Koichi Tanaka

Masatoshi Koshiba Junichiro Koizumi and Koichi Tanaka 20021011

Koichi Tanaka (Japanese: 田中耕一, Tanaka Kōichi, born August 3, 1959) is a Japanese engineer and mass spectrometrist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002. He shared the prize with John B. Fenn and Kurt Wüthrich for their development of methods for identification and structure analyses of biological macromolecules. Tanaka's contribution was the development of soft desorption ionisation techniques for mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules, specifically the technique known as Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI).

Early Life and Education

Koichi Tanaka was born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Tohoku University in 1983 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Despite his engineering background, Tanaka's career took a significant turn towards chemistry and biotechnology, fields in which he would make groundbreaking contributions.

Career and Research

After graduation, Tanaka joined Shimadzu Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of precision instruments, where he began his work in the field of mass spectrometry. It was here that Tanaka developed the MALDI technique, a method that made it possible to ionize proteins (large biomolecules) without fragmenting them, thus allowing for their mass and structure to be analyzed. This technique was revolutionary because it provided a method to analyze biological samples in a relatively non-destructive manner, which was a significant challenge in mass spectrometry at the time.

Tanaka's work on MALDI has had a profound impact on the field of proteomics, the study of proteins at a large scale. MALDI-MS has become a fundamental tool in identifying proteins in complex biological samples, aiding in the understanding of diseases, and the development of new drugs.

Nobel Prize

In 2002, Koichi Tanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, becoming one of the few engineers ever to receive this honor. The Nobel Committee recognized his contribution to the development of soft desorption ionisation methods for mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules. His work, alongside that of his co-laureates, has been instrumental in advancing the field of analytical chemistry, particularly in the study of proteins and other macromolecules.

Legacy and Impact

Tanaka's development of MALDI has opened up new possibilities in the fields of chemistry, biology, and medicine. His work has facilitated advancements in drug discovery, diagnostics, and the understanding of complex biological systems. The MALDI technique continues to be a vital tool in scientific research, with ongoing developments aimed at increasing its sensitivity, resolution, and applicability to a wider range of substances.

See Also

• Mass spectrometry
• Proteomics
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• John B. Fenn
• Kurt Wüthrich