Johannes Frederik Gerardus (Hans) Vliegenthart (born April 7, 1936 in Zuilen, the Netherlands) is a Dutch emeritus professor in bioorganic chemistry of Utrecht University, well known for his research on the synthesis and characterisation of carbohydrates, and biomolecules containing sugar moieties such as glycoproteins and their role in living cells.

Hans Vliegenhart
Hans Vliegenhart, 2019
Hans Vliegenhart (2019)
Born (1936-04-07) 7 April 1936 (age 88)
Zuilen, The Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Alma materUtrecht University
Known forBioorganic chemistry
Scientific career
InstitutionsUtrecht University
Doctoral advisorProf.dr. J.F. Arens

Biography edit

Hans Vliegenthart was born in Zuilen, the Netherlands in 1936. He studied chemistry at Utrecht University from 1953 to 1960,[1] where he also received his PhD degree in 1967, under supervision of prof. Arens.[2] In 1975, he was appointed lector (a defunct Dutch academic role that changed to professor in 1980) bio-organic chemistry at Utrecht University[3] and was full professor at Utrecht University from 1984 until 2003.[2] From 1999 until 2004, he was also the chairman of the Utrecht University Fund and he still awards every year the Vliegenthart Thesis Award.[4] In 1988, the founded the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research at Utrecht University,[5][6] and he served as the scientific director of the institute until 2000. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry from 1985 to 1989 and from 2000 to 2003 and in 2003 he became Honorary Professor at Utrecht University.[7] Since 2010, he is the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bijvoet Centrr.[8]

Research edit

The research of Vliegenthart focused on the synthesis and characterisation of carbohydrates, glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans and their role in living cells.[9][10] He is most famous for his work on the analysis of the primary and three-dimensional structures of carbohydrates and glycoproteins using technologies such as NMR spectroscopy,[11] chromatography[12][13] and other analytical methods.[14][15] Vliegenthart applied his knowledge on carbohydrates to various fields of biology and medicine, such as research into blood types, which are largely determined by carbohydrates on red blood cells,[16] synthetic vaccines to protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae[17] and the role of sugar molecules in tumor growth.[18]

Honours and awards edit

Throughout his career, Vliegenthart has received numerous honours and awards. He has been a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences since 1987, which allows him to nominate people for the Nobel Prize .[19] In 1989, Vliegenthart became honorary member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, for his contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology, not only in the Netherlands, but at the highest international level.[20][21][22][23][24] Vliegenthart has been a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Netherlands since 1990.[25] In 1992, he received an honorary doctorate from the Lajos Kossuth University in Debrecen, Hungary, nowadays known as the University of Debrecen.[26] In 1993 Lille University of Science and Technology in France bestowed him with an honorary doctorate for his contribution to the structural analysis of carbohydrate chains.[27] Vliegenthart was awarded the Claude S. Hudson Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry of the American Chemical Society in 1994.[28][29][30] In 1997, the University of Stockholm in Sweden awarded him an honorary doctorate.[7] He became Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1998.[7] In 2000, he received the Bijvoet Medal of the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research of Utrecht University.[31] The University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy awarded him their medal in 2001[7] and his alma mater, Utrecht University, awarded him their silver medal in 2003.[32] In October 2017, the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) elected Vliegenthart as a Fellow of AAAS for his contributions to science and technology in its Section on Biological Sciences.[33][34]

References edit

  1. ^ "Profile of Prof. dr. J.F.G. (Hans) Vliegenthart". Utrecht University. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Prof.dr. J.F.G. Vliegenthart". Catologus Professorum, Utrecht University. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Dr. J.F.G. Vliegenthart". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 4 April 1975. p. 3. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Vliegenthart Thesis Award". Utrecht University. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  5. ^ Joop Kessels (7 April 1988). "SON en RUU in Bijvoet Centrum". Chemische Courant (in Dutch).
  6. ^ b.k. (April 1988). "'Bijvoet-centrum voor moleculair Onderzoek' geopend". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch).
  7. ^ a b c d "Curriculum Vitae Hans Vliegenthart". Utrecht University. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Scientific Advisory Board". Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Person: Prof. dr. J.F.G. (Hans) Vliegenthart". NARCIS. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  10. ^ Jan Blom (30 June 1984). "Koolhydraten: toekomstige grondstof voor de industrie". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). p. 31. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. ^ Vliegenthart, Johannes F.G.; Dorland, Lambertus; Halbeek, Herman van (1983). "High-Resolution, 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a Tool in the Structural Analysis of Carbohydrates Related to Glycoproteins". Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry Volume 41. Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry. Vol. 41. pp. 209–374. doi:10.1016/S0065-2318(08)60059-1. hdl:1874/5376. ISBN 9780120072415.
  12. ^ Gerwig, Gerrit J.; Kamerling, Johannis P.; Vliegenthart, Johannes F.G. (1978). "Determination of the d and l configuration of neutral monosaccharides by high-resolution capillary g.l.c". Carbohydrate Research. 62 (2): 349–357. doi:10.1016/S0008-6215(00)80881-2. hdl:1874/5304.
  13. ^ Gerwig, Gerit J.; Kamerling, Johannis P.; Vliegenthart, Johannes F.G. (1979). "Determination of the absolute configuration of monosaccharides in complex carbohydrates by capillary g.l.c". Carbohydrate Research. 77: 1–7. doi:10.1016/S0008-6215(00)83788-X. hdl:1874/5300. PMID 519653.
  14. ^ Van Soest, Jeroen J.G.; Tournois, Hubertus; De Wit, Dick; Vliegenthart, Johannes F.G. (1995). "Short-range structure in (partially) crystalline potato starch determined with attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy". Carbohydrate Research. 279: 201–214. doi:10.1016/0008-6215(95)00270-7. hdl:1874/5571.
  15. ^ Fournet, Bernard; Montreuil, Jean; Strecker, Gerard; Dorland, Lambertus; Haverkamp, Johan; Vliegenthart, Johannes F. G.; Binette, J. Paul; Schmid, Karl (1978). "Determination of the primary structures of 16 asialo-carbohydrate units derived from human plasma α1-acid glycoprotein by 360-MHZ proton NMR spectroscopy and permethylation analysis". Biochemistry. 17 (24): 5206–5214. doi:10.1021/bi00617a021. PMID 728395.
  16. ^ "De informatie zit in de staart". Trouw (in Dutch). 5 September 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  17. ^ Maarten Evenblij (14 November 1987). "Synthetisch vaccin helpt afweersysteem". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). p. 39. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  18. ^ Maarten Evenblij (30 June 1984). "Suikermoleculen spelen rol bij tumorgroei". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). p. 31. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Utrechtse hoogleraar onderscheiden". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 25 March 1989. p. 48. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Onderscheiding prof. Vliegenthart". Het Parool (in Dutch). 21 March 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Personalia". Trouw (in Dutch). 21 March 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Persoonlijk". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). 21 March 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Personalia". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 March 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Personalia". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 11 April 1989. p. 7. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Hans Vliegenthart". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Personalia". Trouw (in Dutch). 8 December 1992. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Personalia". Trouw (in Dutch). 1 April 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Claude S. Hudson Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Persoonlijk". Volkskrant (in Dutch). 18 September 1993. p. 9. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Personalia". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 23 September 1992. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  31. ^ "Bijvoet Medal". Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  32. ^ "Zilveren penning" (in Dutch). Utrecht University. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  33. ^ "2017 AAAS Fellows approved by the AAAS Council". Science. 358 (6366): 1011–1014. 2017. Bibcode:2017Sci...358.1011.. doi:10.1126/science.358.6366.1011.
  34. ^ "Hans Vliegenthart chosen AAAS Fellow". Utrecht University. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.