Proteins were first described as a distinct class of biological molecules in the early 1800s. While several scientists contributed to their early understanding, Gerardus Johannes Mulder, a Dutch chemist, is credited with the initial description and elemental analysis of proteins in 1838. His work, which showed that many proteins shared a similar empirical formula (C400H620N100O120P1S1), was pivotal in establishing proteins as a separate class of biological molecules. The name "protein" itself was coined by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius around the same time.
However, it's important to note that the understanding and study of proteins evolved over time. Scientists in the 1700s were already aware of some protein-related phenomena. Later discoveries, such as the identification of specific proteins (like ACE2 by Susan Acton) and the elucidation of protein structures (like the alpha-helix and beta-sheet by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey), further advanced the field. Many researchers have made significant contributions to our understanding of proteins, their functions, and their roles in various biological processes, including recent discoveries of new protein activities and biomarkers for diseases.
Key Figures in Protein Discovery and Research:
- Gerardus Johannes Mulder (1838): Described and analyzed proteins, establishing them as a distinct class of molecules.
- Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1838): Coined the term "protein."
- Antoine Fourcroy (18th century): Early recognition of proteins as a distinct group of molecules.
- Susan Acton: Discovered the ACE2 protein.
- Linus Pauling and Robert Corey: Discovered the alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures.
- Numerous other scientists have contributed to our current knowledge of proteins through their work on protein synthesis, structure, function, and roles in disease.
