Ronald Whittam

English physiologist (1925–2023)

Ronald Whittam

FRS

Born| (1925-03-21)21 March 1925

Chadderton, Lancashire, England

Died| 16 August 2023(2023-08-16) (aged 98)

Leicester, England

Education| Oldham College
Alma mater| University of Manchester
Known for| Active transport of ions
Spouse|

Christine Patricia Margaret Lamb

(m. 1957)​

Children| 2
Awards| Fellow of the Royal Society (1973)
Scientific career
Fields| Physiology
Institutions|

* University of Cambridge
* University of Oxford
* University of Sheffield
* University of Leicester

Doctoral advisor|

* Hans Krebs
* Richard Keynes

Ronald Whittam FRS (21 March 1925 – 16 August 2023) was an English research scientist in the field of cell physiology. He conducted important studies on the mechanism of active transport of ions across animal membranes and its relation to cellular metabolism. Whittam was the inaugural Chair in Physiology at the University of Leicester, where he was subsequently an Emeritus Professor.

## Early life and education[edit]

Ronald Whittam was born in Chadderton, within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Lancashire, on 21 March 1925. He is the eldest of three sons and one daughter of Edward Whittam and May Whittam.[1] His parents owned a bakery business in Butler Green, Chadderton.[2] He left school at the age of 14 to work in the family business. He voluntarily attended educational evening classes and at the age of 16 had day release to the Municipal Technical College, Oldham. He achieved the School Certificate.[3]

Whittam reached the age of 18 during World War II in 1943 and joined the Royal Air Force. He was selected to join the PNB scheme: pilot, navigator, bomb-aimer. He passed the PNB scheme, in 50 Initial Training Wing at RAF Bridgnorth, Shropshire.[4] In 1947 he was demobbed from National Service, then commenced university life.[5]

Whittam received his BSc degree in Chemistry, at the University of Manchester in 1951.[1] His tutor was Thomas K. Walker who by then had finished working with Chaim Weizmann in the University.[6] He gained an early insight for research with Professor Herbert Stanley Raper and Alfred Alexander Harper.[3]

Whittam founded the Labour Student Club in the Faculty at the University of Manchester and was a member of the executive of the newly formed National Association of Labour Students Organisations,[7] along with Fred Jarvis, Dick Mabon and Bill Wedderburn.[3]

## Career and research[edit]

In 1951 Whittam was selected by Professor Sir Hans Krebs to conduct research in the Medical Research Council unit - Department of Biochemistry, University of Sheffield. He resided in Stephenson Hall where he met another biochemist: Gregorio Weber.[8] He received a PhD. His external examiner was Professor Sir Alan Hodgkin. He continued research upon being awarded a John Stokes Fellowship till 1955.[1] He published several papers, including with Bob Davies,[9][10][11] Hans Breuer,[12][13] Hans Krebs and Reg Hems.[14]

Later in 1955, Whittam became a Beit Memorial Fellow at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Physiology. He conducted research there and was among eminent physiologist in the department, including Lord Edgar Adrian, Professor Sir Alan Hodgkin, Professor Sir Bryan Matthews, Joseph Needham and Gilbert Adair.[3] Whittam and Matthews were both members of Kings’ College. His Doctoral advisor was Richard Keynes. He was awarded another PhD.[1] Whittam's research was on electrolyte and water in relation to metabolism; oxidative phosphorylation; the relationship between ion transporting water and respiration and glycolysis.[15][16][17][18] He worked with Daniel C. Tosteson whereby they discovered the making of red cell ghosts.[3][19]

Ronald Whittam holding an electric eel

From 1958 to 1966, Whittam was at the University of Oxford. During that time, he was again in the same department of Sir Hans Krebs who was Whitley Professor of Biochemistry. He was awarded a M.A. at the University of Oxford. In the first two years he conducted research as scientific research staff of the Medical Research Unit.[20][21][16][18] Whittam proved the pacemaker effect of the sodium pump on metabolism with red blood cells.[22] He spent over half of 1958 at Columbia University, New York, working with David Nachmansohn on electrophysiology with single cell electroplaques and the electric eel.[3] Whittam discovered how much potassium is released from a cell of a mammalian.[23][24][25] In 1960 he became a Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, joining New College, yet also made a member of the Senior Common Room at Hertford College.[1] He was a moderator for exams in physiology having been asked by Professor Sir Lindor Brown, the Waynflete Professors of Physiology.[3] A real advance in physiology was made by Whittam in 1962 when he had three Papers published: Spatial asymmetry in the stimulation of a membrane adenosine triphosphatases; the asymmetrical stimulation of a membrane adenosine triphosphatase in relation to active cation transport and directional effects of the alkali metal ions on adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis in erythrocyte ghosts. This research was referred to by The Royal Society upon Whittam being elected a Fellow, "Ronald Whittam conducted important studies of the mechanism of active transport of ions in animal tissues. He demonstrated the special asymmetry of the ATPase of the red blood cell membrane, which acts only when Na+ is inside and K+ is outside the membrane. He was the first to demonstrate that active transport can exert a feedback control over the rate of cellular metabolism. These concepts, of directionality as an inherent part of an enzyme reaction in membranes, are of fundamental significance for the understanding of the relations between physiological function and the mechanism of enzyme action."[26]

During 1965, he became a Bruno Mendel Fellow of the Royal Society conducting research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. There he worked with Izzy Edelman. Ephraim Katzir had oversight as Head of the Department of Biophysics.[1]

In 1966, Whittam became the first Chair of General Physiology in the University of Leicester,[27] where he established a new Laboratory of Physiology,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] that was re-titled in 1968 as the Department of Physiology. It was the first Chair of General Physiology to have been created in Britain since Professor Sir William Bayliss was created Chair at University College London. He ran one of the largest physiology departments in UK universities, outside of Oxford and Cambridge. A lot of funding was hypothecated from the University Grants Committee.[27][3]

Whittam made significant contributions to the administration of physiology and the shape of biological sciences in the following positions: 1963 to 1967, member of the Editorial Board of Biochemical Journal; 1969 to 1974, Honorary Secretary of The Physiological Society; 1969 to 1974, member of the Biological Research Board of Medical Research Council; 1973 to 1974, Co-Chairman of the Biological Research Board of the Medical Research Council, with Professor Rodney Porter; 1974 to 1977, Chairman of the Biological Education Committee of the Royal Society and Institute of Biology; 1974 to 1982, member of the Biological Sciences Committee of the University Grants Committee 1979 to 1982, Dean of Faculty of Science at the University of Leicester; 1979 to 1983, member of the Education Committee of the Royal Society.[1]

In 1983, Whittam became an Emeritus Professor of the University of Leicester.[1][3]

## Personal life and death[edit]

Whittam married Christine Patricia Margaret Lamb, the second daughter of Canon John W. Lamb, which marriage was officiated by Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1957.[36] They had one son and one daughter.[1]

Early in his academic career, Whittam was a member of the Manchester University Mountaineering Club.[3] A passion for walking continued into his nineties.[1]

Ronald Whittam died at Leicester Royal Infirmary on 16 August 2023, at the age of 98.[37][38]

## Awards and honours[edit]

Replica of The Physiological Society's mascot

* 1986: Honorary Member of The Physiological Society[39]
* 1973: Fellow of The Royal Society (FRS)[40]
* 1965: The Royal Society, Bruno Mendel Fellow[41]
* 1958: Beit Memorial Fellow[42][43]
* 1954: John Stokes Research Fellow, University of Sheffield[5]

## Publications[edit]

* Whittam, Ronald (1964), Transport and diffusion in red blood cells, London, UK: Edward Arnold Pub., ISBN 9780713141153
* General Physiology and the Biological Sciences (Leicester University Press, 1966), OCLC 669687948.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Whittam, Prof. Ronald". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U39689. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
2. ^ Washbrook Methodist Church Centenary leaflet, 1962
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Miller, David J. (12 August 2014). "Oral History Project - transcript of Ronald Whittam". The Physiological Society - Oral History. Wellcome Institute, London, UK: The Physiological Society.
4. ^ "RAF Bridgnorth personnel 50ITW". RAFBridgnorth.org.uk. 29 January 2021.
5. ^ a b "Emeritus Professor Ron Whittam FRS". le.ac.uk. University of Leicester. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
6. ^ Walker, Thomas Kennedy (1970). "Announcements - Obituary". Nature. 228 (5278): 1358–1359. doi:10.1038/2281358c0. ISSN 1476-4687.
7. ^ National Association of Labour Student Organisations archive, Labour History Archive and Study Centre, Manchester, UK. National Archives Ref: LP/GS/NALSO
8. ^ Whittam, Ron. "A friend and mentor Gregorio Weber". Retrieved 1 February 2021.
9. ^ WHITTAM, R.; DAVIES, R. E. (1954). "Energy Requirements for Ion Transport in Steady-State Systems". Nature. 173 (4402): 494. Bibcode:1954Natur.173..494W. doi:10.1038/173494a0. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 13144792. S2CID 4178441.
10. ^ Whittam, R.; Davies, R. E. (1 March 1954). "Relations between metabolism and the rate of turnover of sodium and potassium in guinea pig kidney-cortex slices". Biochemical Journal. 56 (3): 445–453. doi:10.1042/bj0560445. ISSN 0306-3283. PMC 1269645. PMID 13140226.
11. ^ Whittam, R.; Davies, R. E. (1 December 1953). "Active transport of water, sodium, potassium and α-oxoglutarate by kidney-cortex slices". Biochemical Journal. 55 (5): 880–888. doi:10.1042/bj0550880. ISSN 0306-3283. PMC 1269551. PMID 13115390.
12. ^ Breuer, H. J.; Whittam, R. (23 January 1957). "Ion movements in seminal vesicle mucosa". The Journal of Physiology. 135 (1): 213–225. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005705. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1358923. PMID 13398976.
13. ^ "Potassium transport in seminal vesicle mucosa". The Journal of Physiology. 143 (3). 1958. doi:10.1111/tjp.1958.143.issue-3. ISSN 0022-3751.
14. ^ Krebs, H. A.; Whittam, R.; Hems, R. (May 1957). "Potassium uptake of Alcaligenes faecalis". Biochemical Journal. 66 (1): 55–60. doi:10.1042/bj0660053. PMC 1199964. PMID 13426108. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
15. ^ "Glycolysis an potassium transport". The Journal of Physiology. 150 (2). 1 February 1960. doi:10.1111/tjp.1960.150.issue-2. ISSN 0022-3751.
16. ^ a b Whittam, R. (1 September 1960). "Sodium and potassium movements in kidney cortex slices from newborn animals". The Journal of Physiology. 153 (2): 358–369. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006539. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1359753. PMID 13784940.
17. ^ Whittam, R. (1 December 1960). "The support of active potassium transport in human red cells by nucleosides and deoxynucleosides". The Journal of Physiology. 154 (3): 608–613. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006600. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1359824. PMID 13784942.
18. ^ a b Whittam, R. (1 December 1960). "The high permeability of human red cells to adenine and hypoxanthine and their ribosides". The Journal of Physiology. 154 (3): 614–623. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006601. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1359825. PMID 13784941.
19. ^ Whittam, Ronald; Tosteson, Daniel C; Hoffman, JF (1960). "Retention of potassium by human erythrocyte ghosts". Nature. 185: 186–7. doi:10.1080/19447016008664424. ISSN 1944-7019. PMID 14402408.
20. ^ Whittam, R.; Guinnebault, M. (1 July 1960). "The Efflux of Potassium from Electroplaques of Electric Eels". Journal of General Physiology. 43 (6): 1171–1191. doi:10.1085/jgp.43.6.1171. ISSN 1540-7748. PMC 2195067. PMID 13784938.
21. ^ Whittam, R.; Guinnebault, M. (1960). "The effect of blocking electrical activity on the efflux of potassium from electroplax". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 45: 336–347. doi:10.1016/0006-3002(60)91456-6. ISSN 0006-3002. PMID 13784937.
22. ^ WHITTAM, Ronald (1961). "Active Cation Transport as a Pace-maker of Respiration". Nature. 191 (4788): 603–604. Bibcode:1961Natur.191..603W. doi:10.1038/191603a0. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 13784939. S2CID 4215988.
23. ^ "Proceedings of The Biochemical Society". Biochemical Journal. 83 (1): 1P–15P. 1 April 1962. doi:10.1042/bj0830001p. ISSN 0006-2936. PMC 1243532. PMID 16748946.
24. ^ "Proceedings of The Biochemical Society". Biochemical Journal. 84 (1): 1P–42P. 1 July 1962. doi:10.1042/bj0840001p. ISSN 0006-2936. PMC 1243645. PMID 16748953.
25. ^ WHITTAM, R. (1962). "Directional Effects of Alkali Metal Ions on Adenosine Triphosphate Hydrolysis in Erythrocyte Ghosts". Nature. 196 (4850): 134–136. Bibcode:1962Natur.196..134W. doi:10.1038/196134a0. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 14000419. S2CID 27713362.
26. ^ Whittam, Ronald (1973). "Royal Society notes". Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London. 28. doi:10.1098/rsnr.1973.0011. S2CID 202574920. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
"Ronald Whittam biography". royalsociety.org. The Royal Society. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
27. ^ a b University of Leicester. "Brief History of Department of Molecular and Cell Biology". le.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
28. ^ WHITTAM, R. (1968). "Control of Membrane Permeability to Potassium in Red Blood Cells". Nature. 219 (5154): 610. Bibcode:1968Natur.219..610W. doi:10.1038/219610a0. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 5665710. S2CID 8913758.
29. ^ Priestland, R. N.; Whittam, R. (1 September 1968). "The influence of external sodium ions on the sodium pump in erythrocytes". Biochemical Journal. 109 (3): 369–374. doi:10.1042/bj1090369. ISSN 0306-3283. PMC 1186831. PMID 4234831.
30. ^ Whittam, R. (1 August 1968). "The incorporation of phosphate into ATP associated with ionic raduation". The Journal of Physiology. 197 (3). doi:10.1111/tjp.1968.197.issue-3. ISSN 0022-3751.
31. ^ Wheeler, K. P.; Whittam, R. (1 April 1970). "The involvement of phosphatidylserine in adenosine triphosphatase activity of the sodium pump". The Journal of Physiology. 207 (2): 303–328. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009063. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1348708. PMID 4250771.
32. ^ "The stimulation of phosphate of ouabain binding to the sodium pump...". The Journal of Physiology. 252 (2). 1 November 1975. doi:10.1111/tjp.1975.252.issue-2. ISSN 0022-3751.
33. ^ Brand, S C; Whittam, R (1 March 1984). "The effect of furosemide on sodium movements in human red blood cells". The Journal of Physiology. 348 (1): 301–306. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015111. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1199403. PMID 6716288.
34. ^ Cotterrell, D.; Whittam, R. (1 May 1971). "The influence of the chloride gradient across red cell membranes on sodium and potassium movements". The Journal of Physiology. 214 (3): 509–536. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009446. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 1331852. PMID 4996368.
35. ^ Chipperfield, A. R.; Whittam, R. (1973). "Ouabain Binding to the Sodium Pump". Nature. 242 (5392): 62–63. Bibcode:1973Natur.242...62C. doi:10.1038/242062a0. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 4266529. S2CID 4212452.
36. ^ "History of The Priory | Bridlington Priory". Retrieved 29 January 2021.
37. ^ "Eminent scientist born and raised at Butler Green in Chadderton dies aged 98". www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
38. ^ "Emeritus Professor Ron Whittam FRS". le.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
39. ^ "Honorary Members Archive - The Physiological Society". www.physoc.org. The Physiological Society. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
40. ^ "Ronald Whittam". royalsociety.org. The Royal Society. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
41. ^ "Medical Research Council" (PDF). Nature. Nature. 207 (4995): 354. 1965. Bibcode:1965Natur.207X.354.. doi:10.1038/207354h0. S2CID 42023266. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
42. ^ Miller, David; Naftalin, Richard. "An interview with Ron Whittam" (PDF). static.physoc.org. The Physiological Society. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
43. ^ "Beit Memorial Fellowships for Medical Research". Nature. 175 (4465): 929–930. 28 May 1955. Bibcode:1955Natur.175U.929.. doi:10.1038/175929e0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4288754. Retrieved 23 August 2023.

Professional and academic associations

Preceded by

John S. Gillespie

|  Hon.Secretary of The Physiological Society
1969–1974  | Succeeded by

Sidney M. Hilton

Academic offices
Preceded by

New Office

| 1st Professor of Physiology University of Leicester
1966–1983  | Succeeded by

Asa Blakely

Preceded by

George MacLellan

|  Dean of the Faculty of Science University of Leicester
1979–1982  | Succeeded by

Wladyslaw Sluckin

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[m.]: married