Scientists
Prof. Petra S. Dittrich (36) of the Organic
Chemistry Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and Dr. Matthias Selbach
(39) of the “Cellular signal pathways and mass spectrometry” work group at the Max Delbrück
Center in Berlin-Buch, Germany,
are this year’s winners of the
analytica Research Award.
They are
sharing the 50,000-euro science award for their groundbreaking work in the
areas of microchips and cellular analysis. Prof. Nikolaus Pfanner, President of the
Society for
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), presented the research award, which
is sponsored by
Roche, at
analytica 2010 in Munich.
Chemist
Prof. Petra Dittrich develops credit card-sized chips with miniaturized lab
components, using methods from both microtechnology and nanotechnology. Her
goal is to create
lab-on-a-chip systems that integrate all the functions of a
large laboratory onto a plastic carrier, able to run even complex analyses
simultaneously. “This could eliminate long wait times for lab results because
blood samples or samples of other bodily fluids will be able to be analyzed and
evaluated directly on site in doctors' offices,” she explained.
Her tiny
reaction platforms are also well suited for performing basic research. Petra
Dittrich is currently working on a chip to which individual cells can be
applied which could allow direct observation of the reaction of a single cell,
helping researchers understand fundamental processes and reaction mechanisms of
systems as highly complex as a living cell.
Biologist
Dr. Matthias Selbach of the Max
Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine at Berlin-Buch, Germany,
studies how cells control protein biosynthesis. He used a new marking method,
the “pulsed SILAC method,” to show that so-called microribonucleic acids
(microRNA) are vitally important to protein production in cells. To do this,
the researcher and his team marked amino acids, the building blocks of
proteins, with stable isotopes. The cells incorporated the marked amino acids
into their proteins, and researchers then used a mass spectrometer to quantify
the protein synthesis.
“Our goal
is to understand fundamental life processes at the protein level,” Matthias Selbach
said. “And it would be great if this approach yields concrete diagnostic and
therapeutic applications in the near future.” MicroRNAs are very small RNA
molecules consisting of only about 25 nucleotide bases. They are able to attach
to complementary sections of messenger RNA and thus prevent that protein from
being built. In this way, they decide which proteins are produced.
Learn more
about the awardees!
Abstracts,
CVs and pictures of the winners can be found
here:
