Thomas A. Steitz
Thomas Steitz | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Arthur Steitz August 23, 1940 |
Died | October 9, 2018 Branford, Connecticut, U.S. | (aged 78)
Alma mater | Wauwatosa High School, Lawrence University, Harvard University |
Known for | Bio-crystallography |
Spouse | Joan A. Steitz |
Children | 1 |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | |
Institutions | David M. Blow |
Notable students | Nenad Ban |
Website | steitzlab |
Thomas Arthur Steitz (August 23, 1940 – October 9, 2018[2]) was an American biochemist, a Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University, and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, best known for his pioneering work on the ribosome.
Steitz was awarded the 2009
Education and career
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[3] Steitz studied chemistry as an undergraduate at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, graduating in 1962. In June 2010, the University renamed its chemistry building Thomas A. Steitz Hall of Science.[6]
He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Harvard University in 1966 where he worked under the direction of subsequent 1976 chemistry Nobel Prize winner William N. Lipscomb, Jr. While at Harvard, after the training task of determining the structure of the small molecule methyl ethylene phosphate,[7] Steitz made contributions to determining the atomic structures of carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1)[8] and aspartate carbamoyltransferase (EC 2.1.3.2),[9] each the largest atomic structure determined in its time.
Steitz did postdoctoral research as a Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellow at the MRC
Steitz briefly held an assistant professorship at the University of California, Berkeley, but he resigned on the grounds that the institution would not accept his wife Joan into a faculty position because she was a woman.[10]
Both Tom and Joan Steitz instead joined the Yale faculty in 1970, where he continued to work on cellular and structural biology. Steitz and
He was also a Macy Fellow at the University of Göttingen during 1976–1977 and a Fairchild Scholar at the California Institute of Technology during 1984–1985.[4]
Steitz was also one of the founders of a company, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, now Melinta Therapeutics for the development of new antibiotics based on the ribosome.
Honors
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009)
- Elected a
Private life
He enjoyed skiing, hiking, and gardening.[13]
It should also be noted that Tom valued a good time. He always looked forward to department happy hours, wine tastings and any other excuse for a party. He hosted many wonderful Halloween parties at his home, always appropriately attire in costume.[14]
Steitz was married to
Publications
- Steitz, T. A., et al. "Determination of the Atomic-Resolution Crystal Structure of the Large Subunit from the Ribosome of Haloarcula marismortui;", nsls newsletter, (November 2000).
- Steitz, T. A., et al. "The Atomic Resolution Crystal Structure of the Large Ribosomal Subunit from Haloarcula marismortui", NSLS Activity Report (2000).
See also
References
- ^ a b "Foreign Members". Royal Society. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ Kolata, Gina (10 October 2018). "Thomas A. Steitz, 78, Dies; Illuminated a Building Block of Life". The New York Times.
- ^ a b 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Foundation.
- ^ a b Thomas Steitz, Thomas Steitz Lab.
- ^ Thomas A. Steitz, The Gairdner 50 Foundation.
- ^ "Lawrence To Honor Nobel Prize Winner with Building Renaming Ceremony on Friday". Lawrence University. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- ^ Steitz, T. A. and Lipscomb, W. N., "Molecular Structure of Methyl Ethylene Phosphate," J Am. Chem. Soc. 87, 2488 (1965).
- ^ Ludwig ML, Hartsuck JA, Steitz TA, Muirhead H, Coppola JC, Reeke GN, Lipscomb WN. The Structure of Carboxypeptidase A, IV. Prelimitary Results at 2.8 A Resolution, and a Substrate Complex at 6 A Resolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 March; 57(3): 511–514.
- ^ Steitz TA, Wiley DC, Lipscomb WN. The structure of aspartate transcarbamylase, I. A molecular twofold axis in the complex with cytidine triphosphate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 November; 58(5): 1859–1861.
- ISSN 0028-0836.
- ^ "Yale Researches Solve Structure of the Ribosome; Groundbreaking Achievement 'Like Climbing Mount Everest'". YaleNews. 10 August 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- S2CID 244731370.
- ISBN 9789811215872.
- ISBN 9789811215872. (quote from p. 31)
- ^ "Episode 28 – Thomas Steitz – A Nobel Profession – MIPtalk". Archived from the original on 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
External links
- "Inquisitiveness of Milwaukee native leads to a Nobel Prize", The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Thomas Steitz – MIPtalk.com interview
- Lawrence University Graduate Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Thomas A. Steitz on Nobelprize.org