Gertrude Theresa Radnitz Gerty Cori. Born: August 15, 1896 Prague, Austro-Hungarian Empire

Transcription

1 Gerty Cori

2 Gertrude Theresa Radnitz Gerty Cori Born: August 15, 1896 Prague, Austro-Hungarian Empire

3 Education Tutors at home until age 10 Private School graduated 1912 Accepted to University of Prague Medical School in 1914 Met Carl Cori in 1914 WWI Both graduated in 1920 Also first published paper Married in Vienna

4 Leaving Europe Europe devastated after WWI The first World War had shaken my feeling of security and had undermined my confidence in a peaceful solution of national conflicts. Dreadful forces seemed to be a work which sooner or later would lead to another world war Carl Cori

5 America State Institute for the Study of Malignant Disease Today: Roswell Park Cancer Institute Buffalo, New York Carl: Biochemist Free to do whatever research Gerty: Assistant Pathologist Told will loose her job if she continued to work with Carl

6 Buffalo Adaption to new surroundings Natural Citizens papers published which has lead to Cori Cycle Left Buffalo for St. Louis Washington University Medical School..pieces of work we carried out from time to time seemed appropriate in an institution devoted to cancer research, but what we considered to be our main interest, an investigation of carbohydrate metabolism and its regulation, was not directly related --Carl Cori

7 St. Louis 1931 Carl: Chairmanship Position Pharmacology Department Gerty: Research Position in Pharmacology Department 1947 Carl: Chairman of Biochemistry Department Gerty: Professor of Biochemistry

8 Cori Cycle Prior Thought: Hydrolysis converted glycogen to glucose Glucose is stored in the liver as glycogen When glycogen is broken down it provides energy for the body s needs. The Cori s believed another factor influenced the breakdown of glycogen Lactic Acid Muscle glycogen is broken down to blood lactic acid Lactic Acid transported to the liver and converted to glucose. Once the molecule is in the high energy form, it can be distributed back to the body for immediately use or stored in the liver as glycogen for future use

9 Cori Ester The Cori s demonstrated the breakdown of glycogen involved the formation of a substance glucose-1-phosphate or Cori ester Able to isolate this enzyme, which was a catalyst for this reaction They name this enzyme phosphorylase. Enzyme involved in both the synthesis and the cleavage of glycogen In the years following, Gerty would isolation and identify other enzymes involved in the formation and a breakdown of glycogen Cori Ester

10 Nobel Prize Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine Shared with Bernardo Alberto Houssay

11 Gerty did not give a Banquet Speech Nobel Prize First American Woman to receive award in Science Only 3 rd woman in science to receive an award since 1901 Gerty did give a Nobel Lecture December 11, 1947

12 Gerty s Publications and Awards Between 80 and 150 papers published Midwest Award for the American Chemical Society (1946) Squibb Award of Association for the Study of Internal Secretion (1947) Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology (1947) Frances P. Garven Medal, American Chemical Society (1948) St. Louis Award (1948) Sugar Prize of the National Academy of Sciences (1950) Borden Award of the Association of American Medical Colleges (1951)

13 Gender Discrimination Possibility of loosing job in Buffalo In1924 Acceptance letter from Journal of Experimental Medicine Gerty as Mrs. Cori all others Dr. Heading of the Institute's stationary Carl: Biological Chemist Gerty s position did not warrant such title

14 Gender Discrimination University of Buffalo Offered position to Carl under 3 conditions: Take speech lessons Stop working on insulin Stop collaboration with Gerty Carl declined stating the last two requirements were not acceptable Gerty was pulled aside and told that she was standing in the way of my [Carl] career and that it was un-american for a man to work with his wife

15 Gender Discrimination Washington University Gerty began she made 10% of Carl s Salary Took 16 years for her to become a full professor Acceptance to Societies Honors Nobel Lecture

16 End of an Era In 1947, Gerty experienced first signs of myelofibrosis Multiple blood transfusions kept her alive She passed away October 26, 1957