David MacLennan

David Herman MacLennan, OC OOnt FRSC FRS (July 3, 1937 - June 24, 2020) was a Canadian biochemist and geneticist known for his basic work on proteins that regulate calcium flux through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), thereby regulating muscle contraction and relaxation, and for his discoveries in the field of muscle diseases caused by genetic defects in calcium regulatory proteins.[1]

For the Scottish theatre practitioner, see David MacLennan (theatre practitioner). For the CEO of Cargill, see Dave MacLennan.
David MacLennan
Born(1937-07-03)July 3, 1937
Swan River, Manitoba, Canada
DiedJune 24, 2020(2020-06-24) (aged 82)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Education
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry, Genetics
InstitutionsUniversity of Toronto
ThesisCompartmentation of organic acids in plant tissues (1963)
Doctoral advisorHarry Beevers

Born in Swan River, Manitoba to Douglas MacLennan and Sigriður Sigurðardóttir, he received a BSA from the University of Manitoba in 1959 and a DSc (hc) in 2001.[2] He received MS (1961) and PhD (1963) degrees from Purdue University under Harry Beevers, and was then a Postdoctoral Fellow (1963-1964) under David E. Green and an Assistant Professor (1964-1968) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1969, he was appointed Associate Professor in the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research[3] and, later, Professor (1974), Chair (1978-1990), J. W. Billes Professor of Medical Research (1987-2007) and University Professor (1993-2015).

MacLennan made fundamental contributions to our understanding of the mechanism of ion transport by SR calcium pumps, the storage of calcium in the SR by acidic lumenal proteins and the release of calcium from the SR by calcium release channels. He led teams that defined the genetic basis for the human skeletal muscle diseases, malignant hyperthermia, central core disease and Brody disease and was part of the team that demonstrated that mutations in phospholamban, a regulator of the calcium pump, can cause cardiomyopathy.[4] His identification of a calcium release channel mutation that causes porcine stress syndrome resulted in a diagnostic test that has decreased the incidence of the disease dramatically, with substantial economic benefits to the swine industry.

Honours and awards

Notes
  1. "MacLennan Lab Page". U of T. Archived from the original on 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  2. "University of Manitoba Lab Page". U of M. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  3. "Terrence Donnelly Centre Lab Page". U of T BBDMR. Archived from the original on 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  4. Schmitt JP, Kamisago M, Asahi M, Li GH, Ahmad F, Mende U; et al. (2003). "Dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure caused by a mutation in phospholamban". Science. 299 (5611): 1410–3. doi:10.1126/science.1081578. PMID 12610310. S2CID 12253445.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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