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Nobel Prizes and PDB structures

award-winning research

Many Nobel Prize awards in physics, chemistry, and physiology/medicine have recognized scientific achievements that can be associated with structural biology. The articles and resources below highlight many of these PDB structures and related experimental techniques.

Molecule of the Month Articles (30)

Adenylyl Cyclase

Adrenergic Receptors

Aminopeptidase 1 and Autophagy

Antibodies

	Adenylyl Cyclase Adenylyl cyclase creates second messengers to amplify signals from G-protein coupled receptors
	Adrenergic Receptors Adrenaline stimulates a G-protein-coupled receptor, priming us for action
	Aminopeptidase 1 and Autophagy Aminopeptidase 1 is delivered inside the cell using the machinery of autophagy
	Antibodies Antibodies search for foreign molecules in the blood
	Aquaporin Aquaporins create a channel for water molecules to cross through cell membranes
	ATP Synthase ATP synthase links two rotary motors to generate ATP
	Bacteriorhodopsin Bacteriorhodopsin pumps protons powered by green sunlight
	Capsaicin Receptor TRPV1 TRPV1 is an ion channel that senses heat and contributes to pain sensation.
	Cascade and CRISPR Cascade and CRISPR help bacteria remember how to fight viral infection
	Circadian Clock Proteins Circadian clock proteins measure time in our cells
	Click Chemistry A modular approach to chemistry simplifies the construction of complex protein-targeting molecules.
	Directed Evolution of Enzymes Biological evolution is being harnessed in the lab to create new enzymes.
	DNA Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information
	G Proteins G proteins receive signals from cellular receptors and deliver them inside the cell
	Hemoglobin Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport
	Hepatitis C Virus Protease/Helicase Structures of hepatitis C viral proteins have led to the discovery of direct-acting antivirals.
	Hypoxia-Inducible Factors HIF-α is a molecular switch that responds to changing oxygen levels.
	Myoglobin Myoglobin was the first protein to have its atomic structure determined, revealing how it stores oxygen in muscle cells.
	PDB Pioneers A dozen historic structures set the foundation for the PDB archive
	Photosystem I Photosystem I captures the energy in sunlight
	Photosystem II Photosystem II captures the energy from sunlight and uses it to extract electrons from water molecules
	Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Channel Mechanosensitive ion channels give our cells a sense of touch.
	Potassium Channels Potassium channels allow potassium ions to pass, but block smaller sodium ions
	Ribonuclease A Ribonuclease cuts and controls RNA
	Ribosomal Subunits Atomic structures of the ribosomal subunits reveal a central role for RNA in protein synthesis
	Ribosome Ribosomes are complex molecular machines that build proteins
	RNA Polymerase RNA polymerase transcribes genetic information from DNA into RNA
	Spliceosomes Cryoelectron microscropy is revealing how spliceosomes cut-and-paste messenger RNA molecules.
	Telomerase Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes.
	Tobacco Mosaic Virus A cylindrical arrangement of proteins protects a long strand of RNA in TMV

Learning Resources (24)

DNA

(Paper Model)

Green and Red Fluorescent Proteins

(Paper Model)

G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)

(Paper Model)

Expanding Boundaries of Complexity with 3DEM

(Flyer)

	DNA Paper Model Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information
	Green and Red Fluorescent Proteins Paper Model A tiny fluorescent protein from jellyfish has revolutionized cell biology
	G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Paper Model GPCRs are a large family of membrane-embedded receptors, with structural features that have been preserved through the course of evolution. This model represents the shared structural features of all GPCRs. With the extracellular N-terminus, the protein chain folds to form a bundle of seven transmembrane alpha helices connected by 3 intracellular and 3 extracellular loops with the C-terminus reaching inside the cell.
	Expanding Boundaries of Complexity with 3DEM Flyer 3D electron microscopy (3DEM) is revolutionizing the field of structural biology.
	ADN: El Acido Desoxirribonucleico (Spanish) Flyer Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information
	2021 Calendar Celebrating 50 Years of Protein Data Bank Calendar 2021 Calendar
	Insulin and Dorothy Hodgkin Flyer
	How do Drugs Work? Flyer PDB structures are used to discuss antibiotics and antivirals, chemotherapy, drug metabolism, drugs of signaling proteins, and lifestyle drugs.
	G-Protein Coupled Receptors Flyer In honor of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
	Computed Structure Models and PDB Experimental Structures Poster Poster Simultaneous delivery of PDB data and Computed Structure Models on RCSB.org provides access to 3D structural information from across the human proteome, model organisms, and selected pathogens
	Toll-like Receptors Flyer In honor of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
	The Ribosome Flyer This flyer commemorates the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome.
	How Do Drugs Work? Poster PDB structures are used to discuss antibiotics and antivirals, chemotherapy, drug metabolism, drugs of signaling proteins, and lifestyle drugs.
	ATP synthase GIF ATP synthase
	Oxygen Binding in Hemoglobin GIF Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport.
	Ribosomal Subunits GIF Atomic structures of the ribosomal subunits reveal a central role for RNA in protein synthesis. Ribosomes are complex molecular machines that build proteins.
	Celebrating 50 Years of the Protein Data Bank Archive Video In 1971, the structural biology community established the single worldwide archive for macromolecular structure data–the Protein Data Bank (PDB). From its inception, the PDB has embraced a culture of open access, leading to its widespread use by the research community. PDB data are used by hundreds of data resources and millions of users exploring fundamental biology, energy, and biomedicine. This video looks at the history and the milestones that shaped the PDB into the leading resource for research and education it is today.
	Methods for Determining Structure Guide
	3D Print: Hemoglobin Other Resource Download curated file of hemoglobin structure for 3D printing.
	Commemorating 75 Years of Discovery and Innovation at the NSF Other Resource Download images celebrating NSF and PDB milestones
	Molecular Backgrounds For Virtual Meetings Other Resources Download images created by David Goodsell to add a molecular backdrop to your next virtual meeting. Click on the image to expand.
	Structural Biology and Nobel Prizes Other Resource Many Nobel Prizes have recognized achievements made in molecular biology, structural biology, and related research.
	Hemoglobin Bean Bag Toss Other Resource
	Exploring Structural Biology with Computed Structure Models (CSMs) Article Computational methods like AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold2 use structures in the PDB archive to predict the folding of proteins.

	Myoglobin Geis highlights the hundreds of chemical bonds in the lattice of myoglobin.
	Ribonuclease S Geis illustrates the structure of the ribonuclease S that highlights the dinucleotide RNA substrate in red and the four disulfide bonds in yellow.
	Hemoglobin Geis illustrates the hemoglobin molecule as four symmetrically arranged myoglobins. Since it is responsible to the transport of oxygen, it can change from an oxygen-binding configuration to an oxygen-releasing configuration in response to the demand for oxygen.
	B-DNA Geis illustrates B-DNA in blue looking from above, through the double helix. The two bases on top are highlighted in white to distinguish one individual section of the layered scene.
	DNA Geis illustrates a double helix in his depiction of DNA. He portrays the helices with a soft ribbon structure. The white "box-like" structures represent a base pair in the DNA strand.

Nobel Prizes and PDB structures

Molecule of the Month Articles (30)

Learning Resources (24)

Geis Digital Archive (5)