Yellapragada Subbarow (12 January 1895 – 8 August 1948) was an Indian biochemist who discovered the function of adenosine triphosphate as an energy source in the cell, and developed methotrexate for the treatment of cancer. Most of his career was spent in the United States. Despite his isolation of ATP, Subbarow did not gain tenure at Harvard though he would lead some of America’s most important medical research during World War II. He is also credited with the first synthesis of the chemical compounds folic acid and methotrexate. Subbarow died in the United States.
Known for
- Discovering the role of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate in muscular activity;
- synthesis of folic acid;
- synthesis of methotrexate;
- discovery of diethylcarbamazine
Fields
- Biochemistry
Institutions
- Lederle Laboratories, a division of American Cyanamid (Acquired by Wyeth in 1994, now Pfizer)
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