{"id":57132,"date":"2018-10-08T07:35:57","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T05:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=57132"},"modified":"2018-10-08T14:42:28","modified_gmt":"2018-10-08T12:42:28","slug":"the-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/the-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was in part awarded to a team who directed the… The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was in part awarded to a team who directed the evolution of bacteriophages (pictured) to produce new antibodies (Credit: auntspray\/Depositphotos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The power of evolution is revealed through the diversity of life. The 2018 Nobel Laureates in Chemistry have taken control of evolution and used it for purposes that bring the greatest benefit to humankind. Enzymes produced through directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from biofuels to pharmaceuticals. Antibodies evolved using a method called phage display can combat autoimmune diseases and in some cases cure metastatic cancer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the first seeds of life arose around 3.7 billion years ago, almost every crevice on Earth has filled with different organisms. Life has spread to hot springs, deep oceans and dry deserts, all because evolution has solved a number of chemical problems. Life\u2019s chemical tools \u2013 proteins \u2013 have been optimised, changed and renewed, creating incredible diversity.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Nobel Laureates in Chemistry have been inspired by the power of evolution and used the same principles \u2013 genetic change and selection \u2013 to develop proteins that solve mankind\u2019s chemical problems.<\/p>\n

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One half of this year\u2019s Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Frances H. Arnold<\/strong>. In 1993, she conducted the first directed evolution of enzymes, which are proteins that catalyse chemical reactions. Since then, she has refined the methods that are now routinely used to develop new catalysts. The uses of Frances Arnold\u2019s enzymes include more environmentally friendly manufacturing of chemical substances, such as pharmaceuticals, and the production of renewable fuels for a greener transport sector.<\/p>\n

The other half of this year\u2019s Nobel Prize in Chemistry is shared by George P. Smith<\/strong> and Sir Gregory P. Winter<\/strong>. In 1985, George Smith developed an elegant method known as phage display, where a bacteriophage \u2013 a virus that infects bacteria \u2013 can be used to evolve new proteins. Gregory Winter used phage display for the directed evolution of antibodies, with the aim of producing new pharmaceuticals. The first one based on this method, adalimumab, was approved in 2002 and is used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Since then, phage display has produced anti-bodies that can neutralise toxins, counteract autoimmune diseases and cure metastatic cancer.<\/p>\n

We are in the early days of directed evolution\u2019s revolution which, in many different ways, is bringing and will bring the greatest benefit to humankind.<\/p>\n

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Read more about this year\u2019s prize<\/h3>\n

Popular information<\/a> (Pdf 550 kB)<\/p>\n

Scientific Background (Pdf 1073 kB) <\/a><\/p>\n

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Announcement of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry by Professor G\u00f6ran K. Hansson, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, on 3 October 2018.<\/p>\n

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