Nobel Prize in Medicine for German cell researchers

Nobel Prize in Medicine for German cell researchers

07/10/2013

This year's Nobel Prize for Medicine will be awarded to researchers James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and German-born Thomas C. Südhof. They receive this for basic knowledge of the so-called Vesikeltransports, which is responsible for transport processes within the cells. These essential transport mechanisms, if they are defective, are the basis of diabetes, tetanus and many other diseases. This was announced by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

The 58-year-old Südhof comes from Göttingen and also studied there at the Georg August University. After completing his dissertation, he moved to the USA in 1983. Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Psychiatry and Neurology, he teaches at the University of Stanford University in California since 2008. His colleagues Rothman and Schekman were both born in the USA.

Without vesicles, cells would sink into chaos
The mechanism discovered by the scientists regulates the so-called vesicle transport, which is an important transport system in human cells.

Within the cells, substances are usually packed in tiny bubbles, the vesicles, and passed on. Nobel committee chairman Juleen Zierath writes: "Without this wonderfully precise organization, the cell would sink into chaos, and a defective vesicle transport system is present in a number of diseases." The transport system has an important function in nerve conduction and in the hormone system or in immune diseases.

Tetanus affects vesicle transport
"Tetanus is about a disease that affects this vesicle transport," said Jan-Inge Henter of the Nobel Jury. His colleague Göran Hansson added: "It has not led to drugs yet, but to diagnoses." Briton John Gurdon and Japanese Shinya Yamanaka received an award last year for their adult rejuvenation work. Other awards will follow on Tuesday in the field of physics and on Wednesday for chemistry.

Solemn presentation
On Thursday follows the announcement of the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and on Friday the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. On Monday of next week, the Nobel Prize winner for economics will be announced. Traditionally, the ceremony will take place on December 10, the day of the death of prize-winner Alfred Nobel. The Nobel Prize is the highest honor for many scientists. In the field of medicine, it is the equivalent of 920,000 euros (eight million Swedish kroner) endowed. (Fr)

Image: Jonas Bergsten, Wikipedia