Johann Deisenhofer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johann Deisenhofer
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| Born | September 30, 1943 Zusamaltheim, Germany
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| Citizenship | Germany and United States |
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| Known for | |
| Awards | Max Delbruck Prize (1986) Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1989) Nobel Prize for Chemistry) (1988) |
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| Fields | Biophysics and biochemistry |
| Institutions | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Huber |
Johann Deisenhofer (born September 30, 1943) is a German scientist. He is famous for his work in biochemistry and biophysics. In 1988, he won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He shared this important award with Hartmut Michel and Robert Huber. They won for figuring out the exact structure of a special protein. This protein is super important for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is how plants and some bacteria make their own food using sunlight.
Early life and education
Johann Deisenhofer was born in Bavaria, Germany. He studied at the Technical University of Munich. In 1974, he earned his doctorate degree. He did his research at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. This institute is in Martinsried, West Germany.
He continued his research there until 1988. After that, he moved to the United States. He joined the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He also became a professor at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
Discovering the secrets of photosynthesis
Johann Deisenhofer, along with Hartmut Michel and Robert Huber, made a huge discovery. They figured out the 3D shape of a special protein. This protein is found in certain bacteria that perform photosynthesis. It's called a photosynthetic reaction center.
This protein complex plays a key role in starting a simple type of photosynthesis. Between 1982 and 1985, the three scientists used a method called X-ray crystallography. This method helps scientists see the exact arrangement of atoms. They mapped out more than 10,000 atoms in the protein complex.
Their research greatly improved our understanding of photosynthesis. It showed how plants and bacteria use sunlight to create energy. This discovery was so important that they won the Nobel Prize.
Today, Johann Deisenhofer is a professor. He teaches in the Department of Biophysics. This is at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
See also
In Spanish: Johann Deisenhofer para niños
