Shosaku Numa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shosaku Numa
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| 沼 正作 | |
| Born | February 7, 1929 Wakayama, Japan
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| Died | February 15, 1992 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | Kyoto University |
| Known for | Ion channels |
| Awards | Heinrich Wieland Prize (1973) Asahi Prize (1982) Japan Academy Prize (1985) Otto Warburg Medal (1987) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuroscience |
| Institutions | Kyoto University Max Planck Society Harvard Medical School |
Shosaku Numa, ForMemRS (沼 正作, Numa Shousaku, February 7, 1929 – February 15, 1992) was a brilliant Japanese scientist. He was a neuroscientist, which means he studied the brain and nervous system. He made amazing discoveries about how our nerve cells communicate with each other. His work helped us understand the tiny parts inside cells that send and receive messages.
Contents
About Shosaku Numa
His Early Life and Studies
Shosaku Numa was born in Wakayama, Japan, on February 7, 1929. He was very smart and went to Kyoto University. There, he earned his M.D. degree in 1952.
After his studies in Japan, he traveled to learn more. He studied at Harvard Medical School in the United States. He also worked at the Max Planck Society in Germany. These experiences helped him become a top scientist.
In 1968, he returned to Kyoto University. He became a professor there, teaching Medical Chemistry. Shosaku Numa passed away on February 15, 1992, when he was 63 years old.
Discovering How Brain Cells Talk
Shosaku Numa was famous for his research on how nerve cells send signals. He focused on tiny parts of cells called neurotransmitters and ion channels. Think of these as special gates and messengers in our brain.
His team found the exact "blueprints" for many of these important cell parts. They discovered the detailed structure of things like:
- Neurotransmitter-gated channels: These are like gates that open when a specific chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) arrives. One example is the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
- Voltage-gated channels: These gates open and close based on electrical signals. Examples include the sodium channel and calcium channel.
- G-protein-coupled receptors: These are like antennas on cells that receive signals. The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is one type.
Numa's work helped us understand exactly how these tiny parts work. It showed how signals travel through our nervous system. This was a huge step in understanding how our brains work.
Awards and Honors
Shosaku Numa received many important awards for his amazing discoveries. One of the highest honors he received was the Japan Academy Prize in 1985.
He was also recognized by scientific groups around the world. In 1986, he became a foreign member of the Royal Society in the United Kingdom. He joined the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina in 1990. In 1991, he became a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
The Government of Japan also honored him. In 1991, he was chosen as a Person of Cultural Merit. This award recognizes people who have made great contributions to Japanese culture and science.
