Fritz Lipmann's landmark paper, "Metabolic Generation and Utilization of Phosphate Bond Energy," published in 1941, laid the foundation for research into concepts involving group potential and the role of group transfer in biosynthesis. Lipmann had revealed the basis for the relationship between metabolic energy production and its use, providing the first coherent picture of how living organisms operate. His discovery in 1945 of coenzyme A (CoA), which occurs in all living cells and is a key element in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and some amino acids, earned him the 1953 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Lipmann also conducted groundbreaking research in protein synthesis. Lipmann was an instinctual researcher with a knack for seeing the broader picture. Lacking the talent or inclination for self-promotion, he struggled early in his career before establishing himself in the world of biochemistry.

Fritz Albert Lipmann was born on June 12, 1899, in Königsberg, the...