Herschel K. Mitchell

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Herschel K. Mitchell
Born
Herschel Kenworthy Mitchell

(1913-11-27)November 27, 1913
heat shock
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
InstitutionsCalifornia Institute of Technology

Herschel Kenworthy Mitchell (November 27, 1913 – April 1, 2000) was an American professor of

heat shock response.[1][2]

Early life and education

Mitchell was born on November 27, 1913, in

folic acid. He is recognized as a co-discoverer of folic acid, which the three scientists extracted from four tons of processed spinach.[1][3][4][5]

In 1943 Mitchell moved from Texas to Stanford University to work as a research associate with George Beadle, who at the time was studying the genetics of metabolism in Neurospora (a fungus that served as a model organism[6]: viii ). When Beadle moved his research group from Stanford to Caltech in 1946, Mitchell moved with him, along with other research fellows such as Norman Horowitz.[7] Trained as a chemist, Mitchell used this experience to learn about molecular genetics, which he would apply to other model organisms in his future research.[1]

Academic career

Mitchell began his independent research career with an appointment as an associate professor of biology at Caltech in 1949 and advanced to full professor in 1953. His early research continued to focus on the genetics of Neurospora, including the first biochemical demonstration of a missing enzyme (tryptophan synthase) from a metabolically deficient Neurospora mutant.[8] This finding was an essential step in establishing the central idea that genes control metabolism by producing (in a manner not then understood) the enzymes required for specific metabolic reactions. This idea came to be known as the one-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis, and later the one-gene-one-polypeptide hypothesis.

He subsequently worked on the genetics of

heat shock response and has been described as a "founding father" of the heat shock field.[1]

With research fellow Robert P. Wagner, Mitchell coauthored a textbook called Genetics and Metabolism in the 1950s. It was reviewed as an important guide to the then-emerging synergy between the two fields.[9]

Mitchell retired from Caltech in 1984, assuming

professor emeritus status.[1]

Personal life

Mitchell was an enthusiastic athlete who brought his hobby to Caltech, establishing a recreational athletic league for graduate students and managing the Caltech teams, which included students and faculty from a variety of departments, for 25 years.

glassblower who used his skills to make chemistry laboratory equipment and for a time supported his family by working in a glassblowing shop.[7]

Mitchell had a debilitating stroke in 1990, and recovered his speech but continued to have physical difficulties and used a wheelchair thereafter. He died on April 1, 2000, following a second stroke.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Horowitz, Norman (2000). "Herschel Kenworthy Mitchell, 1913–2000". Engineering and Science. No. 63. pp. 41–2. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Herschel K. Mitchell; Caltech Biochemist, Teacher". Los Angeles Times. April 2, 2000. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. PMID 8352584
    .
  4. S2CID 22925228
    .
  5. doi:10.1021/ja01853a512
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-19-802857-4
    .
  7. ^ a b c Mitchell, Herschel (December 1997). "Interview with Herschel K. Mitchell" (Interview). Interviewed by Shirley K. Cohen. Pasadena, California: Caltech Oral Histories. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Mitchell HK, Lein J. A Neurospora mutant deficient in the enzymatic synthesis of tryptophan. J Biol Chem. 1948;175(1):481.
  9. doi:10.1086/401198
    .
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