Yasutomi Nishizuka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yasutomi Nishizuka
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| Born | July 12, 1932 Ashiya, Hyōgo
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| Died | November 4, 2004 (aged 72) |
| Nationality |  Japan |
| Alma mater | Kyoto University |
| Known for | Protein kinase C |
| Awards | Gairdner Award (1988) Lasker Award (1989) Kyoto Prize (1992) Wolf Prize (1994/95) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Kobe University Kyoto University Rockefeller University |
| Doctoral advisor | Osamu Hayaishi |
| Other academic advisors | Fritz Lipmann |
Yasutomi Nishizuka, MJA, ForMemRS (西塚 泰美, Nishizuka Yasutomi, July 12, 1932 – November 4, 2004) was a very important Japanese biochemist. He helped us understand how cells talk to each other. This "cell talk" is called signal transduction. It happens across the cell's outer layer, the cell membrane.
In 1977, he found something amazing. He discovered a special protein called protein kinase C. This protein is super important. It helps cells send messages inside themselves. These messages control many things cells do.
Because of his great work, he became a foreign member of the Royal Society in 1990. He also joined the Japan Academy in 1991. These are big honors for scientists!
Early Life and Learning
Yasutomi Nishizuka was born in 1932. His hometown was Ashiya-city in Japan. He loved learning about the human body.
He went to Kyoto University to study medicine. In 1957, he earned his medical degree. He then continued his studies there. In 1962, he got his PhD in Medical Chemistry. His teacher was Osamu Hayaishi, a famous researcher.
After finishing his studies in Japan, he traveled. He spent a year in the United States. He worked with Fritz Lipmann at Rockefeller University. This was a special chance to learn even more.
His Career in Science
Nishizuka started his career at Kyoto University. From 1962 to 1964, he was a research associate. Then, from 1964 to 1968, he became an associate professor.
In 1969, he moved to Kobe University. He became a professor there. He was also the head of the Biochemistry Department. He stayed in this role until 2001. From 1995 to 2001, he was even the president of Kobe University!
He taught many students who became famous scientists. One of his students was Shinya Yamanaka. Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel Prize in 2012. He discovered how to make special cells called induced pluripotent stem cells.
What He Discovered
Nishizuka is famous for his work on how cells communicate. He found the basic ideas of how signals move inside cells. He did this by discovering protein kinase C. People also call it C kinase.
He studied how C kinase works. His research showed a brand new way cells send signals. It helped us understand how many things happen in our bodies. This includes how cancer cells grow. His discoveries were very important for medical science.
Awards and Honors
Yasutomi Nishizuka received many awards. These awards showed how much his work was valued. Two of his biggest awards were the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and the Wolf Prize in Medicine.
In 1989, he won the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. He won it for helping us understand cell signals. He also showed that things that cause cancer can make cells grow by turning on protein kinase C.
He also won the Wolf Prize in Medicine. He shared this award with Michael J. Berridge. They both discovered how cells send signals using fats and calcium.
Other important awards he received include:
- Asahi Prize (1985)
- Japan Academy Prize (1986)
- Gairdner Foundation International Award (1988)
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. Prize (1988)
- Kyoto Prize (1992)
- Ernst Schering Prize (1995)
He was also chosen to be a member of many important science groups. This included the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
