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Fred Sherman: a Pioneer in Genetics

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Fred Sherman: a Pioneer in Genetics CLASS NOTES TRIBUTE Fred Sherman: A Pioneer in Genetics Fred Sherman, a pioneer in genetics and long hours of laboratory work, large doses mance of Indian dance (dance was a major molecular biology, was a member of the of Fred’s zany humor, and after-hours interest and activity of Fred’s), his thoughts Rochester faculty for 52 years, from 1961 sampling of the local night-life. It provided and conversation quickly returned to yeast. until his death last September. The breadth an introduction to yeast for many scientists His encyclopedic memory of 50 years of of his scientific contributions over the span who went on to become leaders in modern yeast genetics included much information of years that saw the development of that was never published and is now, modern molecular biology is simply sadly, lost. Fortunately, his engagement breathtaking. Fred’s early scientific with science was tempered by humor studies focused on the gene encoding that found expression both in a staple the protein cytochrome c in baker’s of often-repeated jokes for every occa- yeast, establishing this as a power- sion and in carefully crafted comedic ful system that allowed him to make remarks that he proffered in the guise fundamental contributions to the initial of questions and comments at scientific deciphering of the genetic code. His seminars. He semi-seriously referred to determination of the DNA sequence himself as the world’s expert in yeast of the gene encoding cytochrome c, genetic nomenclature, and once tried one of the first eukaryotic genes to be to win a dispute with an editor about sequenced, served as the basis for the the naming of a particular yeast gene first cloning of a gene from a eukary- by announcing that he had tattooed otic organism. the name he favored on his chest and Fred went on to make criti- that it would be extremely painful to cal contributions in understanding have it changed. Despite his success, control of gene expression, mecha- Fred maintained a skepticism of the nisms of mutagenesis, RNA synthesis scientific establishment exemplified by and degradation, protein synthesis, his often-repeated reminder that just post-translational modifications of because a certain result is published in proteins, protein folding, intracellular a prestigious scientific journal, “doesn’t trafficking of proteins, and degrada- necessarily mean that it is wrong.” tion of proteins. Working with his Fred spent 16 years as chair, first wife, Elena Rustchenko-Bulgac, he of the Department of Biochemistry, LEADER: Sherman helped the biochemistry and also made important contributions to then of the combined Department biophysics department earn national stature. the genetics of the pathogenic yeast of Biochemistry and Biophysics. He Candida albicans. In recognition of these ac- biology, including one of this year’s Nobel recruited outstanding faculty, establishing complishments, Fred was inducted into the Prize winners, Randy Schekman of UC the department as a recognized center of National Academy of Sciences and received Berkeley, whose work has relied heavily on research in molecular biology. He went to an honorary degree from the University of yeast genetics. Fred trained dozens of un- great lengths to support the careers of fac- Minnesota, among many other awards and dergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral ulty in his department and former members accolades. fellows, many of whom now lead laborato- of his lab. He will be missed by all of us. Fred is considered one of the founders of ries at major research institutions. Many of —Mark Dumont the modern field of yeast genetics, based Fred’s trainees and colleagues from around both on his research accomplishments and the United States returned to Rochester for Dumont is a professor of biochemistry and on a summer course that he codirected a memorial service in December. biophysics at Rochester. A link to a video at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Fred traveled widely, accepting countless of the memorial service for Sherman can Long Island. The course, which he cotaught invitations for seminars and meeting presen- be found at www.urmc.rochester.edu/ for 17 years, mostly with Gerald Fink of tations, but, whether traveling through beau- biochemistry-biophysics/news-events/ MIT, involved rigorous scientific analysis, tiful British countryside or enjoying a perfor- news/. Robert S. Breidenthal ’71, Peter Franchuk ’77, Walter DelGaudio ’88M (Res), David C. Capucilli ’99, January 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 Jeffrey S. Dean ’71, Stephen Cadden ’82M (Flw), Celia Lamb ’91, Roy Greenberg ’97M (Res), ’99M December 2013 January 2014 November 2013 (Flw), December 2013 Mark D. Gottsegen ’71, Joyce Moone ’82, Larry J. McGiboney ’91E (MM), Louka Bekiarov ’04, September 2013 January 2014 January 2014 May 2013 Gary A. Braun ’72S (MBA), John G. Swanson ’83, Craig M. Epstein ’95, Amy Adele Foster ’06E (DMA), January 2014 January 2014 November 2013 January 2014 Charlene Jackson Cutforth Gregory A. Voit ’83, ’87M (MD), June B. Hubner ’96W (MS), ’75N, ’85N (MS), January 2014 December 2013 December 2013 60 ROCHESTER REVIEW March–April 2014 UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND PRESERVATION 6_RochRev_Mar2014_Notes.indd 60 2/22/14 12:22 PM.
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