Peter Walter
Encyclopedia
Peter Walter is a German-American molecular biologist and biochemist
. He earned a B.S. degree in chemistry
from the Free University of Berlin
, an M.S. degree in organic chemistry
from Vanderbilt University
, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry
from the Rockefeller University
. He is currently Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics
at the University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF).
During his thesis work in Dr Günter Blobel
's laboratory, Peter Walter discovered that secreted proteins are recognized and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum by the Signal recognition particle
in eukaryotic cells.
Peter Walter's laboratory at UCSF is engaged in studying protein folding
and protein targeting
, focusing on the signal recognition particle
(which he identified and characterized some years ago as a graduate student with Günter Blobel
at the Rockefeller). Peter Walter has discovered a feedback
loop within cells called the unfolded protein response. Cells need the right amount of endoplasmic reticulum
(ER) to properly fold new proteins. If there is too little ER, misfolded proteins accumulate, triggering a signaling pathway between the ER and the nucleus that produces more ER to increase the capacity with which the proteins can be properly folded. If this feedback loop does not work and misfolded proteins accumulate inside the ER, the cell commits suicide. Walter's lab has identified three gene
s centrally involved in the unfolded protein response.
Peter Walter is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
.
Professor Walter is a co-author of Molecular Biology of the Cell
, now in its fifth edition.
He also is a recipient of the Gairdner Award
, the Canadian equivalent of the Nobel prize.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
. He earned a B.S. degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
, an M.S. degree in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
from the Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
. He is currently Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and Biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
(UCSF).
During his thesis work in Dr Günter Blobel
Günter Blobel
-Biography:Blobel was born in Waltersdorf in the Prussian Province of Lower Silesia. In January 1945 his family fled from native Silesia from the advancing Red Army. On their way to the West they passed through the beautiful old city of Dresden, which left deep impressions in the young boy...
's laboratory, Peter Walter discovered that secreted proteins are recognized and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum by the Signal recognition particle
Signal recognition particle
The signal recognition particle is an abundant, cytosolic, universally conserved ribonucleoprotein that recognizes and targets specific proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotes and the plasma membrane in prokaryotes....
in eukaryotic cells.
Peter Walter's laboratory at UCSF is engaged in studying protein folding
Protein folding
Protein folding is the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. It is the physical process by which a polypeptide folds into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure from random coil....
and protein targeting
Protein targeting
Protein targeting or protein sorting is the mechanism by which a cell transports proteins to the appropriate positions in the cell or outside of it. Sorting targets can be the inner space of an organelle, any of several interior membranes, the cell's outer membrane, or its exterior via secretion...
, focusing on the signal recognition particle
Signal recognition particle
The signal recognition particle is an abundant, cytosolic, universally conserved ribonucleoprotein that recognizes and targets specific proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotes and the plasma membrane in prokaryotes....
(which he identified and characterized some years ago as a graduate student with Günter Blobel
Günter Blobel
-Biography:Blobel was born in Waltersdorf in the Prussian Province of Lower Silesia. In January 1945 his family fled from native Silesia from the advancing Red Army. On their way to the West they passed through the beautiful old city of Dresden, which left deep impressions in the young boy...
at the Rockefeller). Peter Walter has discovered a feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
loop within cells called the unfolded protein response. Cells need the right amount of endoplasmic reticulum
Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is an organelle of cells in eukaryotic organisms that forms an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles, and cisternae...
(ER) to properly fold new proteins. If there is too little ER, misfolded proteins accumulate, triggering a signaling pathway between the ER and the nucleus that produces more ER to increase the capacity with which the proteins can be properly folded. If this feedback loop does not work and misfolded proteins accumulate inside the ER, the cell commits suicide. Walter's lab has identified three gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s centrally involved in the unfolded protein response.
Peter Walter is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Professor Walter is a co-author of Molecular Biology of the Cell
Molecular Biology of the Cell (textbook)
Molecular Biology of the Cell is a cellular and molecular biology textbook published by Garland Science and currently authored by Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter. The book was first published in 1983 and is now in its fifth edition...
, now in its fifth edition.
He also is a recipient of the Gairdner Award
Gairdner Foundation International Award
The Gairdner Foundation International Award is given annually at a special dinner to three to six people for outstanding discoveries or contributions to medical science. Receipt of the Gairdner is traditionally considered a precursor to winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine; as of 2007, 69 Nobel...
, the Canadian equivalent of the Nobel prize.
External links
- Walter Lab on the site of the University of California, San FranciscoUniversity of California, San FranciscoThe University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
- Peter Walter, Ph.D., bio on site of the Howard Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
- iBioMagazine Movie of Peter Walter: Unfolding the UPR