Purdue University
Department of Biochemistry
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
December 1973
Dear Friends,
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When the ginko trees in front of the Biochemistry Building suddenly
drop their leaves, it's time to start thinking of light and bubbly greetings
for the Christmas letter. This is ever a pleasure, even if the past has been
lean and somber for Purdue because of financial strictures. It's no consolation
to know that this disease is affecting most universities. The cure is known but
it's hard to get the prescription filled.
Our wandering professors returned this fall: Howard Zalkin from Yanofsky's
bacterial emporium at Stanford where he regulated the in vitro synthesis of proteins
and Hank Weiner from von Wartburg's lab in Bern where he mused over the metabolism
of neurogenic amines.
In the coming year we are really going to feel deserted, for this is the year
that Forrest Quackenbush retires. There is going to be a real void here scientifi¬
cally, administratively, but most of all, personally. The position Forrest holds
and the function he fills are considered so important by the administration that
despite the common practice of the University to freeze vacancies, our Department
has been authorized to search for an assistant professor of lipids.
Space problems plague us continuously. We report proudly that in an unsolicited
effort to help, three of our devoted colleagues are making the big sacrifice. Some¬
time this next year they will be taking sabbaticals. Larry Butler is headed for the
University of Oregon to work with Frank Reithel on imprisoning urease and walking it
backward. Fred Regnier is planning to visit Harvard to meddle in the sex and social
life of insects with E. 0. Wilson. Vic Rodwell is aiming for Oxford to study protein
turnover (not as tasty as apple turnover but J.B.C. likes the former) with Joel Mandel-
stam.
Ed Mertz was lured back to Missoula, Montana with a dinner last October by his
old a3ma mater who then forced a Distinguished Service Award on him.
The 1973 Arnold Kent Balls Award for the outstanding graduate student went to
Joanne Killinger. She now holds a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship and is with
Ki-han Kim. As for the whereabouts of the previous winners: Joe Villafranca is an
assistant professor, Chemistry Department, Penn State; Ellen Henderson is P.D.-ing in
Julian Gross' lab in Edinburgh; Dave Shapiro is with Schimke at U.C., San Francisco
Medical School and Idowu Iweibo is with Gregorio Weber at the U. of Illinois.
1973 is a landmark year for Catherine Weygold. She completed her 50th year of
devoted service and nobody remembers when she didn't finish up her day's work on the
same day. With her wonderful spirit and kindness she has long held the Purdue record
for the person with the greatest number of admirers.
Not only has biochemical regulation made a big name in the research end of the
Department, but feed, seed, fertilizer, and not least pesticide regulation has really
boomed so that Elwyn Schall and his crew have forgotten what a dull moment is.
It is a pleasure to mention that Jack Dixon joined us in July in the Medical Educa¬
tion program, coming from U.C, San Diego, where he was a post-doc with Nathan Kaplan
when he wasn't teaching medical students. Tom Bruice at U.C, Santa Barbara was his
Ph.D. mentor.
May you all find joy in this holiday season and fulfillment in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Bernard Axelrod