Our Australia: Sir John Cornforth

Sir John Cornforth investigated enzymes that catalyze change in organic compounds by taking the place of hydrogen atoms in a substrate’s chains and rings. In his syntheses and descriptions of the structure of various terpenes, olefins, and steroids, he determined specifically which cluster of hydrogen atoms in a substrate is replaced by an enzyme to cause a given change in the substrate. This allowed Cornforth to detail the biosynthesis of cholesterol, an exceptionally complex molecule. He received the Nobel Prize in 1975 with Vladimir Prelog. Remadevi Dhanasekar explains the achievements of John Cornforth Patrick White in “Namma Australia”.