Neurochemical Research, VoL 16, No. 6, 1991, pp. 601-602

PREFACE Lawrie Austin: The Man and the Scientist

"There is nothing so becomes a man, as modest stillness and humility" Henry V,III,i,4.

tomes, ion movement and membrane structure. Also, during this period with John Bray and Bruce Livett, Lawrie was amongst the first investigators to show details of slow and fast axonal transport.

For those of us who have had the privilege to work alongside Lawrie Austin, of all his admirable qualities, one stands out above the others, a quality which is epitomised in the above quotation. During his distinguished career as a member of the academic staff of the Department of Biochemistry at Monash University, through his interaction at all levels with his peers at international forums and scientific meetings, in his supervision and encouragement of graduate students and in his personal support of his colleagues, Lawrie has manifested many modest, thoughtful attributes which at times have disguised the significance of his scientific contributions to the neurosciences and neurochemical research. Although an ardent advocate of the need for research excellence, Lawrie is not known to advocate in any self aggrandising manner the excellence of his own research effort. This assessment of his place in the community of scholars, he left to others. His contributions have however been widely appreciated. This honour volume and associated Festschrifts represent one further aspect of the regard in which he is held by his peers. In his science, in his public activities and in his private life, Lawrie represents the best of the Renaissance scholar, a man of science who enjoys with equal passion his family, his hobbies and his interests as a connoisseur of fine cabernet sauvignon. Lawrence Austin, known simply to his friends as Lawrie, completed his PhD in 1958 under the supervision of Professor Trikojus at the University of Melbourne on chemically induced neural degeneration. Subsequently, he worked as a research scientist at the Defense Standards Laboratory, Maribyrnong. He took up the position of Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry in this Department on February 1, 1962. In response to the innovative and productive research developments which he initiated, the University Council in June 1969 approved his promotion to a Readership. Numerous highlights of Lawrie's research career can be identified during and subsequent to this period. The following selection encompasses aspects of his kaleidoscopic achievements as an outstanding Australian biological scientist.

* Mid 1960s - early 1970s: With graduate students Angela McGregor and Kerry James, Lawrie continued his studies on axonal transport of lipids, cholesterol and the effects of toxins. During this period also came the demonstration with John Scheffer of the axonal transport of transfer RNA in the chick optic system~ With Bruce Livett, his studies led to the isolation and characterisation of the properties of adrenergic granules. * Early 1970s - late 1970s. With Peter Gunning and Chris Langford, Lawrie documented the changes in ribosomal and messenger RNA during very early stages of nerve regeneration. These studies were then extended to investigations on the response behaviour in both neurons and glial cells. * Late 1970s - late 1980s. This period witnessed a continuation of Lawrie's research effort with Eric Moses, David Bates, John Watterson and others on the biochemical basis of nerve regeneration including further work on RNA, small nuclear RNAs, ribonucleases and their inhibitors, and protein phosphorylation during peripheral nerve regeneration. During this period, with Helen Arthur, Peter Howe, Asita Gurusingthe and others, Lawrie undertook definitive studies on lipid and Na +, K+ATPase changes in dystrophic muscle cells and was amongst the first to document the disinnervation in the dy mouse including effects on ACh receptors. The involvement of lipoproteins in the dystrophic process represented further significant findings during this period. Also arising from this productive period of investigations was the development with Mike De Niese and other co-workers of ultramicrom&hods for studies on the effects of oxyradicals on single muscle fibres. Based on these studies, an elegant model on the role of dystrophin, calcium binding proteins, calcium transport and oxyradical cascade in dystrophic muscle evolved, in collaboration with Asita Gurisingthe, Matt Wilce and myself. Most recently Lawrie with Nick Vakakis and Tony Burgess provided the first evidence for the proliferative effects of LIF on muscle cells in culture, a

* Mid 1960s: In association with Ian Morgan, his laboratory provided some of the early important observations on the biochemical behaviour of synap601

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finding of significance if myoblast transfer is to become a reality for sufferers of dystrophic diseases such as Duchenne's or Becker's dystrophy. In addition to this outstanding research programme, Lawrie made significant scientific contributions during periods of overseas study leave whilst working with Oliver Lowry in St Louis (on protein turnover in the brain, 1968), with Paul Mandel in Strasbourg (on taurine and GABA metabolism in discrete regions of the brain, 1976), with Michel Lazdunsky and Jean-Francois Renaud in Nice (on lipoprotein binding in muscle cells, 1984) and David Danks at the Murdoch Institute, Melbourne (on the role of cytokines in myoblast proliferation, 1989).

This tribute by the journal Neurochemical Research to honor an Australian scientist in the year of the ISN meeting in Sydney is particularly appropriate in view of the long association Lawrie has had with the Australian Neuroscience Society (including his term as President from 1979-1982) as Member of Council, ISN from 19811985, and Member of the Programme Committee for the IXth and Xth Congress of the ISN. Milton T.W. Hearn Professor and Chairman Department of Biochemistry Monash University Clayton, Australia