They Harnessed the Power of Evolution

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

They Harnessed the Power of Evolution The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 with one half to Frances H. Arnold “for the directed evolution of enzymes” and the other half jointly to George P. Smith and The Nobel Prize 2018 in Chemistry Sir Gregory P. Winter “for the phage display of peptides and antibodies”. the Nobel Foundation. Nobel the Nobel Prize® and the Nobel Prize® medal design markdesign registered are trademarks of They harnessed the power of evolution The power of evolution is revealed through the diversity of life. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 is awarded to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter because they have taken control of evolution and used it for purposes that bring the greatest benefit to humankind. Enzymes produced through directed evolution are used to manufacture biofuels and pharmaceuticals, amongst a great deal else. Antibodies Binding evolved using a method called phage display combat autoimmune site on antibody Cancer cell diseases and can, in some cases, cure metastatic cancer. Since the first seeds of life arose around Because proteins are masters of chemistry, 3.7 billion years ago, almost every crevice researchers have used rational approaches Renewable Greener on Earth has filled with different organisms. to try to change them to solve humankind’s fuels industry Life has spread to hot springs, deep oceans chemical problems, but proteins are and dry deserts, all because evolution complex and human intelligence is limited. has solved numerous chemical problems. Success was first achieved when the 2018 Life’s chemical tools – proteins – have Laureates in Chemistry started imitiating Randomly Antibody/ been optimised, changed and renewed. evolution. By using the principles of evolution mutated genes Pharmaceutical Contrast medium pharmaceutical Chemistry has become increasingly advanced, – random genetic mutations and selection – production for brain imaging producing new organisms and resulting in they have revolutionised chemistry and the fantastic diversity of life that now exists. the development of pharmaceuticals. The most effective Phage display enzymes are selected Binding site on antibody Gradually Enzyme with the improved desired properties specificity Generation 3 Part of gene Generation 2 for antibody Frances H. Arnold George P. Smith Sir Gregory P. Winter Randomly Target for mutated pharmaceuticals Born 1956 in Born 1941 in Norwalk, Born 1951 in Leicester, enzymes Pittsburgh, USA. Linus USA. Curators’ UK. Research Bacteriophage Pauling Professor Distinguished Leader Emeritus at library of Chemical Professor Emeritus MRC Laboratory of Generation 1 Engineering, of Biological Sciences Molecular Biology, Bioengineering and at University of Cambridge, UK. Biochemistry at Missouri, Columbia, California Institute USA. Arnold starts playing with evolution Smith uses a bacteria virus Winter develops targeted pharmaceuticals of Technology, In 1993, Frances Arnold conducted the first In 1985, George Smith developed an elegant In the early 1990s, Gregory Winter started to Pasadena, USA. directed evolution of enzymes (proteins that method that is called phage display, in which use phage display for the directed evolution catalyse chemical reactions). She mutated bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – of antibodies. He created a library of phages genes and produced a library of randomly can be used to produce new proteins. that carried millions of different types of mutated enzymes. From this, she chose the A bacteriophage has a protein capsule that antibodies on their surface. Then he used enzymes that were most effective at catalysing surrounds the genetic material that codes for a protein as a kind of fishing hook to catch a chemical reaction. Then she repeated the the capsule. Smith put the gene for a foreign phages with antibodies that attached to process, so the enzyme gradually improved. protein into the gene for a phage capsule the protein. Using random mutations and Using directed evolution, Frances Arnold protein, so the foreign protein ended up on numerous cycles of directed evolution, he has produced enzymes that can, among the surface of the phage. The strength of then improved the accuracy of the antibodies. other things: work as a contrast medium phage display is that it provides a physical Using phage display, Gregory Winter started during brain imaging; produce renewable link between a protein and its gene. to develop antibodies that can work as fuels for a greener transport sector; replace pharmaceuticals. The first one, adalimumab, corrosive acids and toxic heavy metals in was approved in 2002 and is used to the production of pharmaceuticals and treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and in other chemical manufacturing. inflammatory bowel diseases. Since then, phage display has produced antibodies that can neutralise toxins, combat autoimmune diseases and even cure metastatic cancer. Photo: portrait of Frances Arnold: Caltech; portrait of George Smith: Michael Cali/MU ASC Photo; portrait of Sir Gregory Winter: Graham CopeKoga. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NOBEL PRIZES AT WWW.KVA.SE More information about the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 is available at www.kva.se/nobelchemistry2018 and www.nobelprize.org, with detailed information about the Prize and the Laureates, suggested reading and videos. Editors: Claes Gustafsson, Gunnar von Heijne, and Sara Snogerup Printing and © The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Linse, The Nobel Committee for Chemistry, The Royal Swedish distribution Box 50005, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Academy of Sciences; Ann Fernholm, Science Writer; Clare Barnes, made possible by +46 8 673 95 00, [email protected], www.kva.se Translator; Sara Gustafsson, Editor, and Virág Angyal, Posters may be ordered free of charge Nobel Assistant, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. at www.kva.se/nobelposters Graphic design: IVY Agency AB Illustrations: Johan Jarnestad/ Infographics.se Print: Åtta45.
Recommended publications
  • RACI E-News November 2019
    RACI E-News November 2019 I was particularly excited to see in the October Newsletter that some 31 new members have joined the RACI family! It is also encouraging to find 17 student members within the group. I like to extend a special welcome to all of you. I look forward to meeting many of you in upcoming events organised by the interest groups and regional sections of the Branch. Please remember to be involved to Inside this Issue make the best of your RACI membership. This also highlights the need for our 1 Message from the groups and sections to organise more events that engage with both undergraduate President and postgraduate students. It also reminds me that we are fast approaching the 2 Calendar of Events end-of-semester time of the year and many students will need to cope with 3 Blueprint for Career examinations, thesis submission, etc. I wish all students the very best of luck in Success in STEMM-6 Nov 2019 completing the requirements of your study programs this year. 4 The Australasian Laboratory Management A major event in October was the annual general meeting of the Branch. Conference, Sydney Approximately 30 members attended the meeting and were all enlightened by a 11-13 November 2019 presentation covering the National Indigenous Science Education Program by 5 AGM of the NSW Branch- Associate Professor Joanne Jamie (Macquarie University). I like to take this 17 October 2019 opportunity to again express my gratitude to the outgoing committee for your hard 6 NSW BDDG Event-15 October 2019 work in the past 12 months.
    [Show full text]
  • TRINITY COLLEGE Cambridge Trinity College Cambridge College Trinity Annual Record Annual
    2016 TRINITY COLLEGE cambridge trinity college cambridge annual record annual record 2016 Trinity College Cambridge Annual Record 2015–2016 Trinity College Cambridge CB2 1TQ Telephone: 01223 338400 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.trin.cam.ac.uk Contents 5 Editorial 11 Commemoration 12 Chapel Address 15 The Health of the College 18 The Master’s Response on Behalf of the College 25 Alumni Relations & Development 26 Alumni Relations and Associations 37 Dining Privileges 38 Annual Gatherings 39 Alumni Achievements CONTENTS 44 Donations to the College Library 47 College Activities 48 First & Third Trinity Boat Club 53 Field Clubs 71 Students’ Union and Societies 80 College Choir 83 Features 84 Hermes 86 Inside a Pirate’s Cookbook 93 “… Through a Glass Darkly…” 102 Robert Smith, John Harrison, and a College Clock 109 ‘We need to talk about Erskine’ 117 My time as advisor to the BBC’s War and Peace TRINITY ANNUAL RECORD 2016 | 3 123 Fellows, Staff, and Students 124 The Master and Fellows 139 Appointments and Distinctions 141 In Memoriam 155 A Ninetieth Birthday Speech 158 An Eightieth Birthday Speech 167 College Notes 181 The Register 182 In Memoriam 186 Addresses wanted CONTENTS TRINITY ANNUAL RECORD 2016 | 4 Editorial It is with some trepidation that I step into Boyd Hilton’s shoes and take on the editorship of this journal. He managed the transition to ‘glossy’ with flair and panache. As historian of the College and sometime holder of many of its working offices, he also brought a knowledge of its past and an understanding of its mysteries that I am unable to match.
    [Show full text]
  • A Nobel Achievement Retired Biology Professor Dr
    A Nobel Achievement Retired biology professor Dr. George Smith was honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry NOBEL in October for his work in the ‘80s on the phage SMITH display technique. He is MU’s rst Nobel Prize winner. The award ceremony was held Monday in Stockholm. Below, the technique is explained for science fans — and everybody else. MATTHEW HALL/Missourian Phage Display Technique OR Fishin’ with Dr. Smith Phage display in scientic terms Phage display in layman’s terms After inserting genetic material Binding Phase Dr. Smith casts his line into into a phage, the phage the ocean, and a sh eats the creates a peptide on its shell. bait and is now attached to Phage The virus is mixed with a library the hook. (virus) of antibodies, each only 1 latching onto specic peptides. Peptide Antibody The library is washed to Wash He pulls the sh out of the remove any unbound water, separating it from sh antibodies from the mix, not attracted to the bait. leaving the bonded peptides 2 Unbound and antibody mixture. antibodies Elute The bond between the antibody The shing line is cut, removing and phage is destroyed with the sh from the line. an enzyme, leaving the phage free to infect new 3 bacteria. Amplify Phase The antibody-peptide Dr. Smith places the sh back combination is placed in a into a new body of water to ask to isolate the mixture separate the selected sh from other nonbinding 4 from the rest. antibodies. Repeat process 2-3 Repeat 2x He continues shing until he times until almost all of the catches more sh with his bait.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Owns CRISPR-Cas9? Nobel Prize 2020 Fuels Dispute
    chemistrychemistry December 2020–February 2021 in Australia Who owns CRISPR-Cas9? Nobel Prize 2020 fuels dispute chemaust.raci.org.au • Scientific posters: the bigger picture • RACI National Awards winners • Science for and in diplomacy www.rowe.com.au Online 24 hours 7 days a week, by phone or face to face, we give you the choice. INSTRUMENTS - CONSUMABLES - CHEMICALS - SERVICE & REPAIRS A 100% Australian owned company, supplying scientific laboratories since 1987. South Australia & NT Queensland Victoria & Tasmania New South Wales Western Australia Ph: (08) 8186 0523 Ph: (07) 3376 9411 Ph: (03) 9701 7077 Ph: (02) 9603 1205 Ph: (08) 9302 1911 ISO 9001:2015 LIC 10372 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SAI Global REF535 X:\MARKETING\ADVERTISING\CHEMISTRY IN AUSTRALIA December 2020–February 2021 38 cover story Who owns CRISPR-Cas9? Nobel Prize in Chemistry stokes patent dispute 14 The ongoing intellectual property ownership dispute over the CRISPR-Cas9 technology has recently been refuelled by the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020. iStockphoto/Bill Oxford 18 #betterposter 4 From the President There’s a movement for better posters at science conferences. But are they 5 Your say really better? And how does poster push relate to the ongoing campaign for news & research open science? 6 News 7 On the market 8 Research 12 Education research members 22 2020 National Awards winners 18 25 RACI news 26 New Fellows 27 Obituaries views & reviews 30 Books 33 Science↔society 34 Literature & learning 36 Technology & innovation 38 Science for fun 40 Grapevine 41 Letter from Melbourne 42 Cryptic chemistry 42 Events chemaust.raci.org.au from the raci From the President This is my first President’s column and I would like to start by ..
    [Show full text]
  • Los Premios Nobel De Química
    Los premios Nobel de Química MATERIAL RECOPILADO POR: DULCE MARÍA DE ANDRÉS CABRERIZO Los premios Nobel de Química El campo de la Química que más premios ha recibido es el de la Quí- mica Orgánica. Frederick Sanger es el único laurea- do que ganó el premio en dos oca- siones, en 1958 y 1980. Otros dos también ganaron premios Nobel en otros campos: Marie Curie (física en El Premio Nobel de Química es entregado anual- 1903, química en 1911) y Linus Carl mente por la Academia Sueca a científicos que so- bresalen por sus contribuciones en el campo de la Pauling (química en 1954, paz en Física. 1962). Seis mujeres han ganado el Es uno de los cinco premios Nobel establecidos en premio: Marie Curie, Irène Joliot- el testamento de Alfred Nobel, en 1895, y que son dados a todos aquellos individuos que realizan Curie (1935), Dorothy Crowfoot Ho- contribuciones notables en la Química, la Física, la dgkin (1964), Ada Yonath (2009) y Literatura, la Paz y la Fisiología o Medicina. Emmanuelle Charpentier y Jennifer Según el testamento de Nobel, este reconocimien- to es administrado directamente por la Fundación Doudna (2020) Nobel y concedido por un comité conformado por Ha habido ocho años en los que no cinco miembros que son elegidos por la Real Aca- demia Sueca de las Ciencias. se entregó el premio Nobel de Quí- El primer Premio Nobel de Química fue otorgado mica, en algunas ocasiones por de- en 1901 al holandés Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff. clararse desierto y en otras por la Cada destinatario recibe una medalla, un diploma y situación de guerra mundial y el exi- un premio económico que ha variado a lo largo de los años.
    [Show full text]
  • October 2017 -Compressed
    The October 2017 Newsletter of The GP-TCM Research Association Editorials 1. The 1000 Medicinal Plant Genome Project (1KMPG) Professor Chang Liu Institute of Medicinal Plant Development Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, People's Republic of China E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] The market share of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) in the health-care industry has continuously grown inside of China in the past years. The annual sales of all TCMs related products are expected to exceed one trillion RMB in the next few years. Nevertheless, the TCMs have not been well accepted by the Western countries to the levels it is expected. Despite the large investment in the development of TCM drugs, relative few numbers of novel TCM drugs have reached the market comparing with those for small molecule drugs. One of the reasons is the complexity of TCM drugs as a result of the high degree of diversities in the raw materials used to make up of medicines. In order to tackle the complexity problems of TCMs from the very root, accurate determination of the genetic composition of raw herbal materials is a must. In recent years, several attempts have been made to obtain the complete genome sequences of medicinal fungi and plants. These include Ganoderma lucidum [1], Ganoderma Sinense [2], Salvia miltiorrhiza [3], Panax notoginseng [4] and etc. The completion of these work have lifted medicinal plant research and development into a new level. However, these efforts are usually driven by individual research group, a coordinated effort will optimize the resources for effective execution of these projects.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientific Connections Conf
    MARCH 11-12, 2021 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET The Scientific Connections Conference, presented by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) and Ann & Gordon Brown, will virtually host presentation tracks spanning across the applied STEM disciplines while featuring a diverse group of speakers to include Astronaut Scholar Alumni to current Astronaut Scholars, representing the 35+ years the scholarship has been in existence, paired with additional industry speakers. SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS PANKAJ MANDAL, PH.D. JAMES MAULT, MD. SIR GREGORY WINTER Senior Staff Fellow, CEO and Chairman, MRC Laboratory of MolecUlar Biology FDA/CBER BioIntelliSense, Inc. 2018 Chemistry Nobel Prize LaUreate Gene Therapy and Genome Editing- Medical Grade COVID Screening at Pharmaceuticals: From Chemicals to based Novel Therapeutics Scale with the BioButton Biologicals and Back Again? REGISTRATION General Registration StUdent Registration $30 for ThUrsday $15 for ThUrsday $30 for Friday $15 for Friday $50 for ThUrsday & Friday $25 for ThUrsday & Friday To register, please visit: https://astronautscholarship.org/scientificconnections2021.html SCIENTIFIC CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE | Visit: https://astronautscholarship.org/scientificconnections2021.html | Email: [email protected] DAY ONE: MARCH 11, 2021 TRACK ONE: SPACE/ENGINEERING 10:00 AM Event IntrodUction 10:20 AM Spotlight Speaker Presentation: James MaUlt, MD, CEO & Chairman of BioIntelliSense, Inc. 10:45 AM Spotlight Speaker Q&A: James MaUlt, MD, CEO & Chairman of BioIntelliSense, Inc. 11:00 AM Session 1 Presentations
    [Show full text]
  • SHALOM NWODO CHINEDU from Evolution to Revolution
    Covenant University Km. 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, P.M.B 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria Website: www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng TH INAUGURAL 18 LECTURE From Evolution to Revolution: Biochemical Disruptions and Emerging Pathways for Securing Africa's Future SHALOM NWODO CHINEDU INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES Vol. 9, No. 1, March, 2019 Covenant University 18th Inaugural Lecture From Evolution to Revolution: Biochemical Disruptions and Emerging Pathways for Securing Africa's Future Shalom Nwodo Chinedu, Ph.D Professor of Biochemistry (Enzymology & Molecular Genetics) Department of Biochemistry Covenant University, Ota Media & Corporate Affairs Covenant University, Km. 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, P.M.B 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria Tel: +234-8115762473, 08171613173, 07066553463. www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng Covenant University Press, Km. 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, P.M.B 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria ISSN: 2006-0327 Public Lecture Series. Vol. 9, No.1, March, 2019 Shalom Nwodo Chinedu, Ph.D Professor of Biochemistry (Enzymology & Molecular Genetics) Department of Biochemistry Covenant University, Ota From Evolution To Revolution: Biochemical Disruptions and Emerging Pathways for Securing Africa's Future THE FOUNDATION 1. PROTOCOL The Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents of Covenant University, Dr David O. Oyedepo; the Vice-President (Education), Living Faith Church World-Wide (LFCWW), Pastor (Mrs) Faith A. Oyedepo; esteemed members of the Board of Regents; the Vice- Chancellor, Professor AAA. Atayero; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor; the
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution in Chemistry the Power of Evolution Is Revealed Through the Diversity of Life
    THE NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2018 POPULAR SCIENCE BACKGROUND A (r)evolution in chemistry The power of evolution is revealed through the diversity of life. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 is awarded to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter for the way they have taken control of evolution and used it for the greatest beneft to humankind. Enzymes developed through directed evolution are now used to produce biofuels and pharmaceuticals, among other things. Antibodies evolved using a method called phage display can combat autoimmune diseases and, in some cases, cure metastatic cancer. We live on a planet where a powerful force has become established: evolution. Since the frst seeds of life appeared around 3.7 billion years ago, almost every crevice on Earth has been flled by organisms adapted to their environment: lichens that can live on bare mountainsides, archaea that thrive in hot springs, scaly reptiles equipped for dry deserts and jellyfsh that glow in the dark of the deep oceans. In school, we learn about these organisms in biology, but let’s change perspective and put on a chemist’s glasses. Life on Earth exists because evolution has solved numerous complex chemical problems. All organisms are able to extract materials and energy from their own environmental niche and use them to build the unique chemical creation that they comprise. Fish can swim in the polar oceans thanks to antifreeze proteins in their blood and mussels can stick to rocks because they have developed an underwater molecular glue, to give just a few of the innumerable examples.
    [Show full text]
  • Nobel for Test-Tube Evolution Controlling Protein Evolution in the Lab Has Led to Greener Technologies and New Medicines
    NEWS IN FOCUS CHEMISTRY Nobel for test-tube evolution Controlling protein evolution in the lab has led to greener technologies and new medicines. BY ELIZABETH GIBNEY, RICHARD VAN breeding a racehorse,” she says. was launched, says co-founder David Chiswell, NOORDEN, HEIDI LEDFORD, DAVIDE In 1985, Smith pioneered a technique that and it struggled to find investors. “Nobody CASTELVECCHI & MATTHEW WARREN uses a bacteriophage — a virus that infects in the world believed that antibodies were bacteria — as a host that displays a protein really good,” says Chiswell, who is now chief ays to speed up and control the on its outer coat, allowing researchers to find executive of Kymab, an antibody company in evolution of proteins to produce other molecules that interact with the protein. Cambridge. greener technologies and new Winter developed and improved this technol- Arnold also faced a battle when she put Wmedicines have won three scientists the 2018 ogy, called phage display, and invented ways forward the idea of evolving proteins in the lab, Nobel Prize in Chemistry. to use it to evolve antibodies adapted for use as says Dane Wittrup, a protein engineer at the Chemical engineer Frances Massachusetts Institute of Tech- Arnold, at the California Insti- nology in Cambridge. Research- tute of Technology in Pasadena, ers thought then that they would is just the second woman to be able to sit down at a computer have won the prize in the past 50 and rationally design proteins to years. She was awarded half of the carry out specific functions. “But 9-million-Swedish-krona (US$1- now, by and large, directed evolu- million) pot.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution in Chemistry the Power of Evolution Is Revealed Through the Diversity of Life
    THE NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2018 POPULAR SCIENCE BACKGROUND A (r)evolution in chemistry The power of evolution is revealed through the diversity of life. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 is awarded to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter for the way they have taken control of evolution and used it for the greatest beneft to humankind. Enzymes developed through directed evolution are now used to produce biofuels and pharmaceuticals, among other things. Antibodies evolved using a method called phage display can combat autoimmune diseases and, in some cases, cure metastatic cancer. We live on a planet where a powerful force has become established: evolution. Since the frst seeds of life appeared around 3.7 billion years ago, almost every crevice on Earth has been flled by organisms adapted to their environment: lichens that can live on bare mountainsides, archaea that thrive in hot springs, scaly reptiles equipped for dry deserts and jellyfsh that glow in the dark of the deep oceans. In school, we learn about these organisms in biology, but let’s change perspective and put on a chemist’s glasses. Life on Earth exists because evolution has solved numerous complex chemical problems. All organisms are able to extract materials and energy from their own environmental niche and use them to build the unique chemical creation that they comprise. Fish can swim in the polar oceans thanks to antifreeze proteins in their blood and mussels can stick to rocks because they have developed an underwater molecular glue, to give just a few of the innumerable examples.
    [Show full text]
  • Darwinianthe
    WINTER 2018/19 DarwinianTHE From the ends of chromosomes to the food of the future: outstanding research by Darwinians Nobel Laureate and Alumna Elizabeth Blackburn is interviewed by Ron Laskey Possibility of vaccine for Ebola Sustainable food of the future NewS FOR THE DArwin COLLEGE COMMUNITY A Message from Mary Fowler Master 2018 has been a year of espite this year’s intemperate weather, Darwin, our students and Fellows have extremes, February and benefitted from and flourished within March saw biting cold wind our strong community of scholars. and rain for many weeks – the Students and Fellows appreciate the diversity of disciplines and cultures so called ‘Beast from the East’. represented here in our friendly, But then came the summer welcoming and informal College. when the weeks of hot sun DReading through this newsletter what becomes searing down upon us meant apparent (and possibly surprising) is that a place the that the Darwin gardens were size of Darwin has, and is having, such an impact on parched, with grass like straw. the wider world. And what is documented here is Relax, it’s green again now. only the tip of the iceberg. Darwin over its short 54- year existence has produced alumni and Fellows who have, through their research and business acumen, DarwinianTHE 2 “Reading through this newsletter what becomes apparent (and possibly surprising) is that a place the size of Darwin has, and is having, such an impact on the wider world.” changed the world for the better. I am thrilled to be part of it. This term began with a real highlight: we were so pleased that Darwin alumna Elizabeth Blackburn, one of our eight Nobel laureates, visited College.
    [Show full text]