Irwin B. Wilson (1921-2013): The story of the first rational design of a drug

Reid, Ted W.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128632 Copy

Description

Title

Irwin B. Wilson (1921-2013): The story of the first rational design of a drug

Author(s)

Reid, Ted W.

Contributor(s)

• Gregory, Douglas S.
• Epand, Richard
• Kopel, Jonathan

Issue Date

2022-07-15

Keyword(s)

• Chemistry
• History
• Wilson
• Drug Design

Abstract

This article is based upon a lecture that Irwin Wilson (Figure 1) gave for his 75th birthday on September 18, 1996. (His actual date of birth was May 8, 1921.) The lecture covered his early work on how acetylcholinesterase catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetylcholine. This led to his demonstration of the formation of a covalent acetyl-enzyme intermediate in the reaction. It should be noted that this was in the days before it was understood that an enzyme could catalyze a chemical reaction by forming a covalent intermediate. Further studies on the mechanism of acetylcholinesterase in his laboratory at Columbia University in 1956 gave rise to the rational design of Pralidoxime (2-pyridine aldoxime methyl chloride; 2-PAM) as a reactivator of the organophosphate-inhibited enzyme.

Publisher

Division of the History of Chemistry

ISSN

1053-4385

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128632

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70359/bhc2022v047p222

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Division of the History of Chemistry

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