Memories: from protein synthesis to photosynthesis

Emphasis herein is on the early years of my scientific life, primarily in graduate school and at the McCollum-Pratt Institute, Johns Hopkins University, as techniques learned and research performed then became the basis for future scientific endeavors. Studies on the mechanism of conversion of light energy into chemical free energy were a logical consequence of earlier investigations on enzyme-catalyzed hydrogen transfer reactions and pyridine nucleotide coenzyme biochemistry. Identification of several protein factors involved in pyridine nucleotide reduction by illuminated chloroplasts is described and, hopefully, adequately and honestly referenced to complementary research in other laboratories. Coupled with progress were changes in nomenclature of the protein factors and are so noted. In particular, David Wharton proposed the descriptive name, ferredoxin, for the non-heme iron and labile sulfide-containing proteins which serve as redox cofactors in a variety of energy conserving reactions. The inclusion of "Lessons" is adapted from Efraim Racker (1976, A new look at mechanisms in bioenergetics. Academic Press, NY). They are lessons that I learned and are included herein solely for graduate students.