nobel prizes 2012

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NOBEL PRIZENOBEL PRIZE

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Alfred Nobel (1833-Alfred Nobel (1833-1896)1896)

The Man Behind the The Man Behind the Nobel Nobel PrizePrize

Nobel prizeNobel prize

The The Nobel PrizeNobel Prize is a set of annual  is a set of annual international awards bestowed in a international awards bestowed in a number of categories by number of categories by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural committees in recognition of cultural and/or scientific advances. and/or scientific advances.

The will of the The will of the Swedish philanthropist  philanthropist inventor inventor Alfred Nobel established the  established the prizes in 1895. prizes in 1895.

The prizes in The prizes in Physics, , Chemistry, , Physiology or Medicine, , Literature, and , and Peace were first awarded in 1901 were first awarded in 1901

The Peace Prize is The Peace Prize is awardedin  awardedin  Oslo, ,

NorwayNorway

while the other prizes are while the other prizes are awarded in awarded in Stockholm, , SwedenSweden

The Nobel Prizes the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world

NOBEL LAUREATES OF 2012NOBEL LAUREATES OF 2012The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012

Robert J. Lefkowitz, Brian K. KobilkaRobert J. Lefkowitz, Brian K. Kobilka

THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2012THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2012Serge Haroche David J. WinelandSerge Haroche David J. WinelandTHE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY

AND MEDICINEAND MEDICINE

Sir John B.GurdonSir John B.Gurdon and  and Shinya YamanakaShinya Yamanaka

CONTD…CONTD…

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NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATUREMO YANMO YANTHE NOBEL PRIZE IN PEACE IN PEACE

European Union (EU)European Union (EU)

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NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMIC SCIENCENOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMIC SCIENCE Alvin E. RothAlvin E. Roth and  and Lloyd S. Lloyd S.

ShapleyShapley

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Introduction to the specific area Introduction to the specific area of symposiumof symposium

99

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRYPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff(1901)(1901)

  Discovery of the laws of chemical Discovery of the laws of chemical dynamics and dynamics and osmotic pressure in  in

solutionssolutions

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Svante August Arrhenius(1903)(1903)

For His electrolytic theory of For His electrolytic theory of dissociation

contd… contd…

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Wilhelm Ostwald(1909)(1909)

For his work on For his work on catalysis and  and for his investigations into the for his investigations into the

fundamental principles fundamental principles governing chemical equilibria governing chemical equilibria

and rates of reactionand rates of reaction. . (Contd…)(Contd…)

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INORGANIC CHEMISTRYINORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Sir Sir William Ramsay(1904)(1904)

For his discovery of the For his discovery of the inert gaseous elements in air, , and his determination of their and his determination of their place in the periodic system. place in the periodic system.

(contd).. (contd)..1313

F. Sherwood Rowland(1995)(1995)

For their work in atmospheric For their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly chemistry, particularly

concerning the formation and concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone..

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Dan Shechtman(2011)(2011)

For the discovery of For the discovery of quasicrystals..

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Organic ChemistryOrganic Chemistry

Victor Grignard((1912)1912)

For the discovery of Grignard For the discovery of Grignard reagent.(RMgX) (Contd..) reagent.(RMgX) (Contd..)

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Leopold Ruzicka((1939)1939)

For his work on For his work on polymethylenes and higher polymethylenes and higher 

terpenes..

(Contd…) (Contd…)

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Ei-ichi Negishi(2010)(2010)

for palladium-catalyzed for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic  in organic

synthesis.synthesis.

(Contd…) (Contd…)

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Brian Kobilka , , Robert Lefkowitz

(2012)(2012)

For studies of For studies of G-protein-coupled receptors..

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2020

chemistry Nobel Laureateschemistry Nobel Laureates(2012)(2012)

in chemistry Two American in chemistry Two American scientists won the Nobel Prize scientists won the Nobel Prize “ “ for studies of G-protein-coupled for studies of G-protein-coupled

receptors“receptors“ The first Nobel in chemistry The first Nobel in chemistry

for two MDs for two MDs David Kroll, a blogger at David Kroll, a blogger at

Terra Sigillata, believes this may , believes this may be the first Nobel prize in be the first Nobel prize in

chemistry awarded to two medical chemistry awarded to two medical doctors. doctors.

why Nobel prize was why Nobel prize was awarded to Nobel awarded to Nobel

Laureate and how his Laureate and how his work made him work made him distinguished ?distinguished ?

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  for deciphering the for deciphering the communication system that communication system that

the human body uses to the human body uses to sense the outside world and sense the outside world and send messages to cells — for send messages to cells — for example, speeding the heart example, speeding the heart

when danger approaches. when danger approaches. The understanding is aiding The understanding is aiding

the development of new the development of new drugs.drugs. 2222

GPCRs are different than so-called ion GPCRs are different than so-called ion channels, which act as gates for channels, which act as gates for

charged particles to flow in and out of charged particles to flow in and out of the cell. That's because GPCRs do not the cell. That's because GPCRs do not

allow anything through the cell allow anything through the cell membrane.membrane.

Instead, when a target molecule -- say, Instead, when a target molecule -- say, adrenaline -- binds to the part of the adrenaline -- binds to the part of the GPCR that is outside of the cell, the GPCR that is outside of the cell, the shape of the GPCR inside of the cell shape of the GPCR inside of the cell changes slightly. It is this change in changes slightly. It is this change in

shape that begins the process of shape that begins the process of signaling inside of the cell.signaling inside of the cell.

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By the mid-1980s, Lefkowitz and his team -- which By the mid-1980s, Lefkowitz and his team -- which included Kobilka -- had identified and isolated the included Kobilka -- had identified and isolated the

GPCR that adrenaline binds to, and Kobilka in GPCR that adrenaline binds to, and Kobilka in particular had expanded this work to demonstrate particular had expanded this work to demonstrate

that there is a whole family of GPCRs that are that there is a whole family of GPCRs that are activated by different molecules.activated by different molecules.

Today, scientists believe that there are hundreds of Today, scientists believe that there are hundreds of different GPCRs in the body that react to odorants different GPCRs in the body that react to odorants from our smells, light-sensitive molecules in our from our smells, light-sensitive molecules in our eyes, and a whole range of other peptides and eyes, and a whole range of other peptides and

transmitters that act to signal information. Though transmitters that act to signal information. Though the receptors have been particularly well studied in the receptors have been particularly well studied in

the brain, they also play important roles in the the brain, they also play important roles in the immune system and in regulating other key body immune system and in regulating other key body

functions.functions.

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Many hundreds of laboratories are entirely Many hundreds of laboratories are entirely focused on understanding how particular focused on understanding how particular GPCRs work in the body and the brain -- a GPCRs work in the body and the brain -- a legacy directly traceable to Lefkowitz and legacy directly traceable to Lefkowitz and

Kobilka.Kobilka.And just last year, Kobilka, who is now a And just last year, Kobilka, who is now a

professor at Stanford University, achieved a professor at Stanford University, achieved a stunning breakthrough with GPCRs: He stunning breakthrough with GPCRs: He

managed to capture a GPCR at the precise managed to capture a GPCR at the precise moment that its target molecule had arrived moment that its target molecule had arrived at the surface and a signaling cascade had at the surface and a signaling cascade had begun inside the cell -- a feat the Swedish begun inside the cell -- a feat the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prizes, Academy, which awards the Nobel Prizes,

described as “a molecular masterpiece -- the described as “a molecular masterpiece -- the result of decades of research.”result of decades of research.”

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Americans Robert J Lefkowitz and Americans Robert J Lefkowitz and Brian K Kobilka have won this Brian K Kobilka have won this year's chemistry Nobel for their year's chemistry Nobel for their work on G-protein-coupled work on G-protein-coupled receptors, which allow cells to receptors, which allow cells to sense light, flavour, odour and sense light, flavour, odour and receive signals from hormones receive signals from hormones and neurotransmittersand neurotransmitters

The award of this year's chemistry Nobel prize to Robert Lefkowitz The award of this year's chemistry Nobel prize to Robert Lefkowitz (left) and Brian Kobilka demonstrates how the distinctions (left) and Brian Kobilka demonstrates how the distinctions

between the disciplines of chemistry and biology between the disciplines of chemistry and biology have been breaking down

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  Guanine nucleotide-binding proteinsGuanine nucleotide-binding proteins, , are a family of are a family of proteins involved in  involved in transmitting chemical signals originating transmitting chemical signals originating from outside a cell into the inside of the from outside a cell into the inside of the cell. G proteins function as molecular cell. G proteins function as molecular switches. Their activity is regulated by switches. Their activity is regulated by factors that control their ability to bind to factors that control their ability to bind to and and hydrolyze  guanosinetriphosphate  (GTP) hydrolyze  guanosinetriphosphate  (GTP) to  guanosine diphosphate (GDP). When to  guanosine diphosphate (GDP). When they bind GTP, they are 'on', and, when they bind GTP, they are 'on', and, when they bind GDP, they are 'off'. G proteins they bind GDP, they are 'off'. G proteins belong to the larger group of enzymes belong to the larger group of enzymes calledGTPasescalledGTPases

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Work done till date Work done till date by the Nobel by the Nobel

LaureateLaureate

BRIAN K .KOBILKA ROBERT BRIAN K .KOBILKA ROBERT LEFKOWITZLEFKOWITZ

For discovery of G- coupled receptorsFor discovery of G- coupled receptors(2012) (2012)

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Dan ShectmanDan Shectman

For the discovery of For the discovery of quasicrystalsquasicrystals

201120113131

Richard F. Heck

Ei-ichi Negishi

Akira Suzuki

"for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis".

(2010)

Ven katraman Ramakrishnan

Thomas A. Steitz

Ada E. Yonath

"for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome".

(2009)

Osamu ShimomuraMartin Chalfie Roger Y. Tsien

"for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein".

(2008)

"for his studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces".(2007)

Gerhard Ertl

Roger D. Kornberg "for his studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic

transcription".(2006)

Photo: L.B. Hetherington

Richard R. Schrock

Yves ChauvinRobert H. Grubbs

"for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis".

(2005)

Irwin Rose

Aaron CiechanoverAvram Hershko

 "for the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation".

(2004)

Roderick MacKinnon

Peter Agre

"for the discovery of water channels" and with one half to Roderick MacKinnon "for structural and mechanistic studies of ion channels".

(2003)

John B. Fenn

"for his development of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for determining the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules in solution".

(2002)

Koichi Tanaka Kurt Wüthrich

K. Barry Sharpless

William S. Knowles

Ryoji Noyori

 "for his work on chirally catalysed oxidation reactions".

(2001)

Alan J. Heeger Alan G. MacDiarmid Hideki Shirakawa

 "for the discovery and development of conductive polymers".

(2000)

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THANKSTHANKS

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