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Hans Euler-ChelpinSwedish biochemist
Date of Birth: 15.02.1873
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Ulf von Euler was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 7, 1873, to a family descended from the renowned mathematician Leonard Euler. He graduated from the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in 1893 before pursuing studies in chemistry and medicine at the universities of Berlin, Strasbourg, and Göttingen.
Academic Career
In 1906, von Euler became a professor at Stockholm University, where he served until 1929. He founded and chaired the Swedish Chemical Society from 1908 to 1963. In 1929, he became the director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and the Institute of Vitamins.
Biochemical Research
Von Euler's scientific work primarily focused on understanding the mechanisms of various biochemical processes. He explored the kinetics of sugar fermentation and elucidated the mechanisms involved. Notably, he recognized the acceleration of chemical reactions in living organisms due to enzymes and coined the term "biocatalysis."
Furthermore, von Euler delved into the structure and mechanism of action of vitamin A (in collaboration with P. Karrer) and demonstrated that β-carotene serves as a provitamin A and is present in the pigment of the eye. He also made significant contributions to the study of tumor biochemistry.
Honors and Recognition
In 1929, von Euler was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, jointly with Arthur Harden, "for their investigations on the fermentation of sugar and of fermentative enzymes." He became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1927 and a foreign corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1927.
Legacy
Ulf von Euler passed away on November 6, 1964, leaving behind an enduring legacy in the field of biochemistry. His pioneering research on enzyme catalysis and vitamin metabolism continues to shape our understanding of these fundamental processes in living organisms.
