James B. Sumner
Who was James B. Sumner?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1946)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on James B. Sumner (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
James Batcheller Sumner, born on November 19, 1887, in Canton, was an American biochemist who made groundbreaking discoveries about enzyme structure and function. He studied at Roxbury Latin School, Harvard Medical School, Stockholm University, and the Free University of Brussels, gaining the knowledge and skills crucial for his later work in biochemistry.
Sumner's most important scientific discovery was that enzymes could be crystallized. This challenged the scientific beliefs of his time, as many thought enzymes were too complex and unstable for crystallization. Despite initial skepticism, Sumner persisted and successfully crystallized the enzyme urease from jack beans in 1926. This proved that enzymes could form crystals and confirmed that enzymes are proteins, resolving a long-debated question in science.
His work gained widespread recognition when he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946, alongside John Howard Northrop and Wendell Meredith Stanley. Sumner was specifically honored for crystallizing urease. He also received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1937 and was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Sumner's research opened new paths for studying biochemistry and protein chemistry, as his findings showed that enzymes are proteins and helped explain how they work at a molecular level. This was essential for advancements in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. He continued his research on enzyme kinetics and protein structure throughout his career until his death on August 12, 1955, in Buffalo.
Before Fame
James Sumner's early education at Roxbury Latin School got him ready for Harvard Medical School, where he became interested in biochemistry. In the early 20th century, biological sciences were rapidly advancing, and scientists were beginning to understand the molecular basis of life. Biochemistry was a new field as researchers started applying chemical principles to biological systems.
During Sumner's early years, scientists didn't fully understand the nature of enzymes. Even though their catalytic properties were known, there was a lot of debate about their chemical composition and structure. Many leading biochemists thought enzymes were too complex to be just simple proteins, paving the way for Sumner's groundbreaking discoveries that would challenge these established views.
Key Achievements
- First scientist to successfully crystallize an enzyme (urease) in 1926
- Proved that enzymes are proteins, resolving a major scientific debate
- Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946 for enzyme crystallization work
- Received Guggenheim Fellowship in 1937 for biochemical research
- Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Did You Know?
- 01.Sumner lost his left arm in a hunting accident at age 17 but continued his laboratory work by developing techniques to perform complex experiments with one hand
- 02.His crystallization of urease took place at Cornell University, where he spent most of his career despite initial skepticism from colleagues about his research direction
- 03.The crystallization of urease was achieved using ammonium sulfate precipitation, a technique that became standard in protein purification
- 04.Sumner's Nobel Prize was awarded 20 years after his initial discovery, reflecting the time it took for the scientific community to fully accept his findings
- 05.He taught himself to drive a car and even learned to tie his shoes with one hand after his hunting accident
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1946 | for his discovery that enzymes can be crystallized |
| Guggenheim Fellowship | 1937 | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |