James Batcheller Sumner was an American biochemist. He discovered that enzymes can be crystallized, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946 with John Howard Northrop and Wendell Meredith Stanley. He was also the first to prove that enzymes are proteins. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1946, announced November 14, 1946. James B. Sumner (1/2), “for his discovery that enzymes can be crystallized”. John H. Northrop (1/4), “for their preparation of enzymes and virus proteins in a pure form”. Wendell M. Stanley (1/4), “for their preparation of enzymes and virus proteins in a pure form”. James B. Sumner: born 1887, Canton, MA, USA. John H. Northrop: born 1891, Yonkers, NY, USA. Wendell M. Stanley: born 1904, Ridgeville, IN, USA. Wiki link Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).