John E. Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Walker
FRS FMedSci
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Walker in 2018
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| Born |
John Ernest Walker
7 January 1941 Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Education | Rastrick Grammar School |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Spouse(s) |
Christina Westcott
(m. 1963) |
| Children | Two |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Oxford Laboratory of Molecular Biology University of Cambridge |
| Thesis | Studies on naturally occurring peptides (1970) |
| Doctoral advisor | Edward Abraham |
Sir John Ernest Walker (born 7 January 1941) is a famous British chemist. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997. As of 2015, he works as a professor at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit in Cambridge. He is also a Fellow at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Contents
Early Life and School
John Walker was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England. His father was a stonemason, and his mother was a musician. He grew up in the countryside with his two younger sisters. He went to Rastrick Grammar School. At school, he loved sports. He focused on science and math in his last three years.
He later studied chemistry at St Catherine's College, Oxford University. In 1965, Walker started studying special molecules called peptides at Oxford. He earned his PhD degree in 1969. During this time, he became very interested in how molecular biology was developing.
Career and Important Discoveries
From 1969 to 1974, Walker worked in the United States and France. In 1974, he met Fred Sanger at a workshop in Cambridge. This meeting led to an invitation for Walker to work at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. This became a long-term job for him.
Studying Proteins and DNA
At the lab, Walker first studied the order of parts in proteins. He then learned more about the special genetic code found in mitochondria. Mitochondria are like the powerhouses of our cells. In 1978, he decided to use his protein chemistry skills to study proteins in cell membranes. He found out what parts made up proteins in the mitochondrial membrane. He also studied the DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome.
Unlocking Energy Production
Sir John Walker's most important work was on a protein called ATP synthase. This protein is found in mitochondria. It helps make ATP, which is like the energy currency for all living things. He worked with another scientist, Andrew Leslie. They used a method called crystallography to study the F1-ATPase part of ATP synthase.
Their studies showed how ATP synthase works. It has three active sites that change shape. This change in shape helps the enzyme make ATP. This idea supported a theory called the "binding change mechanism" for how ATP synthase works. Their findings were published in 1994. This groundbreaking work led to Walker sharing the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Since then, Walker and his team have continued to study ATP synthase. They have created many detailed pictures of the protein. These pictures show how it works and how different molecules affect it. Many scientists who trained with John Walker have gone on to do their own important research.
Teaching and Mentoring
Sir John Walker has helped many students and researchers. They have learned from him and gone on to have their own successful careers in science. Some of these include Leonid Sazanov and Daniela Stock.
Awards and Honours
Walker became an EMBO Member in 1984. He shared his Nobel Prize with American chemist Paul D. Boyer. They both won for explaining how ATP synthase makes energy. They also shared the prize with Danish chemist Jens C. Skou, who did different research.
Sir John was made a knight in 1999. This was for his important work in molecular biology. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering. In 1995, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). He is also an Honorary Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. In 1999, he became a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2012, he received the Copley Medal, a very old and respected science award.
Personal Life
John Walker married Christina Westcott in 1963. They have two daughters.
See also
In Spanish: John E. Walker para niños
