- Email: [email protected]
Dear Earl
PERSONAL NOTES
meeting organized at NIH for the 65th birthday of Earl and Terry. I visited Bethesda again on several occasions and I always paid a visit to their laboratory, always learning something about glutamine synthetase, ageing, or other topics. The scientific culture of Earl is immense and, in spite of his absence of loquacity, he somehow finds the way to communicate it to others. This is evident from the long list of his successful students, collaborators, and friends. I wish him and Terry, whom I cannot dissociate from him, a long and productive life. Georges Cohen Department of Biochemistry and Genetic Microbiology Institut Pasteur Paris, France doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2648
Dear Earl: I can hardly believe that it was 1956 when I joined your laboratory in the basement of Building 3 at NIH. Your group was very small at that time. It included Terry, Barbara Kalckar, Marjorie Horning, Marty Flavin, and a couple of technicians. A few things stand out in my memory of 45 years. First, you spoke so softly in describing your research projects during our first meeting that I thought I had gone deaf over the excitement of hearing about your research. I later realized my hearing was okay. You just spoke softly all the time unless you were excited. Loud exchanges and even shouting occurred during debates that were provoked during the seminars that were regular fixtures of the Stadtman Lab. I then remember your generosity with a beginner MD postdoc. You were personally working on a microbial propionic acid fermentation. You explained the reactions you were studying, put my hands on a Beckman DU spectrophotometer, and walked me through its operations. Of course, you were following an enzymatic reaction that you described for me. Then you stepped back and said, “Now you take over.” I falteringly took over. We worked together initially. You tutored me in microbial biochemistry and enzymology. Within a short time you moved to another project, leaving the short chain fatty acid project with me. It was not long before I began my work on the biosynthesis of fatty acids that became the central project of my academic career, and you made it possible by handing over your main research project to me and moving to another challenge. During those early years I sat in on your evening course at NIH on microbial biochemistry. I missed a few lectures because I had some clinical responsibilities as a Clinical Associate and Diana and I were
449
starting a young family, activities that sometimes interfered. The following year, you and Terry were to take a sabbatical in Germany and France. As you were preparing to leave, you asked whether I would mind taking over your course during your absence. I was flattered, but I was just beginning to find my way around biochemistry through reading and our seminars. I certainly did not think I was ready to lecture to a bunch of smart postdocs at NIH. I said that I had not attended all the lectures and so did not have a complete set of notes on the course. You said, very quickly, that this would not be a problem because I could work from your notes. Thus, I gave my first course in biochemistry, covering your microbial fermentation lectures at NIH. I really had to sweat that out. I certainly learned a lot of biochemistry during your sabbatical year and went on to teach and practice this discipline for much of my career. Al Alberts came to the laboratory because he had been a graduate student at the University of Maryland where he had taken your course. He wanted a job as a technician to earn some money for his young family. He liked your course and asked to work in your laboratory. You took him on but asked him to work with me. I was then beginning my work on the mechanism of fatty acid biosynthesis. Al joined me about 1958. We worked together continuously while I remained at NIH, then moved to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and finally we moved to Merck where we both finished our careers. Our work evolved from studies of fatty acids, to complex lipids and to sterols. Al discovered Lovastatin at Merck where we developed the first safe and effective medicine for lowering blood cholesterol. Somehow you were involved in many of the key events that became the underpinnings of my career. You were absent in only one—I was already married to Diana when I joined your lab and she participated in every step of my life since I was a medical student, so she was there one step ahead of you. But over the many years you, Terry, and Diana have constituted my nuclear family. Love to you and to Terry. P. Roy Vagelos Merck & Co., Inc. Bedminster, New Jersey doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2647
Dear Earl: It is a great pleasure to offer you my best wishes on this marvelous occasion. Today it is not uncommon to judge scientists on their mentoring ability. I was very
450
PERSONAL NOTES
fortunate to have you as mentor at a time when this was not often the case. A few things stand out in my memory that have greatly affected my scientific life. The first is bringing my data to your office in order to tell you what I was doing. After we had finished going over the results, you sat quietly for a minute or two and I thought we were finished. But then you began to explain what might be going on and what all the possibilities were, and there were many I had not considered. That experience taught me to think carefully about each experiment before beginning the next. As a result, I frequently tell my postdocs the following: “The data are trying to tell you something but you must pay attention.” I remember when I was to give my first paper on nicotinic acid metabolism at a biochemistry meeting. We rehearsed until it was perfect. Make it clear, you said, “Explain why the experiment was done, how was it done, what the results are and what they mean.” I cannot count how many times have I done that with my postdocs. And finally, you and Terry took us into your home to meet your friends, to enjoy good company, good wine, and good food. So over several years we fledgling postdocs evolved into junior scientists ready to take on our own projects. Your trainees have worked in many different areas of biochemistry studying bacteria, animal cells, or plants. Whatever our projects, we had learned from you what questions to ask and how to answer them. Earl, thanks for your mentoring, your support, and your friendship. My hearty congratulations. Ira H. Pastan National Institutes of Health, NCI Bethesda, Maryland doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2645
Dear Earl: I was surprised to hear that a year ago you “retired” from the position of editor of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. I know that you had done this “job” for quite a number of years but, admittedly, I do not know how many. Likewise, I do not know for sure what this function entailed, but I am quite certain that you are leaving behind an indelible legacy of journalistic quality and excellence. Journals are like institutions: their quality and reputation are not defined by their appearance or their
size, but by what they achieve. And these achievements are dependant on, and solely the products of, the people who serve the institutions—in fact, the people are the institutions! When one looks at what you have done for the National Institutes of Health, it does not take long to realize that the reputation of the NIH rests on the shoulders of people like you. The world of science cannot express enough gratitude to you for what you have done: first-class research with a long-lasting impact on your field and others, and development of a myriad of scientists who emulate you in industry and academia and contribute directly and indirectly to the better health of the American people. Furthermore, you have been a model of how to conduct oneself and of how to be a very nice person indeed. I suspect that the Archives have benefitted enormously from the very things the NIH and, especially, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have received from you. I have no doubt that the Archives will miss you, and maybe you also will miss the Archives, but I am sure they know that what they are today is largely due to your leadership. On a personal note, I can only say that I am so very pleased that you are with us at the Institute. Thank you and warm regards. Claude Lenfant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2643
Earl, PRPP, and Me When I worked in the Stadtman lab as a postdoctoral fellow from 1966 to 1968, I was staying “in the family,” in the sense that I had earned a Ph.D. degree with Prof. H. A. Barker at Berkeley. Prof. Barker had served as doctoral mentor to both Earl and Terry Stadtman and had a tremendous influence on the scientific development of both. I had developed a background in microbial metabolism and enzymology with Dr. Barker and wanted to continue in the same areas. Earl Stadtman would not only stimulate the growth in my mastery of these areas, he would transform my thinking about biochemistry by catalyzing my lifelong fascination with the multiple forms of metabolic regulation: allostery, covalent modification, selective proteolysis, and regulation of transcription. What an era it was to be in the Stadtman lab! The lab was filled with bright, enthusiastic postdocs pursuing a fascinating array of subjects. Besides Earl and Terry, I had frequent and vigorous interactions with Ben Shapiro, Henry Kingdon, Bernie Babior, Lou
meeting organized at NIH for the 65th birthday of Earl and Terry. I visited Bethesda again on several occasions and I always paid a visit to their laboratory, always learning something about glutamine synthetase, ageing, or other topics. The scientific culture of Earl is immense and, in spite of his absence of loquacity, he somehow finds the way to communicate it to others. This is evident from the long list of his successful students, collaborators, and friends. I wish him and Terry, whom I cannot dissociate from him, a long and productive life. Georges Cohen Department of Biochemistry and Genetic Microbiology Institut Pasteur Paris, France doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2648
Dear Earl: I can hardly believe that it was 1956 when I joined your laboratory in the basement of Building 3 at NIH. Your group was very small at that time. It included Terry, Barbara Kalckar, Marjorie Horning, Marty Flavin, and a couple of technicians. A few things stand out in my memory of 45 years. First, you spoke so softly in describing your research projects during our first meeting that I thought I had gone deaf over the excitement of hearing about your research. I later realized my hearing was okay. You just spoke softly all the time unless you were excited. Loud exchanges and even shouting occurred during debates that were provoked during the seminars that were regular fixtures of the Stadtman Lab. I then remember your generosity with a beginner MD postdoc. You were personally working on a microbial propionic acid fermentation. You explained the reactions you were studying, put my hands on a Beckman DU spectrophotometer, and walked me through its operations. Of course, you were following an enzymatic reaction that you described for me. Then you stepped back and said, “Now you take over.” I falteringly took over. We worked together initially. You tutored me in microbial biochemistry and enzymology. Within a short time you moved to another project, leaving the short chain fatty acid project with me. It was not long before I began my work on the biosynthesis of fatty acids that became the central project of my academic career, and you made it possible by handing over your main research project to me and moving to another challenge. During those early years I sat in on your evening course at NIH on microbial biochemistry. I missed a few lectures because I had some clinical responsibilities as a Clinical Associate and Diana and I were
449
starting a young family, activities that sometimes interfered. The following year, you and Terry were to take a sabbatical in Germany and France. As you were preparing to leave, you asked whether I would mind taking over your course during your absence. I was flattered, but I was just beginning to find my way around biochemistry through reading and our seminars. I certainly did not think I was ready to lecture to a bunch of smart postdocs at NIH. I said that I had not attended all the lectures and so did not have a complete set of notes on the course. You said, very quickly, that this would not be a problem because I could work from your notes. Thus, I gave my first course in biochemistry, covering your microbial fermentation lectures at NIH. I really had to sweat that out. I certainly learned a lot of biochemistry during your sabbatical year and went on to teach and practice this discipline for much of my career. Al Alberts came to the laboratory because he had been a graduate student at the University of Maryland where he had taken your course. He wanted a job as a technician to earn some money for his young family. He liked your course and asked to work in your laboratory. You took him on but asked him to work with me. I was then beginning my work on the mechanism of fatty acid biosynthesis. Al joined me about 1958. We worked together continuously while I remained at NIH, then moved to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and finally we moved to Merck where we both finished our careers. Our work evolved from studies of fatty acids, to complex lipids and to sterols. Al discovered Lovastatin at Merck where we developed the first safe and effective medicine for lowering blood cholesterol. Somehow you were involved in many of the key events that became the underpinnings of my career. You were absent in only one—I was already married to Diana when I joined your lab and she participated in every step of my life since I was a medical student, so she was there one step ahead of you. But over the many years you, Terry, and Diana have constituted my nuclear family. Love to you and to Terry. P. Roy Vagelos Merck & Co., Inc. Bedminster, New Jersey doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2647
Dear Earl: It is a great pleasure to offer you my best wishes on this marvelous occasion. Today it is not uncommon to judge scientists on their mentoring ability. I was very
450
PERSONAL NOTES
fortunate to have you as mentor at a time when this was not often the case. A few things stand out in my memory that have greatly affected my scientific life. The first is bringing my data to your office in order to tell you what I was doing. After we had finished going over the results, you sat quietly for a minute or two and I thought we were finished. But then you began to explain what might be going on and what all the possibilities were, and there were many I had not considered. That experience taught me to think carefully about each experiment before beginning the next. As a result, I frequently tell my postdocs the following: “The data are trying to tell you something but you must pay attention.” I remember when I was to give my first paper on nicotinic acid metabolism at a biochemistry meeting. We rehearsed until it was perfect. Make it clear, you said, “Explain why the experiment was done, how was it done, what the results are and what they mean.” I cannot count how many times have I done that with my postdocs. And finally, you and Terry took us into your home to meet your friends, to enjoy good company, good wine, and good food. So over several years we fledgling postdocs evolved into junior scientists ready to take on our own projects. Your trainees have worked in many different areas of biochemistry studying bacteria, animal cells, or plants. Whatever our projects, we had learned from you what questions to ask and how to answer them. Earl, thanks for your mentoring, your support, and your friendship. My hearty congratulations. Ira H. Pastan National Institutes of Health, NCI Bethesda, Maryland doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2645
Dear Earl: I was surprised to hear that a year ago you “retired” from the position of editor of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. I know that you had done this “job” for quite a number of years but, admittedly, I do not know how many. Likewise, I do not know for sure what this function entailed, but I am quite certain that you are leaving behind an indelible legacy of journalistic quality and excellence. Journals are like institutions: their quality and reputation are not defined by their appearance or their
size, but by what they achieve. And these achievements are dependant on, and solely the products of, the people who serve the institutions—in fact, the people are the institutions! When one looks at what you have done for the National Institutes of Health, it does not take long to realize that the reputation of the NIH rests on the shoulders of people like you. The world of science cannot express enough gratitude to you for what you have done: first-class research with a long-lasting impact on your field and others, and development of a myriad of scientists who emulate you in industry and academia and contribute directly and indirectly to the better health of the American people. Furthermore, you have been a model of how to conduct oneself and of how to be a very nice person indeed. I suspect that the Archives have benefitted enormously from the very things the NIH and, especially, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have received from you. I have no doubt that the Archives will miss you, and maybe you also will miss the Archives, but I am sure they know that what they are today is largely due to your leadership. On a personal note, I can only say that I am so very pleased that you are with us at the Institute. Thank you and warm regards. Claude Lenfant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland doi:10.1006/abbi.2001.2643
Earl, PRPP, and Me When I worked in the Stadtman lab as a postdoctoral fellow from 1966 to 1968, I was staying “in the family,” in the sense that I had earned a Ph.D. degree with Prof. H. A. Barker at Berkeley. Prof. Barker had served as doctoral mentor to both Earl and Terry Stadtman and had a tremendous influence on the scientific development of both. I had developed a background in microbial metabolism and enzymology with Dr. Barker and wanted to continue in the same areas. Earl Stadtman would not only stimulate the growth in my mastery of these areas, he would transform my thinking about biochemistry by catalyzing my lifelong fascination with the multiple forms of metabolic regulation: allostery, covalent modification, selective proteolysis, and regulation of transcription. What an era it was to be in the Stadtman lab! The lab was filled with bright, enthusiastic postdocs pursuing a fascinating array of subjects. Besides Earl and Terry, I had frequent and vigorous interactions with Ben Shapiro, Henry Kingdon, Bernie Babior, Lou