Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2012 was jointly awarded to Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian K. Kobilka for their groundbreaking work on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Here's a brief breakdown:

• Robert J. Lefkowitz:
  • Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Duke University (1964)
  • Contribution: Pioneered research on GPCRs, identified their structure and function.
• Brian K. Kobilka:
  • Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Vanderbilt University (1988)
  • Contribution: Determined the first 3D structure of a GPCR, providing crucial insights into their mechanism.

Together, their work:

• Revealed the inner workings of GPCRs, a vast family of cell surface receptors crucial for diverse physiological processes like vision, hormone signaling, and neurotransmission.
• Revolutionized drug development by providing targets for numerous medicines treating various diseases like asthma, allergies, and heart conditions.