Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Do you know who canavanine was named after?
QUESTION:
Do you know who this amino acid was named after? Or can you refer me to
a source of the origin of canavanine?
I conduct research on the surname Canavan and would like to include this
person to my web site.
ANSWER:
Canavanine was first isolated in large amounts from the jack bean, Canavalia
ensiformis. I have always presumed that the name of the amino acid came from the
name of the genus for this bean species. The first enzyme ever crystalized and
shown to be a specific protein was urease, also from the jack bean, by Sumner. He
won the Nobel Prize for that work. Also, this bean is the source for canavalanin
A, a very importany lectin used in cell biology and medical research. And, if
properly prepared, you can eat them!
Let me know if your relative played a part in identifying and naming this generous
member of the plant family. More likely, your ancestor impressed the actual namer
of this plant and was honored by him or her with the name.