Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 honours enzyme research

Three scientists have been honoured in this year¡¯s Nobel Prize in Chemistry for ¡°taking control of evolution¡± through 바카라사이트ir discoveries of new enzymes.

One-half of 바카라사이트 SKr9?million (?770,000) prize goes to Frances Arnold, professor of chemical engineering, bioengineering and biochemistry at 바카라사이트 California Institute of Technology; 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half is shared between George Smith, formerly professor at 바카라사이트 University of Missouri, and Sir Gregory Winter, from 바카라사이트 MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Professor Arnold becomes 바카라사이트 fifth woman to win 바카라사이트 Nobel for chemistry during its 117-history and is recognised ¡°for 바카라사이트 directed evolution of enzymes¡± ¨C which she succeeded in doing for 바카라사이트 first time in 1993.

The process, which has since been refined, can be used in environmentally friendly manufacturing of chemical substances as well as renewable fuels.

Sir Gregory¡¯s win marks 바카라사이트 12th Nobel for 바카라사이트 Cambridge laboratory, and is given in recognition of his work with Professor Smith developing a new method of directed evolution known as ¡°phage display¡±. The process uses viruses that infect bacteria to evolve new proteins.

Phage display is now used in 바카라사이트 production of new pharmaceuticals and has produced antibodies that can neutralise toxins, counteract autoimmune diseases and even cure metastatic cancer.

A genetic engineer, Sir Gregory is also 바카라사이트 current master of Trinity College, Cambridge and becomes 바카라사이트 107th Nobel laureate from 바카라사이트 university.

Announcing 바카라사이트 prize in Stockholm on 3?October, 바카라사이트 Nobel committee said that 바카라사이트 discovery of directed evolution ¡°will bring 바카라사이트 greatest benefit to humankind¡±.

Dame Carol Robinson, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry in 바카라사이트 UK, congratulated all three laureates and said that 바카라사이트 directed evolution of enzymes and antibody technology ¡°are now transforming medicine¡±.

¡°Today¡¯s Nobel Prize in Chemistry highlights 바카라사이트 tremendous role of chemistry in contributing to many areas of our lives including pharmaceuticals, detergents, green catalysis and biofuels. It is a great advert for chemistry to have impact in so many areas,¡± she added.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com