Aaron Ciechanover

Aaron Ciechanover Speaking at the Technion, February 2018

Aaron Ciechanover (born October 1, 1947) is an Israeli biochemist who, along with Avram Hershko and Irwin Rose, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. This groundbreaking work has had significant implications for understanding the cell cycle, oncogenesis, and various other cellular processes.

Early Life and Education

Aaron Ciechanover was born in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel). He completed his undergraduate studies in medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and earned his M.Sc. in biochemistry from the same institution. He later pursued a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology under the supervision of Avram Hershko.

Research and Discoveries

Ciechanover's most notable contribution to science is his work on the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This system is crucial for the regulated degradation of proteins within the cell. The process involves tagging unwanted or damaged proteins with a small protein called ubiquitin, which signals for their destruction by the proteasome, a large protein complex.

Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating the concentration of specific proteins and degrading misfolded proteins. This system plays a critical role in various cellular processes, including the cell cycle, DNA repair, and immune response.

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Ciechanover has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science, including the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research and the Israel Prize in biochemistry.

Academic and Professional Career

Ciechanover has held various academic positions throughout his career. He is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He has also been involved in numerous scientific advisory boards and has contributed to various scientific journals.

Personal Life

Aaron Ciechanover is married and has children. He continues to reside in Haifa, where he remains active in the scientific community.

See Also

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Ubiquitin
• Proteasome
• Avram Hershko
• Irwin Rose
• Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

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