Nahum Sonenberg

File:Nahum Sonenberg.jpg

Nahum Sonenberg

Nahum Sonenberg is a Canadian molecular biologist and biochemist, renowned for his pioneering research in the field of protein synthesis and mRNA translation. He was born in 1946 in Lodz, Poland, and later immigrated to Israel before eventually settling in Canada.

Early Life and Education

Sonenberg completed his undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. He then pursued his Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, under the supervision of Haim Aviv. His doctoral research focused on the mechanisms of gene expression.

Career and Research

After completing his Ph.D., Sonenberg moved to the United States for postdoctoral research at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology in Nutley, New Jersey. It was here that he made significant contributions to the understanding of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), a key player in the initiation of protein synthesis.

In 1979, Sonenberg joined the faculty at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, where he has since held various academic positions. His research has primarily focused on the regulation of mRNA translation and its implications for cancer, neurological disorders, and infectious diseases.

Major Contributions

Sonenberg's work has led to several groundbreaking discoveries, including:

• The identification and characterization of eIF4E, which plays a crucial role in the initiation of translation.
• The discovery of the cap-binding complex and its role in the regulation of mRNA translation.
• Insights into the mechanisms by which microRNAs and other regulatory molecules influence protein synthesis.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Sonenberg has received numerous awards and honors, including:

• The Gairdner Foundation International Award (2008)
• The Wolf Prize in Medicine (2014)
• The Killam Prize in Health Sciences (2016)
• Election to the Royal Society of Canada and the National Academy of Sciences.

Personal Life

Sonenberg is married and has two children. He continues to reside in Montreal, where he remains active in research and academia.

Related Pages

• Protein synthesis
• mRNA
• Translation (biology)
• eIF4E
• McGill University
• Gairdner Foundation International Award
• Wolf Prize in Medicine