Following his graduate studies Holley remained associated with Cornell. He became an assistant professor of organic chemistry in 1948, and was appointed as professor of biochemistry in 1962. He began his research on RNA after spending a year's sabbatical (1955–1956) studying with James F. Bonner at the California Institute of Technology.
Holley's research on RNA focused first on isolating transfer RNA (tRNA), and later on determining the sequence and structure of alanine tRNA, the molecule that incorporates the amino acidalanine into proteins. Holley's team of researchers determined the tRNA's structure by using two ribonucleases to split the tRNA molecule into pieces. Each enzyme split the molecule at location points for specific nucleotides. By a process of "puzzling out" the structure of the pieces split by the two different enzymes, then comparing the pieces from both enzyme splits, the team eventually determined the entire structure of the molecule. The group of researchers include Elizabeth Beach Keller, who developed the cloverleaf model that describes transfer RNA, during the course of the research.[4]
The structure was completed in 1964,[5][6] and was a key discovery in explaining the synthesis of proteins from messenger RNA. It was also the first nucleotide sequence of a ribonucleic acid ever determined. Holley was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for this discovery,[7] and Har Gobind Khorana and Marshall W. Nirenberg were also awarded the prize that year for contributions to the understanding of protein synthesis.
Using the Holley team's method, other scientists determined the structures of the remaining tRNA's. A few years later the method was modified to help track the sequence of nucleotides in various bacterial, plant, and human viruses.
^Thavanathan, R. & Morgan, S. "Who was the mysterious and possibly dangerous man we call ......Robert W. Holley (1922–1993) ?".
^Burkhart, Ford (1997-12-28). "Dr. Elizabeth Keller, 79, Dies; Biochemist Helped RNA Study (Published 1997)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
^Holley RW, Everett GA, Madison JT, Zamir A (May 1965). "Nucleotide Sequences In The Yeast Alanine Transfer Ribonucleic Acid" (PDF). J Biol Chem. 240 (5): 2122–8. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)97435-1. PMID 14299636.
^Holley RW, Apgar J, Everett GA, Madison JT, Marquisee M, Merrill SH, Penswick JR, Zamir A (1965-03-19). "Structure Of A Ribonucleic Acid". Science. 147 (3664): 1462–5. Bibcode:1965Sci...147.1462H. doi:10.1126/science.147.3664.1462. PMID 14263761. S2CID 40989800.
robert, holley, robert, william, holley, january, 1922, february, 1993, american, biochemist, shared, nobel, prize, physiology, medicine, 1968, with, gobind, khorana, marshall, warren, nirenberg, describing, structure, alanine, transfer, linking, protein, synt. Robert William Holley January 28 1922 February 11 1993 was an American biochemist He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 with Har Gobind Khorana and Marshall Warren Nirenberg for describing the structure of alanine transfer RNA linking DNA and protein synthesis Robert W HolleyBornRobert William Holley 1922 01 28 January 28 1922Urbana IllinoisDiedFebruary 11 1993 1993 02 11 aged 71 Los Gatos CaliforniaAlma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignCornell UniversityKnown forTransfer RNAAwardsAlbert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research 1965 NAS Award in Molecular Biology 1967 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1968 Scientific careerFieldsBiochemistryInstitutionsSalk Institute for Biological Studies Robert W Holley on the far left Holley was born in Urbana Illinois and graduated from Urbana High School in 1938 He went on to study chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign graduating in 1942 and commencing his PhD studies in organic chemistry at Cornell University During World War II Holley spent two years working under Professor Vincent du Vigneaud at Cornell University Medical College where he was involved in the first chemical synthesis of penicillin Holley completed his PhD studies in 1947 1 2 3 Following his graduate studies Holley remained associated with Cornell He became an assistant professor of organic chemistry in 1948 and was appointed as professor of biochemistry in 1962 He began his research on RNA after spending a year s sabbatical 1955 1956 studying with James F Bonner at the California Institute of Technology Holley s research on RNA focused first on isolating transfer RNA tRNA and later on determining the sequence and structure of alanine tRNA the molecule that incorporates the amino acid alanine into proteins Holley s team of researchers determined the tRNA s structure by using two ribonucleases to split the tRNA molecule into pieces Each enzyme split the molecule at location points for specific nucleotides By a process of puzzling out the structure of the pieces split by the two different enzymes then comparing the pieces from both enzyme splits the team eventually determined the entire structure of the molecule The group of researchers include Elizabeth Beach Keller who developed the cloverleaf model that describes transfer RNA during the course of the research 4 The structure was completed in 1964 5 6 and was a key discovery in explaining the synthesis of proteins from messenger RNA It was also the first nucleotide sequence of a ribonucleic acid ever determined Holley was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for this discovery 7 and Har Gobind Khorana and Marshall W Nirenberg were also awarded the prize that year for contributions to the understanding of protein synthesis Using the Holley team s method other scientists determined the structures of the remaining tRNA s A few years later the method was modified to help track the sequence of nucleotides in various bacterial plant and human viruses In 1968 Holley became a resident fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla California According to the New York Times obituary He was an avid outdoorsman and an amateur sculptor of bronze See also editHistory of RNA biology List of RNA biologistsReferences edit USDA Agricultural Research Service Probing the Mystery of Life Nobelprize org Robert W Holley Biography Thavanathan R amp Morgan S Who was the mysterious and possibly dangerous man we call Robert W Holley 1922 1993 Burkhart Ford 1997 12 28 Dr Elizabeth Keller 79 Dies Biochemist Helped RNA Study Published 1997 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2020 11 12 Holley RW Everett GA Madison JT Zamir A May 1965 Nucleotide Sequences In The Yeast Alanine Transfer Ribonucleic Acid PDF J Biol Chem 240 5 2122 8 doi 10 1016 S0021 9258 18 97435 1 PMID 14299636 Holley RW Apgar J Everett GA Madison JT Marquisee M Merrill SH Penswick JR Zamir A 1965 03 19 Structure Of A Ribonucleic Acid Science 147 3664 1462 5 Bibcode 1965Sci 147 1462H doi 10 1126 science 147 3664 1462 PMID 14263761 S2CID 40989800 Holley s Nobel Lecture PDF External links editRobert W Holley on Nobelprize org nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert W Holley amp oldid 1217057573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
