Beverly Guirard Explained

Beverly Guirard
Birth Date:December 10, 1915[1]
Birth Place:St. Martinville, Louisiana
Alma Mater:University of Texas
Thesis Title:The nutritional role of acetate for lactic acid bacteria
Thesis Url:https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/
Thesis Year:1945
Doctoral Advisor:Roger J. Williams

Beverly Marie Guirard was a microbiologist who worked on the biochemistry of microbial growth, especially with respect to vitamin B6. She is also known for her work defining the components of coenzyme A which was a part of the research that led to a Nobel Prize for Fritz Albert Lipmann.

Education and career

Guirard grew up in Louisiana and went to high school in St. Martinville, Louisiana.[2] Guirard received a B.S. from Southwestern Louisiana Institute in 1936, and a masters degree from Louisiana State University in 1938.[3] She went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1945 where she worked on lactic acid bacteria and their conversion of acetate into lipids and steroidal material,[4] research which built upon Esmond Emerson Snell's earliest work that identified acetate as a key factor leading to reliable growth of microorganisms.[5] After her Ph.D. she remained at the University of Texas, where she joined Snell's lab in 1951. She moved with the lab to the University of California, Berkeley in 1956, and then returned to Texas in 1976 where she worked until her retirement in 1990.

Research

Guirard is known for her research into the biochemical compounds determining microbial growth, especially vitamins and amino acids. Her early research determined how to isolate vitamins from tissue extracts.[6] During her Ph.D, Guirard established how acetate stimulated growth of the bacteria Lactobacillus casei.[7] [8] She went on to use bacteria to determine the levels of amino acids inside cells,[9] and worked with Robert Wagner on synthesis of pantothenic acid in his model system of the fungus Neurospora.[10]

Guirard worked with Fritz Albert Lipmann who won the 1953 Nobel Prize for the discovery of coenzyme A. During the research that led to the discovery of coenzyme A, Lipmann used pig liver's as a source for the coenzyme. As Lipmann[11] [12] and others have described,[13] Guirard examined this material and discovered that the vitamin pantothenic acid only appeared after extended enzymatic activity. She confirmed this observation by hydrolyzing the coenzyme into adenylic acid and Β-alanine and thereby demonstrating that the vitamin pantothenic acid was a part of the coenzyme; this work was published with Lipmann, Nathan Kaplan, Constance Tuttle, and G. David Novelli in 1947.[14] A second publication provided more details on how to prepare coenyzme A with details on its vitamin content and structure.[15] Later, Kaplan detailed Guirard's experiments and noted her repeated investigations into the samples she received, and how it was only through her extended curiosity that she was able to identify the presence of pantothenic acid within conenzyme A.[16] Lipmann also describes Guirard's expertise in finding pantothenic acid in tissue extracts, and how this led to the observation that an enzyme removed pantothenic acid from coenzyme A.[17] In 1953, Lipmann reviewed the chemistry and function of coenyzme A and he noted it was 'through [Guirard]'s skillful observations that pantothenic acid was detected in the coenzyme".[18]

Guirard was a long-time associate of Esmond Emerson Snell, and was a part of the team that discovered the different forms of vitamin B6.[19] [20] [21] Her work in this realm included investigations into enzymes including ornithine decarboxylase[22] and histidine decarboxylase.[23] [24] [25] She established the amino acids,[26] vitamins,[27] or combination of amino acids and vitamins required for microbial growth.[28] [29] She also used microbial growth as an assay to determine the effectiveness of anti-tumor agents,[30] and examined the role of polyamines such as spermine and spermidine on cell growth.[31]

Selected publications

Personal life

The Beverly Guirard endowment at the University Catholic Center in Austin, Texas was established in honor of Guirard.[32] [33]

Notes and References

  1. Book: American Men of Science: A Biographical Directory. 1949. Bowker. 980. en.
  2. Web site: Beverly Marie Guirard Obituary (2006) Austin American-Statesman. 2021-12-11. Legacy.com.
  3. News: November 15, 2013. Beverly Guirard, a pioneer in a man's world.
  4. Book: Guirard. Beverly Marie. The nutritional role of acetate for lactic acid bacteria. Williams. Roger J. 1945. 10.26153/tsw/7735. English. 1151355220. https://web.archive.org/web/20211211145042/https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/80720/2019_1056.pdf. December 11, 2021. December 11, 2021. bot: unknown.
  5. Snell. Esmond E.. 1993. From Bacterial Nutrition to Enzyme Structure: A Personal Odyssey. Annual Review of Biochemistry. en. 62. 1. 1–26. 10.1146/annurev.bi.62.070193.000245. 8352584. 0066-4154. free.
  6. Cheldelin, VH, Eppright, MA, Snell, EE, Guirard, BM. 1942. Enzymatic liberation of B vitamins from plant and animal tissues. The University of Texas Publication. Studies on the vitamin content of tissues II. 15–36.
  7. Guirard. B. M.. Snell. E. E.. Williams. R. J.. 1946. The nutritional role of acetate for lactic acid bacteria; the response to substances related to acetate. Archives of Biochemistry. 9. 361–379. 0096-9621. 21023612.
  8. Guirard. B. M.. Snell. E. E.. Williams. R. J.. 1946. The nutritional role of acetate for lactic acid bacteria; fractionation of extracts of natural materials. Archives of Biochemistry. 9. 381–386. 0096-9621. 21023613.
  9. Guirard. Beverly M.. Snell. Esmond E.. Williams. Roger J.. 1946-02-01. Microbiological Determination of Amino Acids. IV. Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, and Valine. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. en. 61. 2. 158–161. 10.3181/00379727-61-15258. 21017605. 38376636. 0037-9727.
  10. Wagner. Robert P.. Guirard. Beverly M.. 1948-08-01. A Gene-Controlled Reaction in Neurospora Involving the Synthesis of Pantothenic Acid. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. en. 34. 8. 398–402. 10.1073/pnas.34.8.398. 0027-8424. 1079130. 16588819. 1948PNAS...34..398W . free.
  11. Lipmann. Fritz. 1954. Development of the Acetylation Problem, a Personal Account. Science. 120. 3126. 855–865. 10.1126/science.120.3126.855. 1683101. 13216186. 1954Sci...120..855L . 0036-8075.
  12. Web site: Lipmann. Fritz. December 11, 1953. Nobel Lecture. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211211145040/https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/06/lipmann-lecture.pdf . 2021-12-11 .
  13. Jencks. William P.. Wolfenden. Richard V.. 2000. Fritz Albert Lipmann. 12 June 1899-24 July 1986. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 46. 335–344. 770404. 0080-4606.
  14. Lipmann. Fritz. Kaplan. Nathan O.. Novelli. G. David. Tuttle. L. Constance. Guirard. Beverly M.. 1947. Coenzyme for Acetylation, a Pantothenic Acid Derivative. Journal of Biological Chemistry. en. 167. 3. 869–870. 10.1016/S0021-9258(17)30973-0. 20287921. free.
  15. Lipmann. Fritz.. Kaplan. Nathan O.. Novelli. G. David. Tuttle. L. Constance. Guirard. Beverly M.. September 1950. Isolation of Coenzyme A. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 186. 1. 235–243. 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)56309-2. 14778827 . free.
  16. Book: Semenza, G.. Selected Topics in the History of Biochemistry: Personal Recollections, Part II. 2012-12-02. Elsevier. 978-0-444-59821-9. en.
  17. Lipmann. Fritz. 1984-06-01. A long life in times of great upheaval. Annual Review of Biochemistry. 53. 1. 1–34. 10.1146/annurev.bi.53.070184.000245. 6383192. 0066-4154. free.
  18. Lipmann. Fritz. 1953. On Chemistry and Function of Coenzyme A1. Bacteriological Reviews. 17. 1. 1–16. 10.1128/br.17.1.1-16.1953. 0005-3678. 13032008. 180754.
  19. Web site: Esmond Emerson Snell: 1914 to 2003: A biographical memoir. live. December 11, 2021. National Academy of Sciences. https://web.archive.org/web/20150912051628/http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/snell-esmond.pdf . 2015-09-12 .
  20. Snell. Esmond E.. Guirard. Beverly M.. Williams. Roger J.. 1942. Occurrence in Natural Productgs of a Physiologically Active Metabolite of Pyridoxine. Journal of Biological Chemistry. en. 143. 2. 519–530. 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)72641-0. free.
  21. Snell. Esmond E.. Guirard. Beverly M.. 1943-02-01. Some Interrelationships of Pyridoxine, Alanine and Glycine in Their Effect on Certain Lactic Acid Bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. en. 29. 2. 66–73. 10.1073/pnas.29.2.66. 0027-8424. 1078561. 16588604. 1943PNAS...29...66S . free.
  22. Guirard. B. M.. Snell. E. E.. 1980-06-25. Purification and properties of ornithine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus sp. 30a.. Journal of Biological Chemistry. en. 255. 12. 5960–5964. 10.1016/S0021-9258(19)70724-8. 7380847 . 0021-9258. free.
  23. Guirard. B M. Snell. E E. 1987-09-01. Purification and properties of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylases from Klebsiella planticola and Enterobacter aerogenes. Journal of Bacteriology. 169. 9. 3963–3968. 10.1128/jb.169.9.3963-3968.1987. 213694. 3114230.
  24. Guirard. B M. Tanase. S. Snell. E E. 1984-01-01. Pyridoxal-P dependent bacterial histidine decarboxylase. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research. 144A. 235–244. 0361-7742. 6728848.
  25. Rosenthaler. J.. Guirard. B. M.. Chang. G. W.. Snell. E. E.. 1965-07-01. Purification and properties of histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. en. 54. 1. 152–158. 10.1073/pnas.54.1.152. 0027-8424. 285813. 5216347. 1965PNAS...54..152R . free.
  26. Book: Guirard. Beverly. CRC Handbook of Microbiology. 1973. CRC Press. 978-0-87819-580-0. Lechevalier. Hubert A.. en. The amino acid requirements of microorganisms for growth.
  27. Guirard. Beverly M.. Snell. Esmond E.. 1971-12-01. Growth Characteristics of a Pseudomonad Which Utilizes Pyridoxine or Pyridoxamine as a Carbon Source. Journal of Bacteriology. 108. 3. 1318–1321. 10.1128/jb.108.3.1318-1321.1971. 4945196. 247221.
  28. Guirard. Beverly M.. Ames. Bruce N.. Snell. Esmond E.. 1971-10-01. Salmonella typhimurium Mutants with Alternate Requirements for Vitamin B6 or Isoleucine. Journal of Bacteriology. 108. 1. 359–363. 10.1128/jb.108.1.359-363.1971. 4941563. 247074.
  29. Guirard. Beverly M.. 1958-10-01. Microbial nutrition. Annual Review of Microbiology. 12. 1. 247–278. 10.1146/annurev.mi.12.100158.001335. 13595607. 0066-4227.
  30. Foley. G. E.. McCarthy. R. E.. Binns. V. M.. Snell. E. E.. Guirard. B. M.. Kidder. G. W.. Dewey. V. C.. Thayer. P. S.. 1958. A Comparative Study of the Use of Microorganisms in the Screening of Potential Antitumor Agents*. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. en. 76. 3. 413–441. 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1958.tb54862.x. 13627869. 1958NYASA..76..413F . 34678740. 1749-6632.
  31. Guirard. Beverly M.. Snell. Esmond E.. 1964-07-01. Effect of polyamine structure on growth stimulation and spermine and spermidine content of lactic acid bacteria. Journal of Bacteriology. 88. 1. 72–80. 10.1128/jb.88.1.72-80.1964. 14197908. 277258.
  32. Web site: Longhorn Catholic 2-1 March 2006 [PDF] Documents Community Sharing]. 2021-12-11. xdocs.pub. en.
  33. Web site: Our Endowments. 2021-12-11. Catholic Foundation - Diocese of Austin. en.

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