以色列结构生物学家获美国霍维茨奖

　　

生物通报道：哥伦比亚大学最近将2005年的路易莎-格罗斯-霍维茨（Louis Gross Horwitz）奖授予给以色列知名学府Weizmann科学研究所的结构生物学教授与晶体学研究领先者Ada Yonath教授，她因为在核糖体结构研究上的杰出贡献而获得此奖项的。

Ada Yonath

哥伦比亚大学研究执行副总裁David Hirsh表示：“我们非常高兴将霍维茨奖颁给Ada Yonath，她对了解细胞中蛋白合成的分子基础做出了杰出的贡献。”

Yonath教授也表示非常高兴获得此奖项，作为霍维茨奖的获得者她成为一组非常有才华的科学家和学者中的一员，对此她感到非常激动与兴奋。

自1967年以来路易莎-格罗斯-霍维茨奖每年颁发一次，这个奖项是为了表彰在生物和生物化学基础研究领域做出杰出贡献的科学家，它是以哥伦比亚大学的捐赠者S. 
Gross Horwitz的女儿Louisa Gross Horwitz命名的。1999年度诺贝尔生理学奖获得者Gunter Bolbdl也曾于1987年获得此奖项。

Yonath教授将于21号对她的研究领域做学术报告（生物通记者 谢菲）。

Ada Yonath研究领域介绍：

Ribosomes: Targets of Antibiotics
Dr. Yonath’s work involves clarifying the internal mechanisms behind protein formation through the use of cryo-crystallography, a novel and groundbreaking technique that she envisioned and invented as part of her research. This 
technique is used to analyze ribosomes, which translate the genetic information of the cell into proteins that enable cells to specialize and function properly. Dr. Yonath’s research, furthermore, has ramifications that go beyond basic scientific knowledge. 

“Ribosomes are the targets of many antibiotics,” said Dr. Marks. “Dr. Yonath’s studies of bacterial ribosomes have allowed us to achieve greater insights into antibiotic action, selectivity, and resistance, with enormous implications for medicine in general—and the people who work so hard to develop drugs and treatments for infectious diseases in particular.” 

Dr. Yonath has received worldwide accolades and numerous awards for her breakthrough studies—including the National Institutes of Health Certificate of Distinction, the F.A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research, the 2000 Anfinsen Prize, the 2002 Harvey Prize for Natural Sciences, the 2002 Israel Prize for Chemical Research, the 2004 Massry Prize, and the 2004 Paul Karrer Gold Medal. 

She has been further acknowledged with appointments to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Her work has also been featured in a number of prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific publications, including Nature, Cell, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

A graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (B.S, chemistry, 1962; M.S, biochemistry, 1964), Dr. Yonath has been affiliated with the Weizmann Institute since the late 1960s—first as a doctoral student (Ph.D., x-ray crystallography, 1968) and researcher, and later as a senior scientist, professor, and administrator. She has also held positions with Germany’s Max Planck Institute and Israeli sister institutions Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University.