. Successor for the position at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biochemistry became Adolf Butenandt
Adolf Butenandt
Adolf Friedrich Johann Butenandt was a German biochemist and member of the Nazi party. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939 for his "work on sex hormones." He initially rejected the award in accordance with government policy, but accepted it in 1949 after World War...
.
External links
- Carl Neuberg Papers American Philosophical Society Accessed 6 April 2007
- History of Chemistry Journals
- FEBS Journal Homepage of the FEBS Journal