Luis Federico Leloir, an Argentinean physician and biochemist, made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of carbohydrate metabolism, earning him the prestigious Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Despite being born in France, Leloir’s family relocated to Argentina when he was just two years old. His research focused on the role of adrenalin and the effects of oxidized fatty acids on carbohydrate metabolism. Leloir’s most significant contribution was uncovering the process by which carbohydrates are broken down into sugar and converted into energy in the body. Notably, he demonstrated that scientific research of international caliber could be conducted in a developing country, even amidst political unrest. Leloir’s resourcefulness as a craftsman allowed him to construct his own equipment when funding for research was scarce, enabling him to continue his work unhindered.
Quick Facts
- Died At Age: 81
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Amelia Zuberbuhler, father: Federico Leloir, mother: Hortensia Aguirre de Leloir, children: Amelia
- Died on: December 2, 1987
- Place of death: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- City: Paris
- Education: University of Buenos Aires
- Awards: Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (1967), Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1970), ForMemRS (1972), Legion of Honour (1982)
Childhood & Early Life
Luis Federico Leloir was born in Paris, France, on September 6, 1906. His parents had come to Paris for medical treatment. His father, Federico Leloir, was a non-practicing lawyer and his mother was Hortensia Aguirre de Leloir. After his father died in Paris, he returned to Argentina with his mother. He attended various schools including the ‘Escuela General San Martin’ primary school, the ‘Colegio Lacordaire’ secondary school, and the ‘Beumont College, England’ for a short period of time. He also studied architecture at the ‘Ecloe Polytechnique’ in Paris but had to drop out due to poor grades. He then joined the ‘Department of Medicine’ at the University of Buenos Aires and received his degree in medicine in 1932. He did his internship at the ‘Ramos Mejia Hospital’ in Buenos Aires from 1932 to 1934.
Career
Luis Federico Leloir started his career as a research assistant at the ‘Institute of Physiology’ under the ‘University of Buenos Aires’. He worked there with Bernardo A. Houssay on the role of adrenalin on carbohydrate metabolism from 1934 to 1935. He then moved to the UK and worked at the ‘Biochemical Laboratory’ of ‘Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins Hospital’ under the ‘University of Cambridge’. After returning to Argentina, he completed his doctoral work on the effect of the adrenal glands on carbohydrate metabolism. In 1943, he moved to the United States and joined the department of pharmacology at the ‘Washington University School of Medicine’ in St. Louis. He worked with Carl F. and Gerty T. Cori at the ‘Cori’s Laboratory’. He returned to Argentina in 1945 to work under Houssay again at the ‘Campomar Biochemical Research Institute’ in Buenos Aires. In 1947, he became the Director of the institute. Despite limited funding, he conducted research on the formation and breakdown of lactose in the body, which led to the discovery of nucleotides involved in carbohydrate biosynthesis. He also studied the reasons for hypertension due to a malfunctioning kidney. In 1956, when the funding for the institute stopped, Leloir arranged for funds from the ‘National Institute of Health’ in the United States to continue the research.
A fruitful collaboration between Leloir’s institute and the ‘School of Sciences of Buenos Aires’ began in 1958 when the government sanctioned a new building for the institute. Leloir was appointed the Head and Professor of the ‘Department of Biochemistry’ at the ‘University of Buenos Aires’ in 1962. He remained the director of the ‘Campomar Biochemical Research Institute’ until his death in 1987.
Major Works
Luis Federico Leloir’s major works include his research on the role of adrenalin on carbohydrate metabolism, the discovery of nucleotides involved in carbohydrate biosynthesis, and the elucidation of the ‘Leloir pathway’ responsible for galactose metabolism.
Awards & Achievements
Luis Federico Leloir received several awards and honors throughout his career. He received the ‘Third National Science Award’ in 1943 and became a member of the ‘National Culture Commission of Argentina’ in 1944. He received various awards including the ‘T. Ducett Jones Memorial Award’, the ‘Bunge and Born Foundation Award’, the Canadian ‘Gairdner Foundation Award’, and the ‘Louisa Gross Horowitz Award’. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1970. He also received honorary degrees from several universities.
Personal Life & Legacy
Luis Federico Leloir married Amelia Zuberbuhler in 1937 and had a daughter named Amelia. He passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 2, 1987. He is remembered for his invention of the popular Argentine sauce called ‘salsa golf’ and for his unassuming, courteous, and humorous temperament.