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Lawlor, D. W. 2014. William Stanley Pierpoint (1930-2013). Portland Press Ltd. doi:10.1042/BIO03601056

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• https://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BIO03601056

The output can be accessed at: https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/96z50/william- stanley-pierpoint-1930-2013.

25/11/2019 16:42 repository.rothamsted.ac.uk [email protected]

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William Stanley Pierpoint (1930–2013)

Council at the Unit for Research in Cell [e.g. Jervis, L. and Pierpoint, W.S. (1989) Metabolism in Sheffield for a PhD with Hans Purification technologies for plant proteins. Krebs (he of the eponymous metabolic cycle Journal of Biotechnology 11, 161–198]. One title in the mitochondria), Nobel Prize Laureate encapsulates Stan’s wry humour ‘Phenolics in in 1953 and knighted in 1958. There Stan foods and feedstuffs: the pleasures and perils studied enzymes and metabolism mainly in of vegetarianism’. There were also many careful bacteria. On Krebs’ departure from Sheffield, experimental studies of cell components, Stan decided not to move with him and after phosphatases, phosphoesterases, ribonucleases Downloaded from https://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/1/56/6265/bio036010056.pdf by UK user on 25 November 2019 the PhD in 1953 he joined the Biochemistry and N-acylamine acid acyclase, which were Department of Rothamsted Experimental of importance in DNA replication. There was Station, to work under William (‘Bill’) Pirie a very strong regard for scientific rigour in FRS (elected in 1949). Stan’s research, with considerable emphasis on As those with experience of Rothamsted solving technical problems, but always with the then and Bill Pirie attest, management and aim of using the methods to resolve a larger- equipment were minimal, but individualism scale scientific question. was encouraged and Stan was soon publishing, Another important interest of Stan’s lay in an activity he never gave up, writing in his understanding the effect on plant metabolism lucid and erudite English style on technical and of viruses and pathogens, a strong point in detailed science which gradually blossomed the Rothamsted of Pirie and the then director, to include science-derived and related topics Sir Frederick Bawden FRS. Stan’s pioneering of historical interest. In the early 1960s Stan work (in collaboration) led to identification (together with his wife Maureen and children) of specific proteins resulting from infections, Stan, as he was always known, joined had a 2-year sabbatical at the University of called pathogenesis-related proteins [Pierpoint, Rothamsted Experimental Station (now California, USA, with George Laties, forging W.S., Robinson, N.P. and Leason, M.B. (1981) Rothamsted Research), the agricultural a lifetime friendship. Stan served as the The pathogenesis-related proteins of tobacco: research institution in Harpenden, Membership Secretary of the Phytochemical their induction by viruses in intact plants and Hertfordshire, UK, in 1954 beginning a 36-year Society. their induction by chemicals in detached leaves. career as a research biochemist and a lifelong Moving to a department interested in Physiological Plant Pathology 19, 85–97]. Later, association with Rothamsted. Stan studied, leaf proteins and metabolism, Stan looked in retirement, this expertise led Stan to editing as he put it, “…biochemical entities, proteins, for the Krebs cycle and did important work, (together with Peter Shewry) and contributing viruses and organelles, extracted from plants, particularly in isolating mitochondria and a chapter in Genetic Modification of Crop Plants mainly mature green leaves”. A common theme demonstrating that they oxidized Krebs cycle for Resistance to Pests and Diseases. in his published work was to overcome the acids, producing ATP [e.g. Pierpoint, W.S. From studies of mechanisms of difficulty “of extracting such entities, unaltered (1959). Mitochondrial preparations from pathogenesis Stan developed an interest in and in their functional state, from the complex the leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) salicylic acid (‘Aspirin’) and its role in regulating milieu of disintegrated, homogenized tissue Biochemical Journal 71, 518–528]. He was, metabolism in infected cells; after retirement and the specialized compartments within cells.” however, somewhat disappointed at not he published not only on its biochemistry, but Stan succeeded and was the first to isolate intact identifying the peroxisome. also on the history of its discovery and the mitochondria, capable of ATP synthesis. Significant advances were made on the discoverers and eventual exploitation. He had, Born in Stoke-on-Trent, the son of Ann effects on proteins of substances released it seems, fun with papers such as ‘Why should and William Pierpoint, Stan completed his during cell disruption, e.g. flavonoids and plants make medicine – don’t they do enough schooling at Morecambe Grammar School, phenolics and the products of their oxidation, for mankind already?’ [W.S. Pierpoint (2000) Lancashire, UK, a co-ed (perhaps a good including o-quinones. Stan showed that these The Biochemist 22(1), 37–40]. grounding for his social skills), in 1948. There reacted with the amino acids and thiols in Stan’s humour and writing are illustrated by a biology teacher, Mrs Pearsall, wife of a well- proteins, including potato virus X, forming this extract from a letter, “The reminder in the known ecologist, had considerable influence. characteristic coloured products [e.g. Pierpoint article by [author’s name] of the 100th birthday However, he studied chemistry for his BSc in W.S. (1969) o-Quinones formed in plant of the Aspirin must have provided celebratory Sheffield, UK, from 1948 to 1951, obtaining a extracts. Their reactions with amino acids and street parties all around the country; let’s hope first: it seems that he was fascinated early by the peptides. Biochemical Journal 112, 609–616], that the analgesic properties of the little white atomic/molecular scale and mechanisms. Then reactions still important in food processing pills coped adequately with any consequential followed a grant from the Medical Research and storage. This expertise resulted in reviews hangovers”. Then, after an analysis of more

technical points about the synthesis of aspirin Stone for the Royal Society. His later writings Stan was a man of great integrity: in science by plants, he concludes: “But if plants don’t continued to be more historical, including a he pursued his interests, which were focused but make Aspirin itself, they could be persuaded study of a doctor, Henry Stephens, inventor of not narrow, to the great benefit of the subject to do so, as fortuitous juxtaposition of this high-grade ink, from Redbourn where Stan and and to the intellectual life of Rothamsted, with article with one on Genetic Engineering might Maureen lived. A book entitled The Unparallel rigour, persistence and eloquence. He was suggest. The thought of seeing fields of Aspirin- Lives of Three Medical Students: John Keats unfailingly courteous, helpful and positive containing potato plants scattered across the (1795–1821), Henry Stephens (1796–1864) towards PhD students, not only his own, Home Counties might give people headaches, and George Wilson Mackereth (1793–1869): and to younger scientists as well as the more Downloaded from https://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/1/56/6265/bio036010056.pdf by UK user on 25 November 2019 but at least, the remedy would be close at hand”. Pencraft, Poetry and Persistent Practice appeared established. He is survived by Maureen, whom Stan was awarded a DSc for his outstanding in 2010, and an article on Charles Severn, a he married in 1957, their children, Judith and work and research record in 1990, the year fellow medical student of Keats, in the Keats– Nicholas, and five grandchildren, to whom he of retirement. He continued reviewing the Shelley Review in September 2012. These gave was inspirational and caring. ■ literature related to cell metabolism and him a little pride and much pleasure as did his responses to pathogens. Also, Stan wrote life-long membership of the Labour Party and a David Lawlor an obituary of Pirie and a paper on Edward term as Parish Councillor in Redbourn. (Rothamsted Research, UK)

On the passing of Fred Sanger, Michael Neuberger and Sir John Cornforth

The Biochemical Society is saddened to notebooks (1944–1981) to the Society Oxford University in 1941. After the war, he learn of the passing of Fred Sanger, Michael providing an important snapshot in the moved to the Medical Research Council’s Neuberger and Sir John Cornforth, three history of science and a record of experiments National Institute for Medical Research in internationally renowned biochemists whose leading to his award-winning work. London where, with George Popják, he went work inspired and continues to inspire Michael Neuberger’s elegant research on to devise a complete carbon-by-carbon researchers throughout the world. into antibodies did much to increase our degradation of the 19-carbon ring structure A brilliant biochemist and a modest man understanding of how the body defends of cholesterol and to identify, by means of whose passion lay in laboratory life, Fred itself against microbes. He was awarded radioactive tracers, the arrangement of the Sanger was awarded two Nobel Prizes in the Novartis Medal by the Society in 2002. acetate groups from which the system is built. Chemistry and was only the fourth person Michael Neuberger was a Fellow of Trinity Alongside Vladimir Prelog, John Cornforth ever to be so honoured. The first, in 1958, College, Cambridge, where he was a director won the 1975 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for was for his work ‘on the structure of proteins, of studies in Natural Sciences, and deputy his research on the stereochemistry of enzyme- especially that of insulin’ and the second, in director of Cambridge’s Medical Research catalysed reactions. 1980 shared with Walter Gilbert and Paul Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Full obituaries for Fred Sanger, Michael Berg, for work on base sequences in DNA. Sir John Cornforth was born in Sydney, Neuberger and Sir John Cornforth will be Fred Sanger kindly donated his laboratory Australia, and earned his doctorate from published in the future issues of The Biochemist. ■