Ada Yonath
Ada E. Yonath | |
---|---|
עדה יונת | |
L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2008) Albert Einstein World Award of Science (2008) Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009) | |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Crystallography |
Institutions | Weizmann Institute of Science University of Chicago |
Doctoral advisor | Wolfie Traub, F. Albert Cotton |
Ada E. Yonath (Hebrew: עדה יונת, pronounced [ˈada joˈnat]; born 22 June 1939)[1] is an Israeli crystallographer and Nobel laureate in Chemistry, best known for her pioneering work on the structure of ribosomes. She is the current director of the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
In 2009, Yonath received the
Biography
Ada Lifshitz (later Yonath)
Yonath was accepted to Tichon Hadash high school although her mother could not pay the tuition. She gave math lessons to students in return.[10] As a youngster, she says she was inspired by the Polish and naturalized-French scientist Marie Curie.[11] However, she stresses that Curie, whom she as a child was fascinated by after reading her biography, was not her "role model".[12] She returned to Jerusalem for college, graduating from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1962, and a master's degree in biochemistry in 1964. In 1968, she obtained her PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science for X-ray crystallographic studies on the structure of collagen, with Wolfie Traub as her PhD advisor.[13][14][15]
She has one daughter, Hagit Yonath, a doctor at Sheba Medical Center, and a granddaughter, Noa.[16] She is the cousin of anti-occupation activist Ruchama Marton.[17]
Scientific career
Yonath accepted postdoctoral positions at
In 1970, she established what was for nearly a decade the only
, Germany (1986–2004) in parallel to her research activities at the Weizmann Institute.Yonath focuses on the mechanisms underlying protein biosynthesis, by ribosomal crystallography, a research line she pioneered over twenty years ago despite considerable skepticism of the international scientific community.[20] Ribosomes translate RNA into protein and because they have slightly different structures in microbes, when compared to eukaryotes, such as human cells, they are often a target for antibiotics. In 2000 and 2001, she determined the complete high-resolution structures of both ribosomal subunits and discovered within the otherwise asymmetric ribosome, the universal symmetrical region that provides the framework and navigates the process of polypeptide polymerization. Consequently, she showed that the ribosome is a ribozyme that places its substrates in stereochemistry suitable for peptide bond formation and for substrate-mediated catalysis. In 1993 she visualized the path taken by the nascent proteins, namely the ribosomal tunnel, and recently revealed the dynamics elements enabling its involvement in elongation arrest, gating, intra-cellular regulation and nascent chain trafficking into their folding space.
Additionally, Yonath elucidated the modes of action of over twenty different
For enabling ribosomal crystallography Yonath introduced a novel technique, cryo bio-crystallography, which became routine in structural biology and allowed intricate projects otherwise considered formidable.[21]
At the Weizmann Institute, Yonath is the incumbent of the Martin S. and Helen Kimmel Professorial Chair.
Political Views
She has called for the unconditional release of all Hamas prisoners, saying that "holding Palestinians captive encourages and perpetuates their motivation to harm Israel and its citizens ... once we don't have any prisoners to release they will have no reason to kidnap soldiers".[22]
Awards and recognition
Yonath is a member of the
Her awards and honors include the following:
- In 2002, Israel Prize
- In 2002, Harvey Prize
- In 2004, Massry Prize
- In 2004, Paul Karrer Gold Medal
- In 2005, Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
- In 2006, Wolf Prize in Chemistry along with George Feher.
- In 2006, Life Sciences.
- In 2006, The EMET Prize for Art, Science and Culture in Life Sciences, along with Professor Peretz Lavie(Medicine) and Professor Eli Keshet (Biology)
- In 2007, Harry Noller
- In 2008, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science for her pioneering contributions to protein biosynthesis in the field of ribosomal crystallography and her introduction of innovative techniques in cryo bio-crystallography.[24]
- In 2009, the
- In 2010, Wilhelm Exner Medal[27]
- In 2011, Marie Curie Medal awarded by the Polish Chemical Society[28]
- In 2013 she became a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.[29]
- In 2015, she was awarded Honorary Doctorates from the De La Salle University, Manila/Philippines; the Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble/France; the
- In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University[32]
- In 2020, she was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society[33]
- In 2023, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Jagiellonian University.[34]
See also
- Women of Israel
- History of RNA biology
- List of Israel Prize recipients
- List of female Nobel laureates
- List of Israeli Nobel laureates
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
- List of peace activists
- List of RNA biologists
- Timeline of women in science
- Women in chemistry
References
- ^ "Israel Prize Official Site (in Hebrew) – Recipient's C.V."
- ^ Lappin, Yaakov (7 October 2009). "Nobel Prize Winner 'Happy, Shocked'". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-85724-561-8.
- ^ "Transcript of the telephone interview with Ada E. Yonath immediately following the announcement of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry". nobelprize.org. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "מנכ"ל המדינה (p. 4; 18.11.09 "ידיעות אחרונות") PDF" (PDF). syaga.co.il. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Ada Yonath— L'Oréal-UNESCO Award". Jerusalem Post. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-86094-885-5. Retrieved 9 March 2021. (In this source the surname is spelled Livshitz)
- ^ Talk given at Moriah College, Sydney, 18 February 2010 as noted by a student present from James Ruse Agricultural High School
- ^ "Israeli professor receives Life's Work Prize for women in science". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ Siegel-Itzkovich, Judy (17 January 2012). "Former 'village fool' takes the prize – Science and Environment – Jerusalem Post". fr.jpost.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "ISRAEL21c – Uncovering Israel". Israel21c. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
- ^ Talk given at Moriah College, 18 February 2010
- .
- PMID 5954171.
- PMID 5401228.
- ^ Ilani, Ofri (3 December 2009). "Israel's Prof. Ada Yonath wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry – Haaretz – Israel News". haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Former 'village fool' takes the prize Archived 17 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, The Jerusalem Post 8 March 2008
- ^ Yarnell, A. Lipscomb Feted in Honor of his 90th Birthday Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Chemical and Engineering News, 87, 48, Am. Chem. Soc., p. 35, 30 November 2009.
- ^ anonymous. "New chemistry Nobelist was UChicago visiting prof, conducted research at Argonne". uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009 – Speed Read". nobelprize.org.
- PMID 2619959.
- ^ Israeli Nobel Laureate calls for release of all Hamas prisoners Archived 8 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Haaretz 10 October 2009
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". vatican.va (in Italian). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Albert Einstein World Award of Science 2008". Archived from the original on 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
- ^ Wills, Adam (7 October 2009). "Ada Yonath—First Israeli Woman to win Nobel Prize". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
- ^ "Medalists Archive – ALL MEDALISTS SINCE 1921". Wilhelm Exner Medaillen Stiftung. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Laureaci Medali i Nagród PTChem". Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Ada Yonath". German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Honorary Graduand Orations – Summer 2015". www2.warwick.ac.uk.
- ^ "Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi". www.umed.pl. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients – Leadership – Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Ada Yonath". Royal Society. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Honorary Doctorate". en.uj.edu.pl. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
External links
- "APS user shares the “Israeli Nobel” for chemistry", from the Argonne National Laboratory Advanced Photon Source (APS), United States Department of Energy
- The Official Site of Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Yonath-Site
- Ada Yonath's Publication list
- Talk of Ada Yonath at the Origins 2011 congress
- Ada E. Yonath on Nobelprize.org