Anthony William Linnane 1930–2017

Abstract

Anthony (Tony) Linnane isolated mitochondria from bakers’ yeast during his doctoral studies at the University of Sydney in the 1950s. He subsequently pioneered research into the biogenesis of mitochondria, covering enzymology, membrane biochemistry, and molecular biology and genetics, over more than two decades until the mid-1980s. These discoveries were made mostly at Monash University and earned him election as FAA (1972) and FRS (1980). Linnane thereafter broadened his research towards medical topics, especially the role of mitochondria in human ageing, together with studies on interferon and cancer-specific mucinous antigens. After retirement from Monash in 1996, Linnane worked towards ameliorating disease through bioenergetic strategies, based at the Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine in Melbourne. He played significant roles in the Australian Biochemical Society and the International Union of Biochemistry.