Chemistry: 1929

1) Harden, Sir Arthur (1865-1940), a British biochemist, was awarded the 1929 Nobel Prize for chemistry for his research into sugar fermentation and enzymes. He shared the prize with German chemist Hans von Euler-Chelpin.

Harden's early work centered on the action of light on mixtures of carbon dioxide and chlorine. He used his comprehensive chemical background to explore biological processes, such as alcoholic fermentation, metabolism, and the chemical action of bacteria. He also researched into vitamins that prevent or cure neuritis (inflammation of nerves) and scurvy (a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C). Harden's research into the fermentation of sugars by bacteria proved that yeast juice is not necessary for fermentation. Harden also studied the nutrition of soldiers during World War I (1914-1918).

From 1913 to 1938, Harden was joint editor of the Biochemical Journal. In 1899, he wrote Inorganic Chemistry for Advanced Students and, in 1911, his book Alcoholic Fermentation was published. His other books include A New View of the Origin of Dalton's Atomic Theory (1896) and A Treatise on Chemistry (1905).

Harden was born in Manchester, England. He studied chemistry at Manchester University. He spent a year at Erlangen, Germany, and then returned to Manchester. In 1912, he became emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of London. He also worked at the Jenner Institute of Preventive Medicine (later called the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine) in London. He was knighted in 1936.

2) Euler-Chelpin, Hans Karl August Simon von pronounced OY luhr KEHL puhn, (1873-1964), a German-born Swedish biochemist, carried out research into enzymes (substances that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without themselves being changed) and the alcoholic fermentation of sugar. Euler-Chelpin's first work in biochemistry, in 1904, centered on the action of enzymes. During the early 1900's, he researched the chemistry of plants and fungi. Euler-Chelpin started research into vitamins in 1924 and helped to explain the structure of several vitamins. During the late 1920's, Euler-Chelpin returned to the chemistry of enzymes, including those called saccharase, urease, catalase, and zymase. He demonstrated that zymase was activated by vitamins A and B. In 1929, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry, sharing it with the British biochemist Arthur Harden.

Euler-Chelpin's researches into enzyme chemistry were subsequently used in the study of heredity and of blood serum. In 1935, he studied the biochemistry of cancer and tumors. Between 1914 and 1958, Euler-Chelpin wrote a number of books and monographs, including Chemie der Enzyme (Chemistry of the Enzyme, 1925-1934).

Euler-Chelpin was born in Augsburg, Germany. He studied art at the Munich Academy of Painting until 1893. He then researched physics and chemistry at the universities of Berlin, Gottingen, Paris, and Stockholm. Euler-Chelpin's son, Ulf Svante von Euler, was awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine.