Earl W. Sutherland, Jr.

Earl W. sutherland, Jr. was born at Burlingame, Kansas, U.S.A. in November 1915. Ever since the first hormone was discovered the function of hormones has been central theme for research for many scientists. Even after many years of discovery of insulin hormone, the mechanism of hormone action remained a mystery. Sutherland discovered a new chemical substance, cyclic Adenosine monophosphate (CAMP), and its functions as a second messenger in 1965 long after discovery of insulin.
Sutherland, while studying the effect of adrenaline (epinephrine) on the formation of glucose in liver and muscle cells, discovered cAMP as an intermediate during the function of the hormone. He called it a "second messenger" since cAMP transmits signal from epinephrine to cells.
Sutherland suggested that cAMP participates as a second messenger in many hormone mediated reactions showing its effect beyond the action of adrenaline. Contemporary scientists did not agree with his generalization; the found it difficult to visualize that a single chemical substance gives rise to all variety of effects mediated by various hormones. Sutherland man many other scientists established evidence to show the formation of cAMP in the cell membrane due to hormones. Actually, Sutherland had discovered a new biological principal, a general mechanism for action of many hormones.
Earl W. Sutherland, Jr. was awarded Noble prize in phsiology or medicine for 1971 "for his discoveries concerning the mechanisms of the action of hormones."