Science Underlying 2008 Nobel Prizes

Abstract

JCE offers a wealth of materials for teaching and learning chemistry that you can explore online. In the list below, Bernadette Caldwell of the Editorial Staff suggests additional resources that are available through JCE for teaching the science behind some of the 2008 Nobel Prizes. Discovering and Applying the Chemistry of GFP The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP to three scientists: Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Y. Tsien. These scientists led the field in discovering and introducing a fluorescing protein from jellyfish into cells and genes under study, which allows researchers to witness biochemistry in action. Now tags are available that emit light in different colors, revealing myriad biological processes and their interactions simultaneously. Identifying HPV and HIV, HIV's Replication Cycle, and HIV VirusHost Interactions The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to two scientists: Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier; and for his discovery of human papilloma viruses [HPV] causing cervical cancer to one scientist, Harald zur Hausen. Diseases caused by these infectious agents significantly affect global health. While isolating and studying the virus, researchers discovered HIV is an uncommon retrovirus that infects humans and relies on the host to make its viral DNA, infecting and killing the host's white blood cells, ultimately destroying the immune systems of infected humans. Related Resources at JCE Online The Journal has published articles relating to GFP specifically, and more generally to fluorescing compounds applied to biochemistry. The Journal has also published an article and a video on protease inhibitiona strategy to suppress HIV's biological processes. With the video clips, an accompanying guide for teachers includes instructions for three student activities that use enzymes. The resources below may help introduce students to the science behind some of these Nobel Prizes. Turning on the Light: Lessons from Luminescence. O'Hara, P. B.; Engelson, C.; St. Peter, W. J. Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 49. (See especially the bioluminescence section on page 51 that concisely explains GFP.) JCE Classroom Activity #68: Turning on the Light. O'Hara, P. B.; Engelson, C.; St. Peter, W. J. Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 48A. JCE Classroom Activity #81: pHantastic Fluorescence. Muyskens, M. J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 768A. Recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein Isoforms: Exercises To Integrate Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Biophysical Chemistry. Hicks, B. W. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 409. C-SNARF-1 as a Fluorescent Probe for pH Measurements in Living Cells: Two-Wavelength-Ratio Method versus Whole-Spectral-Resolution Method. Ribou, A-C.; Vigo, J.; Salmon, J-M. J. Chem. Educ. 2002, 79, 1471. An Attack on the AIDS Virus: Inhibition of the HIV-1 Protease: New Drug Development Based on the Structure and Activity of the Protease and Its Role in the Replication and Maturation of the Virus. Volker, E. J. J. Chem. Educ. 1993, 70, 3. From Chemistry Comes Alive!, five video clips demonstrate properties and mechanisms involved in the chemistry of HIV. HIV-1 Protease: An Enzyme at Work. All articles from Volume 1 to the current issue are available in full-text PDF at JCE Online: Browse by year, month, and page, or choose title and author searching of all issues of JCE