Daniel Bovet: 1957 Nobel Laureate and Developer of Succinylcholine

Beta-Blockers for Shelter From the Storm*

“…For one thing, Graves disease, and some toxic nodules are autoimmune phenomena (6) There are diverse types of drugs to reduce toxic thyroid activity, but betablockers are perhaps the most important ones in a storm. Daniel Bovet (1957 Nobelist) found that synthetic analogs of neurotransmitters tend to be blockers if they bear bulky attachments, and he thus produced nonspecific adrenergic blockers (7). Henry Dale (1936 Nobelist) suggested that there are at least two types adrenergic receptors, and Raymond Ahlquist (Lasker award winner) distinguished alpha from beta ones.…”

“…Bulky attachments are appended to the amino group and to the benzene ring. As generalized by Bovet (7), bulky attachments often convert an agonist molecule into a blocker. The molecule is short acting because its ester group is cleaved by plasma pseudocholinesterase (and other enzymes).…”

“…The molecule is short acting because its ester group is cleaved by plasma pseudocholinesterase (and other enzymes). Pseudocholinesterase was discovered in the laboratory of Bovet (7), who invented succinylcholine. Hydrolysis of the ester group creates a negatively charged carboxylate group and that charge precludes further blocking ability.…”