Gideon Davies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gideon Davies
FRS FRSC FMedSci
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Davies in 2021
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Gideon John Davies
6 July 1964 Great Sutton, Cheshire
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol (BSc, PhD, DSc) |
| Known for | Structural enzymology, chemical biology, carbohydrate-active enzymes, glycobiology, industrial biotechnology |
| Children | Two daughters |
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| Thesis | Phosphoglycerate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus (1990) |
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| Doctoral students | Tracey Gloster |
Gideon John Davies (born 6 July 1964) is a British scientist. He is a structural biologist and chemist. He is famous for his research on enzymes, which are special proteins that help chemical reactions happen in living things.
Professor Davies studies how enzymes work with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are important molecules like sugars and starches. His work helps us understand how these enzymes build, break down, and change complex carbohydrates.
His discoveries have made a big impact in fields like glycobiology and enzymology. Glycobiology is the study of sugars in living things. Enzymology is the study of enzymes. His research has also led to new ways to study diseases and improve industrial processes. For example, his work helps us understand the human gut microbiome, which is the community of tiny living things in our intestines.
Professor Davies has received many important awards. These include the Davy Medal and the Gabor Medal from the Royal Society. He was also part of a team that won the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2019. He is a member of several important scientific groups, like the Royal Society.
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Early life and education
Gideon Davies grew up in Great Sutton, a town in Cheshire, England. He went to Whitby Comprehensive School.
He later studied at the University of Bristol. In 1985, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of living things.
In 1990, he completed his PhD. His research focused on an enzyme called phosphoglycerate kinase. This enzyme came from a type of bacteria. In 2007, he received a higher degree, a Doctor of Science (DSc), also from the University of Bristol.
Career highlights
After his PhD, Davies worked at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany. There, he used powerful X-rays to study the structure of proteins.
In 1990, he moved to the University of York. He worked on understanding the structure of an important protein called DNA gyrase. This work was published in 1991.
Focus on carbohydrate enzymes
In the early 1990s, Davies started focusing on enzymes that work with carbohydrates. He worked with a company called Novo Nordisk. They studied enzymes called cellulases, which are used in washing detergents and to make biofuels.
He also visited the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France. He worked with Bernard Henrissat on how enzymes work. This led to an important way of classifying enzymes that break down carbohydrates, known as the CAZy database.
In 1996, Davies received a special research award from the Royal Society. This allowed him to start his own research group at the York Structural Biology Laboratory. He became a full professor at the University of York in 2001. In 2016, he received another prestigious research professorship from the Royal Society.
In 2000, he visited the University of British Columbia in Canada. He worked with other scientists to study the structure of an enzyme found in egg whites.
Important discoveries
Professor Davies was chosen as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization in 2010. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2010. The Royal Society recognized his work on "structural enzymology." This means he studies the exact shapes of enzymes and how they interact with carbohydrates. His work helps us understand how enzymes perform their chemical tasks.
In 2014, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This group noted his important contributions to biochemistry. They highlighted his work on how enzymes change sugars. His research helped create powerful medicines that could help treat diseases like Alzheimer's disease. He also started studying the human microbiota, which are the tiny living things in our gut. These are important for human health.
Davies also advises a company called Alectos Therapeutics. This company works on finding new medicines for brain diseases.
Research areas
Davies' research looks at the chemistry of carbohydrates in living things. He uses methods like X-ray crystallography to study enzymes. These enzymes are important for breaking down plant materials, changing cell walls, and how microbes interact.
A big part of his research focuses on enzymes used in industry. These enzymes break down complex carbohydrates like cellulose and starch. By figuring out the structures of these enzymes, his group has helped design better enzymes. These improved enzymes are used to make biofuels, convert plant waste, and in detergents. His work helps create more sustainable industrial processes.
He has also studied how enzymes called glycoside hydrolases work. His findings have helped scientists understand how enzymes change their shape to perform their jobs. This knowledge helps in designing specific medicines that can stop certain enzymes from working.
Davies has also made big contributions to finding and understanding LPMOs. These enzymes break down carbohydrates using oxygen. This discovery has opened new ways for industrial uses.
Another important area of his research is the enzyme O-GlcNAcase (OGA). This enzyme helps control how proteins are modified in cells. His studies on OGA have helped scientists understand how it works and how to design medicines that can block it. These medicines could potentially help treat brain diseases like Alzheimer's.
His work on glycosyltransferases has also greatly improved our understanding of glycosylation. This is a process where sugar molecules are added to other molecules. His studies show how these enzymes recognize their targets and transfer sugars. This knowledge is useful for making antibiotics and other medicines.
His research has received funding from important organizations like the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). He has published over 400 scientific papers.
Awards and honours
Professor Davies has received many awards for his important research.
He was given the Davy Medal in 2015 by the Royal Society. This is a top award for chemistry. It recognized his pioneering studies on carbohydrate enzymes. In 2010, he received the Gabor Medal for his work combining biology and chemistry.
In 2020, he received the John and Rita Cornforth Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry. He shared this award with Paul Walton for their excellent teamwork. Other awards include the Haworth Memorial Lectureship and the Khorana Prize.
Internationally, Davies shared the IChemE Global Energy Award in 2016. This was for his work on industrial biotechnology that led to biofuels. He also received the Whistler Award for his lifelong contributions to carbohydrate science.
In 2019, the York Structural Biology Laboratory team, including Davies, won the Queen's Anniversary Prize. This is the highest national honor for UK universities. It recognized their research in protein science, which has led to new medicines and improved industrial processes.
Personal life
Gideon Davies was married to Valérie Marie-Andrée Ducros. They have two daughters.
