Edwin G. Krebs, a biochemist who shared the 1992 Nobel Prize for Medicine, passed away Dec. 21 in Seattle due to complications from progressive heart failure. The UW professor emeritus, who co-discovered the mechanism that causes cells to change, grow, divide and die, was 91.

In the 1950s, Krebs began collaboration with Edmond H. Fischer on other work when they made a discovery that would forever alter the field of biology. The two found that most cell processes are caused by reversible protein phosphorylation, which operates like a switch to turn enzyme activity on and off.

Though many years passed before the scientific world heeded this remarkable revelation, the pair’s research eventually led to the understanding of the effects of hormones on the body, how proteins transcribe genetic information, how the body uses sugars to produce energy and why some forms of cancers develop, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Phosphorylation complications lie at the center of cancer, diabetes, heart conditions and nerve disease, and most modern efforts at finding new drugs target this process.

But Krebs never planned to become a scientist. Growing up in Lansing, Iowa, he merely followed his brothers to college at the University of Illinois and took the medicine track because it might help him bring home a paycheck in the dark days of the Great Depression.

Krebs graduated from medical school at Washington University in St. Louis in 1943. While completing his clinical internship, Krebs met his wife, Virginia, who was working as a student nurse at the same hospital. After they married, Krebs served on active duty as a medical officer with the U.S. Navy.

The end of World War II saw Krebs’ return to St. Louis, where all area hospital positions had already been filled. Following a brief fellowship at his alma mater doing research in biological chemistry, Krebs snatched a position as assistant professor at the UW’s then-nascent medical school, where he and Fischer would conduct their research. Krebs also gained valuable administrative experience and, in 1969, accepted a position as department chair at the University of California Davis medical school.

But Krebs couldn’t stay away from Seattle for long: In 1977, he became head of the Department of Pharmacology and further pursued research in phosphorylation.

Later in his life, Krebs received many major honors. Among these were the Passano Foundation Award in 1988, the Horwitz Prize in 1989, the Lasker Research Award in 1989, the 3M Life Sciences Award in 1989 and the Welch Award in Chemistry in 1991. When he and Fischer were honored by the Nobel Committee in 1992 for their work 40 years earlier, Krebs, then 74, was overwhelmed with joy.

Krebs is survived by his wife, Virginia “Deedy” Krebs; three children, Sally Herman, Robert Krebs and Martha Abrego; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Plans for a memorial service are pending.

Reach News Editor Rachel Solomon at news@dailyuw.com.