Max F. Perutz
Who was Max F. Perutz?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1962)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Max F. Perutz (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Max Ferdinand Perutz was an Austrian-born British molecular biologist known for his groundbreaking work on protein structures through X-ray crystallography. Born in Vienna on May 19, 1914, he attended the Theresianum for his early education, then studied at the University of Vienna and later at Cambridge University, where he spent most of his career. His work changed how scientists understood the molecular basis of life.
In 1962, Perutz shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with John Kendrew for their pioneering studies on the structures of hemoglobin and myoglobin. He dedicated over 20 years to determining the three-dimensional structure of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in blood. To achieve this, he developed new techniques to solve the phase problem in X-ray crystallography, including using heavy atoms for isomorphous replacement.
Perutz also played a key role in shaping molecular biology as a field. He founded and led the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge University from 1962 to 1979, turning it into one of the world's top research institutions. The lab attracted exceptional scientists and led to fourteen Nobel Prize winners under his guidance.
Throughout his career, Perutz received many honors, including the Royal Medal in 1971 and the Copley Medal in 1979 from the Royal Society. He became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and received the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts. Besides research, he wrote about science for a wider audience, notably in his book 'Is Science Necessary? Essays on Science and Scientists,' where he examined the link between science and society. He passed away in Cambridge on February 6, 2002, after continuing his research as an emeritus scientist.
Before Fame
Perutz grew up in Vienna during the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He attended the Theresianum, a top school started by Empress Maria Theresa, where he got a classical education. Although his family worked in textiles, he was drawn to chemistry and natural sciences early on. After starting his studies at the University of Vienna, he transferred to Cambridge University in 1936 to research X-ray crystallography with J.D. Bernal.
He arrived just as X-ray crystallography was starting to be seen as an important way to study biological molecules. In the 1930s, people were increasingly interested in using physical methods to tackle biological questions, and Cambridge was becoming a hub for this new approach. When Perutz chose to study the structure of hemoglobin, many were doubtful because they thought protein molecules were too complex to figure out structurally. His determination in tackling what seemed like an impossible challenge would eventually change structural biology.
Key Achievements
- Determined the three-dimensional structure of hemoglobin using X-ray crystallography
- Shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with John Kendrew for studies of protein structures
- Founded and directed the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge University
- Developed the method of isomorphous replacement for solving protein crystal structures
- Established one of the most successful scientific institutions in history, producing fourteen Nobel laureates
Did You Know?
- 01.Perutz was interned as an enemy alien on the Isle of Man and in Canada during World War II, despite having fled Nazi persecution
- 02.His determination of hemoglobin structure took 22 years to complete, requiring analysis of over 100,000 X-ray reflections
- 03.He participated in a secret wartime project called Habakkuk, which aimed to build aircraft carriers from ice and wood pulp
- 04.Perutz's laboratory at Cambridge had no formal hierarchy - Nobel laureates worked alongside graduate students in an open collaborative environment
- 05.He continued working in his laboratory until just weeks before his death at age 87, maintaining an active research program for over six decades
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1962 | for their studies of the structures of globular proteins |
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |
| Copley Medal | 1979 | — |
| Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order | — | — |
| Royal Medal | 1971 | — |
| Otto Warburg Medal | 1993 | — |
| Wilhelm Exner Medal | 1967 | — |
| Sir Hans Krebs Medal | 1968 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Vienna | — | — |
| Croonian Medal and Lecture | 1968 | — |
| honorary doctorate of Salzburg University | — | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |
| Austrian Decoration for Science and Art | 1967 | — |
| Honorary member of the British Biophysical Society | — | — |
| honorary doctorate from University of Paris-XI | 1993 | — |