Sutherland, Earl W., Jr.

Sutherland, Earl W. (Wilbur), Jr.

(1915–74) biochemist; born in Burlingame, Kans. At Washington University (St. Louis) (1940–53), he identified the role of the enzyme phosphorylase in glucose metabolism. At Case Western Reserve (1953–63), he discovered how adrenaline regulates carbohydrate metabolism in the liver (1955). In 1956 he isolated a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP), then demonstrated its activation by hormones. For this accomplishment, he won the 1971 Nobel Prize for physiology. After moving to teach at Vanderbilt (1963–73), he relocated to the University of Miami Medical School (1973–74).