Nucleo-cytoplasmic Traffic

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2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture Nucleo-cytoplasmic Traffic The Rockefeller University Günter Blobel, M.D., Ph.D. 1999 Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Co-presented with the Charles E.

1 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture Nucleo-cytoplasmic Traffic The Rockefeller University Günter Blobel, M.D., Ph.D Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Co-presented with the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Florida Bioinformatics Research Consortium at FAU and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science Wednesday, January 16, 2008 University Theatre FAU Boca Raton 777 Glades Road 1

Günter Blobel, M.D., Ph.D. The average human cell contains thousands of proteins, each of which must travel to a specific location within the cell to do its job.

2 Günter Blobel, M.D., Ph.D. The average human cell contains thousands of proteins, each of which must travel to a specific location within the cell to do its job. With so many proteins shuttling throughout the cell, it s easy to imagine the molecular mayhem that would result if proteins did not know how to reach their precise destinations. In a series of groundbreaking experiments conducted over the course of 30 years, Günter Blobel discovered how the cell s protein distribution system operates. It was for this work that he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in Blobel found that proteins carry built-in signals that act like zip codes to direct proteins to their proper locations within the cell. His studies also demonstrated that special receptors on the surfaces of membranes read those signals and allow the appropriate proteins either to pass through or to lodge within the membrane. Blobel theorized that proteins had to be transported to membrane-bound structures within the cell called organelles before ultimately being transported out of the cell. Organelles, which are analogous to organs in the body, carry out many diverse functions vital to a cell s existence. Blobel s research showed that each newly made protein has an organelle-specific address that is embedded in the protein s signal sequence and is recognized by receptors on the surface of an organelle. Demonstrating first in an organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequently in other organelles, Blobel discovered that when the signal sequence binds to its receptor, a channel opens in the membrane that allows the protein to enter. As it turns out, the protein-signaling principles uncovered by Blobel are universal, occurring in yeast, plants and animals, as well as humans. A number of hereditary diseases have been attributed to errors in these signals and transport mechanisms, including cystic fibrosis and a condition that causes kidney stones to develop in young children. His research has also contributed to the development of a more effective use of cells as protein factories for the production of important drugs such as insulin, growth hormone and erythropoietin, which helps stimulate the production of red blood cells.

3 Blobel, a cellular and molecular biologist, said he is motivated most by an almost childlike curiosity to find out how cells work and the ecstatic joy that comes with new discoveries. Today, he is working to understand the trafficking of signals between a cell s nucleus and cytoplasm. Understanding this normal chatter may help explain how signal disruptions lead to diseases such as cancer. A native of Germany, Blobel was born in Waltersdorf, a small village in eastern Germany that is now part of Poland. While his early years were idyllic, his life changed dramatically in 1945 when, at the age of eight, he and his family, including seven brothers and sisters, fled their home to escape the advancing Russian army. Traveling by car to the home of relatives, they passed through the historic town of Dresden, a city known for its magnificent architecture, which made an indelible impression on the young Blobel. Only days later, from the outskirts of Dresden, he witnessed the massive firebombing of the city a sight that he never forgot. In the final days of the war, Blobel s oldest sister Ruth was killed during an air raid, and the family was left to live under strict Communist rule in East Germany. The oppressive regime prevented him from attending a university, as Blobel s family was considered to be upper class. Fortunately, Blobel was able to travel to West Germany (the Berlin Wall had not yet been built), and in 1954 he left his family s home to study medicine. After earning a medical degree at the University of Tübingen and completing two years of internships, Blobel ultimately decided that he was more fascinated by the unsolved problems of medicine than by practicing it. An older brother, Hans, a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, helped Blobel secure a graduate fellowship at the same school. After earning his Ph.D., Blobel went to the Rockefeller University to work in the laboratory of cell biologist George Palade, who won the Nobel Prize in 1974 for discovering all the major structures of the cell and their functions. He was Blobel s most influential mentor. He taught me how to conceptualize a collection of disparate facts, to formulate working hypotheses and to design experiments to test these hypotheses, Blobel once recalled. The WWII destruction of Dresden made a lasting impression on Blobel, and in 1994, he founded Friends of Dresden, Inc., an American charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to rebuild and restore this city s landmark buildings. The group is reconstructing Frauenkirche, a church that once dominated the city s skyline. After winning the Nobel Prize, he decided to donate the prize money nearly $1 million to the Friends of Dresden. It is one of the great pleasures in my life to donate the Nobel Prize money, in memory of my sister Ruth, to the rebuilding of the Frauenkirche, Blobel noted. Biography and Photo Credit: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and The Rockefeller University,

4 PROGRAM 4 5:30 p.m. Welcome Dr. Ramaswamy Narayanan, Associate Dean for Research and Industrial Relations, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Co-chair, 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture Opening Remarks Dr. John Pritchett, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Florida Atlantic University Video Presentation Research at Florida Atlantic University Remarks Frank T. Brogan, President, Florida Atlantic University Dr. Richard A. Lerner, President, The Scripps Research Institute Presentation Dr. Günter Blobel, 1999 Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Professor, The Rockefeller University Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Chair, Board of Scientific Governors, The Scripps Research Institute Concluding Remarks Dr. William R. Roush, Professor of Chemistry and Associate Dean of the Kellogg School of Science and Technology, The Scripps Research Institute Co-chair, 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture Dr. Gary Perry, Dean, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Special Recognition President Frank T. Brogan

On behalf of Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Florida, welcome and thank you for joining us at the 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture to explore innovations in medicine.

5 On behalf of Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Florida, welcome and thank you for joining us at the 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture to explore innovations in medicine. We are privileged and honored to have Dr. Günter Blobel, a prolific cellular and molecular biologist and Nobel Laureate, here today. His cutting-edge research has helped lead to a more detailed understanding of human physiology and pathology, providing the framework for deciphering the mechanisms underlying many hereditary illnesses and other disease processes. FAU s Jupiter campus has been home to Scripps Florida since 2005, and in 2006 the campus was selected as the Institute s permanent home. In addition, FAU and Scripps Florida have entered into collaborative agreements to facilitate the promotion of education and research in biomedical science and related fields. Several collaborations are under way between FAU and Scripps scientists, including research in the areas of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. FAU and Scripps Florida are also committed to training tomorrow s scientists. Last summer, for the second consecutive year, bright 11th and 12th grade students attending the Honors Summer Institute worked side-by-side with Scripps and FAU researchers in the laboratory. Today s jointly sponsored Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture is a continuation of our commitment to illustrate the power of science and technology and the endless opportunities that are possible through research. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Dr. Günter Blobel, our sponsors and each and every one of you. Thank you for your continued support of FAU and Scripps Florida and for your interest in the advancement of life sciences in Florida and beyond. Sincerely, Frank T. Brogan President, Florida Atlantic University Richard A. Lerner, M.D. President, The Scripps Research Institute

6 Is Proud to Honor Günter Blobel, M.D., Ph.D Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

10 PROUD TO SUPPORT THE 2008 DISTINGUISHED NOBEL LAUREATE LECTURE WITH GÜNTER BLOBEL, M.D., Ph.D. 10

K.U. Leuven Research & Development (LRD) was established as the technology transfer office of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) in 1972.

11 K.U. Leuven Research & Development (LRD) was established as the technology transfer office of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) in The objective of LRD is to promote and to support the transfer of knowledge and technology between the Association K.U. Leuven (which in addition to the university, also includes 12 higher education institutes) and companies, ranging from large multinationals to SMEs. Sponsored by Professor W.J.M. Van de Ven LRD has a long-standing tradition in: K.U. Leuven Research & Development Minderbroedersstraat 8A box 5105 B-3000 Leuven (Belgium) T:

A global consortium involving academia and industry at Florida Atlantic University is working

including AIDS, Alzheimer s and other neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and heart disease.

for Molecular Studies, IBM and the Boca Raton Community Hospital are involved in fostering

13 A global consortium involving academia and industry at Florida Atlantic University is working together to harness the human genome to discover novel diagnoses and cures for major diseases including AIDS, Alzheimer s and other neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and heart disease. Nine universities across Florida and Europe together with Scripps Florida, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, IBM and the Boca Raton Community Hospital are involved in fostering research and education in bioinformatics and genomics medicine. Visit for more information.

14 Florida Atlantic University Salutes Dr. Günter Blobel FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. Ramaswamy Narayanan Associate Dean for Research and Industrial Relations and Co-chair of the 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Dr. William R. Roush Professor of Chemistry and Associate Dean of the Kellogg School of Science Technology and Co-chair of the 2008 Distinguished Nobel Laureate Lecture The Scripps Research Institute Gisele Galoustian Senior Director of Communications Division of Research Florida Atlantic University Shanna Vinig Senior Art Production Specialist Creative Services Florida Atlantic University Lourdes Quirolgico Administrative Assistant and Laboratory Manager Laboratory of Cell Biology The Howard Hughes Medical Institute The Rockefeller University

15 WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SPONSORS FOR THE 2008 DISTINGUISHED NOBEL LAUREATE LECTURE: Scripps Florida Boca Raton Community Hospital University of Miami Miller School of Medicine v The Law Offices of Carey Rodriguez Greenberg Paul Healthcare District of Palm Beach County Holy Cross Hospital Katholieke Universiteit Leuven The Law Offices of Ruden McClosky University MRI & Diagnostic Imaging Centers Workforce Alliance v Florida Bioinformatics Research Consortium at FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science Barry Kaye College of Business Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing College of Engineering and Computer Science Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at FAU Lifelong Learning Society at FAU

16 Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, Florida

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Update Board of County Commissioners October 29, 2013 Workshop

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Update Board of County Commissioners October 29, 2013 Workshop David Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Scientific Director & CEO Matthias Haury, Ph.D. Chief Operating Officer