摘要: Abstract Born on July 14, 1931 I passed my childhood and the war in Strasbourg. In 1944 parents, brother were arrested by Gestapo sent to a SS camp Germany. We liberated American army 1945. After studying pharmacy, physiology biochemistry at Strasbourg University became researcher 1955 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) J.‐P. Ebel's laboratory. first worked structure function of linear polyphosphates yeast bacteria. This was interrupted 28 months military service research laboratory health Lyon where isolated studied soluble substrate lysozyme. got PhD pharmacy 1961 sciences 1964 assistant professor 1964, then full (1969) Faculty Pharmacy which dean 1969–1970. There lectured biochemistry, molecular biology toxicology. post-doc R.W. Holley's Ithaca (USA) 1965, turned study tRNAs, main topic for 35 years. concerned with their isolation, primary rare nucleotides. discovered specific cleavage lead, several aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. parallel, also did toxicology mode action ricin ochratoxin A protein synthesis. My last genotoxicity mycotoxins formation DNA adducts. possible, thanks very active many gifted hard working co-workers as well international collaborations. CNRS Institute Molecular Cellular Biology director after retirement Ebel. involved scientific organisations: President French Biochemical Society Toxicological (1979–1980), Secretary general FEBS (1984–1989) (1999–2003). president EUROTOX (1990–1992). am member Academy Medicine since 1988.