David Campbell, head of the MRC PPU’s Mass Spectrometry Facility, is retiring 34 years after joining Philip Cohen’s lab as a postdoc in 1984. David’s first role was to undertake peptide and protein sequencing using a device called the spinning cup sequencer. He succeeded in obtaining important sequences of a number of critical phosphatase catalytic and regulatory subunits including PP1, PP2A and Inhibitor-2 over this period that enabled these proteins to be cloned, characterised and much better studied. David also obtained the first sequence of Glycogenin, which acts as a primer for glycogen synthesis by polymerizing the first few glucose molecules, after which other enzymes take over. We think that Glycogenin was one of the last proteins to be sequenced at the protein level. David also played a critical role in setting up gas-phase Edman sequencing and initiating the use of solid phase Edman sequencing for analysis of 32P labelled phosphopeptides. He participated in many of the Unit’s landmark studies over the years including mapping of the c-Raf activating phosphorylation sites on MEK1. He determined the first peptide sequences of MAPKAPK-2 thus allowing cloning of the enzyme and the subsequent discovery of p38 MAP kinase by John Rouse. David also determined all of the critical activating phosphorylation sites in the WNK-signalling pathway (WNKs, SPAK/OSR1 and ion co-transporters) for members of Dario Alessi’s lab. More recently David and the Mass Spectrometry Facility staff (Bob Gourlay & Joby Varghese) mapped the Ser65 PINK1 phosphorylation sites on Parkin and ubiquitin for Miratul Muqit.

David published around 130 papers during his time in the MRC PPU. David was a remarkable head of the Mass Spectrometry facility and over the years ensured that it provided a very thorough service that all research staff in the Unit depended on and were able to trust the data they obtained. He was one of the most approachable and helpful staff members who ever worked in the MRC PPU. Unit Director Dario Alessi commented “I would like to thank David for the magnificent contribution he has made to the success of the MRC PPU over the years. He is extremely rigorous and has an eye for detail. He has undertaken extraordinary work for me and my colleagues and David’s efforts lie behind many of the major breakthroughs made in the MRC PPU over the years. We would likely not be where we are now without his efforts. I always get my PhD students and Postdocs to get all their mass-spec data checked by David before publication and often David identifies key errors. He will be sorely missed”.

Endorsing all of Dario’s comments, Philip Cohen said that “David had had a remarkable career starting from the days in which protein sequencing was performed manually, through to the automation of the technology and culminating with the advent and rise of mass spectrometry. David had risen to each new challenge as it had come along and gained the required expertise in these novel techniques that had enabled the MRC PPU to remain at the cutting edge of the field. My wife Tricia and I thank David for his massive contributions that underpinned our research over many years and we wish him a long and happy retirement”.

David stated “When we arrived in Dundee in a snowy January in 1984 we really did not expect to be here 34 years later. The research has been fascinating, I have greatly enjoyed working in the Unit and would like to say thank you to all those who have helped me over many years.”