description Vincent du Vigneaud Overview
Vincent du Vigneaud (1901–1978) was an American biochemist who received the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the first total synthesis of a polypeptide hormone, oxytocin. Working at Cornell University Medical College, he determined the structure of oxytocin—a cyclic peptide of nine amino acids that stimulates uterine contraction and milk ejection—and subsequently synthesized it in the laboratory. He also elucidated the structure of vasopressin, a related hormone involved in blood pressure regulation and water balance, and contributed to research on sulfur-containing amino acids and biotin. His work established that peptide hormones could be produced by chemical synthesis.
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Vincent du Vigneaud ranks #167 of 203 in the Chemist ranking, behind Marcellin Berthelot, ahead of Fritz Pregl.
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Why did Vincent du Vigneaud receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry?
Vincent du Vigneaud was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work synthesizing oxytocin. This was the very first time a polypeptide hormone had been totally synthesized in a laboratory.
Where did Vincent du Vigneaud conduct his famous oxytocin research?
He conducted this Nobel-winning research while working at the Cornell University Medical College. There, he successfully determined the chemical structure of oxytocin prior to synthesizing it.
What structural discovery did Vincent du Vigneaud make regarding oxytocin?
Du Vigneaud determined that oxytocin is a cyclic peptide composed of a specific sequence of nine amino acids. Understanding this cyclic structure was the critical breakthrough that allowed him to artificially synthesize the hormone.
What is the biological function of the hormone synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud?
Oxytocin is a vital hormone that plays a major role in childbirth and maternal bonding. Du Vigneaud's successful synthesis of this hormone allowed it to be produced commercially for medical use in inducing labor.
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