Feodor Felix Konrad Lynen (6 April 1911 – 6 August 1979) was a German biochemist. In 1964, Lynen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Life and Career
He was born on 6 April 1911, in Munich, German Empire. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1937. During his studies, he was particularly interested in the field of biochemistry, which led him to pursue research in this area.
After completing his Ph.D., he began his research in biochemistry at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Cell Physiology in Berlin.
During World War II, he worked on the development of synthetic fuels and was briefly imprisoned by the Allies.
After the war, Lynen returned to academic research and became a professor at the University of Munich in 1953. He continued to study the mechanisms of cellular metabolism, focusing on the biosynthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. He discovered the enzymes and biochemical pathways involved in the biosynthesis of these molecules, which are essential for many cellular processes, including the formation of cell membranes and the production of hormones.
He died on 6 August 1979, in Munich, West Germany.
Award and Legacy
In 1964, Lynen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with Konrad Bloch, for their work on the mechanisms of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. Their research has had a significant impact on our understanding of the fundamental processes that underlie life.
His contributions to the field of biochemistry and metabolism have had a lasting impact on science. His discovery of the biosynthesis pathways of cholesterol and fatty acids has helped to advance our understanding of the underlying causes of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. His work also laid the foundation for the development of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, which are widely used today to treat high cholesterol levels.
21 January: Remembering Konrad Emil Bloch on his Birth Anniversary