Windaus, Adolf

Windaus, Adolf

▪ German chemist
born Dec. 25, 1876, Berlin, Ger.
died June 9, 1959, Göttingen, W.Ger.

      German organic chemist, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1928 for research on substances, notably vitamin D, that play important biological roles.

      Windaus switched from medical to chemical studies. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg (1899), he held positions there and at Innsbruck, Austria, before his appointment as head of the chemical institute at the University of Göttingen (1915–44). His studies of the chemical structure of cholesterol, begun in 1901, spanned some 30 years. This work was part of his study of the complex alcohols known as sterols.

      Windaus discovered 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is the chemical precursor of vitamin D, and he showed that it is a steroid. He discovered that it is converted into the vitamin when one of its chemical bonds is broken by the action of sunlight. This explained why exposure to sunlight can prevent vitamin D deficiency (rickets) in humans. Windaus' research also helped establish the chemistry of the sex hormones and advanced the development of drugs used to treat heart ailments.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Windaus,Adolf — Win·daus (vĭnʹdous ), Adolf. 1876 1959. German chemist. He won a 1928 Nobel Prize for conducting research on sterols and their connection with vitamins. * * * …   Universalium

  • Windaus , Adolf Otto Reinhold — (1876–1959) German chemist Windaus studied medicine at the university in his native city of Berlin and at Freiburg University, where he changed to chemistry under the influence of Emil Fischer. After holding chairs in Freiburg and Innsbruck he… …   Scientists

  • Windaus, Adolf — ► (1876 1959) Químico alemán. Fue premio Nobel de Química en 1928, por sus trabajos acerca del colesterol, su estructura y mecanismos de transformación …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Windaus — Windaus, Adolf …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Windaus — Adolf Windaus Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus (* 25. Dezember 1876 in Berlin; † 9. Juni 1959 in Göttingen), war ein deutscher Chemiker und Biochemiker. Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Adolf Windaus — Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus (* 25. Dezember 1876 in Berlin; † 9. Juni 1959 in Göttingen), war ein deutscher Chemiker und Biochemiker. Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus — Adolf Windaus Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus (nacido el 25 de diciembre de 1876 en Berlín, muerto el 9 de junio de 1959 en Gotinga) fue un químico, médico y profesor universitario alemán, galardonado con el premio Nobel de química en 1928 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Adolf Windaus — Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus (né le 25 décembre 1876 à Berlin, mort le 9 juin 1959) était un chimiste allemand, lauréat du prix Nobel de chimie en 1928 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus — (25 décembre 1876 à Berlin 9 juin 1959) était un chimiste allemand, lauréat du prix Nobel de chimie en 1928 pour ses recherches sur les stérols …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Adolf Friedrich Johann Butenandt — (* 24. März 1903 in Lehe; † 18. Januar 1995 in München), war ein Universitätsprofessor für Biochemie und erhielt 1939 den Nobelpreis für Chemie als Folge seiner Arbeiten auf dem Gebiet der Steroidhormone. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Ehrungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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