John E. Walker

File:Sir John E. Walker.jpg

Sir John E. Walker

John E. Walker
Born	John Ernest Walker 7 January 1941 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Known for	ATP synthase structure and function
Awards	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1997) Royal Medal (1999)
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry
Institutions	MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit
Doctoral advisor	Edward Abraham

John Ernest Walker (born 7 January 1941) is a British chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997 for his work on the enzymatic mechanism underlying the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). He shared the prize with Paul D. Boyer, who had proposed the binding change mechanism for ATP synthesis, and Jens C. Skou, who was recognized for his discovery of the sodium-potassium pump.

Early Life and Education

John E. Walker was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. He attended Rastrick Grammar School and later went on to study chemistry at St Catherine's College, University of Oxford. He completed his PhD under the supervision of Edward Abraham.

Career

Walker began his career as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later at the University of Geneva. In 1974, he joined the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, where he started his pioneering work on the structure and function of ATP synthase.

Research

Walker's most notable contribution to science is his elucidation of the structure and function of ATP synthase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. His work provided significant insights into how ATP is synthesized from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the mitochondria.

Awards and Honors

In recognition of his groundbreaking work, Walker has received numerous awards, including:

• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997
• The Royal Medal in 1999

Personal Life

Walker is married and has two children. He continues to be active in research and is currently affiliated with the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit in Cambridge.

Related Pages

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• ATP synthase
• Adenosine triphosphate
• Mitochondria
• Paul D. Boyer
• Jens C. Skou