Avram Hershko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avram Hershko
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| אברהם הרשקו | |
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Hershko in 1994
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| Born |
Herskó Ferenc Ábrahám
December 31, 1937 Karcag, Hungary
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| Nationality |
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| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Known for | Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation |
| Spouse(s) |
Judith Leibowitz
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Weizmann Prize (1987) Wolf Prize in Medicine (2001) Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2004) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Technion, Haifa |
Avram Hershko (Hebrew: אברהם הרשקו, romanized: Avraham Hershko, Hungarian: Herskó Ferenc Ábrahám) was born on December 31, 1937. He is a famous biochemist who was born in Hungary and later became an Israeli citizen. In 2004, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his important discoveries.
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Early Life and Education
Avram Hershko was born in Karcag, Hungary. His birth name was Herskó Ferenc. His parents, Shoshana and Moshe Hershko, were both teachers.
Surviving World War II
During the Second World War, Avram's family faced many challenges. His father was forced to work for the Hungarian army. He later became a prisoner of war. For a long time, the family did not know what happened to him.
Avram, his mother, and his older brother were sent to a special area called a ghetto in Szolnok. Later, they were taken to a work camp in Austria. They had to work there until the war ended. Avram, his mother, and brother survived the war. His father also returned home four years later.
Moving to Israel and Studying
In 1950, Avram Hershko and his family moved to Israel. They settled in Jerusalem. He studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He earned his medical degree (MD) in 1965. He then received his PhD in 1969. After that, he did more research at the University of California, San Francisco.
Today, he is a respected professor at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. He also teaches at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.
Discovering Protein Recycling
Avram Hershko, along with Aaron Ciechanover and Irwin Rose, made a huge discovery. They found out how cells recycle their proteins. This discovery earned them the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
What is Ubiquitin?
They discovered a tiny molecule called ubiquitin. Think of ubiquitin as a "tag" that cells use. When a protein is old or damaged, ubiquitin attaches to it. This tag tells the cell that the protein needs to be broken down.
How Protein Degradation Works
After being tagged, the protein is sent to a special "recycling center" in the cell. This center is called the proteasome. The proteasome breaks down the old protein into smaller pieces. These pieces can then be used to build new, healthy proteins. This process is called protein degradation.
Why This Discovery Matters
This system is super important for keeping cells healthy. It helps cells stay balanced. If this system doesn't work right, it can lead to serious diseases. These include some types of cancer, muscle problems, and brain diseases. Dr. Hershko's work has helped scientists understand these diseases better. It has also led to new ways to treat them. His research even helped one of his friends get better from cancer.
Awards and Recognitions
Avram Hershko has received many important awards for his scientific work.
- 1987 – Weizmann Prize for Sciences
- 1994 – Israel Prize in Biochemistry
- 1999 – Canada Gairdner International Award
- 2000 – Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
- 2000 – Alfred P. Sloan Jr. Prize
- 2001 – Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University
- 2001 – Massry Prize from the Keck School of Medicine of USC
- 2001 – Wolf Prize in Medicine for his work on the ubiquitin system.
- 2002 – The EMET Prize for Art, Science and Culture
- 2002 – E.B. Wilson Medal
- 2004 – Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation.
Involvement in Biotechnology
Dr. Hershko also helps guide companies that work with new medical technologies. He is part of the Scientific Advisory Board for Oramed Pharmaceuticals.
See also
In Spanish: Avram Hershko para niños
- List of Israel Prize recipients
- List of Israeli Nobel laureates
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
- Science and technology in Israel
- Raz Hershko (born 1998), Israeli European champion and Olympic judoka
