Durmishidze Sergi
Sergi Durmishidze (February 27, 1910, Sachkhere – May 29, 1989, Tbilisi) was a Georgian biochemist and one of the founders of plant biochemistry and biotechnology in Georgia, a full member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (1955), Doctor of Biological Sciences (1952), Professor (1952), Honored Scientist of Georgia (1961).
He graduated in 1931 from the Faculty of Horticulture and Viticulture at the Georgian Agricultural Institute. From 1935 to 1960, he worked in the Department of Biochemistry at the same institute, serving as head of the department. From 1943 to 1954, he was Director of the Georgian Academy of Sciences’ Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology. He served as Minister of Agriculture of Georgia (1954–55), Academic Secretary of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (1955–71), and from 1957 he was a professor at Tbilisi State University. From 1971, he served as Vice-President of the Georgian Academy of Sciences and Director of the Institute of Plant Biochemistry, which he founded.
Durmishidze was a representative of the Soviet scientific schools of A. Oparin and A. Kursanov. He worked in the field of the biochemistry of secondary compounds, identifying the biochemical pathways of primary, secondary, and by-product transformations during alcoholic fermentation.
He laid the foundation for the study of phenolic compounds in grapes and wine, developed theoretical principles for the metabolism of aromatic compounds in plant cells. He also identified new methods for the biological purification of air, soil, and water.
He authored numerous monographs, including on prominent Soviet biochemists, as well as essays on Georgian scientists and public figures. He was a member of the editorial boards of several scientific, socio-political, and literary journals.
Durmishidze received various state honors including the State Prize of Georgia (1985), and was named an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1987).
Literary works: ზოგი რამ წარსულიდან, თბ., 1985; Генезис молочной кислоты при естественном алкогольном брожении, «Биохимия», 1938, №8; Дубильные вещества и антоцианы виноградной лозы и вина, М., 1955; Пути превращений основных и вторичных продуктов спиртового брожения, Тб., 1962; Вопросы биохимии переработки винограда, Тб., 1967; Расщепление ароматического кольца некоторых экзогенных соединений в растениях, Тб., 1975; Метаболизм некоторых загрязнителей атмосферного воздуха в растениях, Тб., 1977.
O. Kveaitadze
