Thressa Stadtman
American biochemist
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Thressa Campbell Stadtman (February 12, 1920 – December 11, 2016) was an American biochemist, notable for her discovery of selenocysteine,[2] and her research on selenoproteins and bioenergetics. In addition she made significant advances in amino acid metabolism, enzymes dependent on vitamin B12, and the biochemistry of microbes.[3]
February 12, 1920[1]
- Discovery of selenocysteine
- Member of the National Academy of Sciences
Thressa Stadtman | |
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Thressa Stadtman in her lab, ca. 1970s | |
| Born | Thressa Campbell February 12, 1920[1] |
| Died | December 11, 2016 (aged 96) |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | Earl Reece Stadtman |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute |
| Thesis | Studies on the methane-producing bacteria. (1949) |
| Doctoral advisor | Horace Albert Barker |
Life
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In 1920, she was born in Sterling, New York. In 1940, she graduated from Cornell University, with a B.S. in Microbiology, and in 1942, with a M.S. in Microbiology and Nutrition. In 1949, she graduated from University of California, Berkeley, with a Ph.D. in Microbial Biochemistry. Her thesis was titled "Studies on Methane Fermentations", and subsequently worked as a postdoc for Christian B. Anfinsen at Harvard Medical School.[4]
She was married to Earl Reece Stadtman whom she met when they were both graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley.[5] They were both hired by what was then the National Heart Institute in 1950 becoming the first husband-and-wife team at the National Institutes of Health.[5] They both oversaw their own biochemistry labs and collaborated closely. In 2005, they were both honored by the NIH with an exhibit titled "The Stadtman Way: A Tale of Two Biochemists at NIH." [6] She retired from the NIH in 2009.[4]
Over a 60-year period, starting in 1943, she published 212 peer-reviewed papers.[7]
Stadtman was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1981.[8]
Stadtman died in December 2016 at the age of 96.[9]