Choh Hao Li

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Choh Hao Li

Born 1913
Guanzhou, China
Died 1987
Residence America
Nationality Chinese American
Fields Biochemist
Institutions University of Nanjing, University of California
Known for Discovering and synthesizing the human pituitary growth hormone

Choh Hao Li (sometimes Cho Hao Li) (Chinese: 李卓皓; pinyin: Lǐ Zhuōhào) (April 21, 1913—November 28, 1987) was a Chinese-born U.S. biochemist who discovered, in 1966, that human pituitary growth hormone (somatotropin) consists of a chain of 256 amino acids. In 1970 he succeeded in synthesizing this hormone, the largest protein molecule synthesized up to that time.

Li was born in Guangzhou and educated at the University of Nanjing. In 1935 he emigrated to the USA, where he took up postgraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley and later joined the staff. He became professor in 1950.

Li spent his entire academic career studying the pituitary-gland hormones. In collaboration with various co-workers, he isolated several protein hormones, including adreno-corticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to increase its secretion of corticoids. In 1956, Li and his group showed that ACTH consists of 39 amino acids arranged in a specific order, and that the whole chain of the natural hormone is not necessary for its action. He isolated another pituitary hormone called melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and found that not only does this hormone produce some effects similar to those produced by ACTH, but also that part of the amino acid chain of MSH is the same as that of ACTH.

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Persondata
NAME Li, Choh Hao
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Li, Cho Hao
SHORT DESCRIPTION Chinese American biochemist
DATE OF BIRTH 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Guanzhou, China
DATE OF DEATH 1987
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages