| Citation | Distinguished for his research into the biochemical reactions which occur when receptors are stimulated and their role in cell physiology. He recognised the connection between stimulation of inositol lipid metabolism and a biochemical signalling system in which adenylate cyclase is not involved. Somewhat later he pointed out that the inositide hydrolysis always accompanies a receptor activated intracellular mobilisation of Ca2+ and suggested that it was an initiating event for this mobilisation. With his colleagues he conducted a series of elegant experiments employing hitherto untested tissue/receptor combinations which have produced substantial support for these connections. In 1981 he identified the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5,-bisphosphate into L 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate as an early event after receptor stimulation. A specific phosphatase was demonstrated which removes the inositol trisphosphate which is now believed to function as a mobiliser of cytoplasmic Ca2+ from intracellular sources. He has also undertaken important studies on the relationship of membrane lipid metabolism and membrane structure with particular relevance to the mammalian erythrocyte. |