MBL scientist Osamu Shimomura wins Nobel Prize for discovery of green fluorescent protein

The tremendous utility of GFP in probing the inner life of cells and their components was demonstrated by Chalfie, who in 1994 showed how GFP can be used as luminous genetic tag for various biological phenomena. When the gene for GFP is attached to the gene for some protein of interest, then when the cell makes the protein, it also makes the GFP, which "lights up" the protein and allows scientists to observe it. Roger Y. Tsien, a former faculty member in the MBL's Neurobiology course, contributed to our general understanding of how GFP fluoresces. He also extended the color palette beyond green, allowing researchers to give various proteins and cells different colors. This enables scientists to follow several different biological processes at the same time.

Dr. Shimomura is the 57th scientist affiliated with the MBL since its founding in 1888 to receive the Nobel Prize.

From the time he discovered this "beautiful protein," Dr. Shimomura says, until 1979, he devoted his research to characterizing GFP, its companion protein in the jellyfish, aequorin, and bioluminescence in general.

"Most of my knowledge came from self-study," says Dr. Shimomura. "If you find an interesting subject, study it through to the finish. If you confront difficulties, overcome them. Don't be discouraged. There are always difficulties in research."

Born in Kyoto, Japan, on August 27, 1928, Osamu Shimomura graduated from Nagasaki College of Pharmacy in 1951 and worked as a research student in Organic Chemistry at the laboratory of Professor Hirata at Nagoya University from 1955 to 1958. He obtained his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Nagoya University in 1960. He was a research biochemist at Princeton University from 1965 to 1981, and is a professor emeritus at Boston University Medical School.

During Dr. Shimomura's tenure at the MBL, he was an integral part of the MBL's research activities, presenting scientific reports in the MBL General Scientific Meetings, authoring articles in the scientific journal based at the MBL, The Biological Bulletin, and serving as an expert advisor on the green fluorescent protein. Shimomura's wife, Akemi, was also a member of the MBL's research staff from 1982 to 2001, working as Dr. Shimomura's research assistant. Dr. Shimomura has been a member of the MBL Corporation since 1988. In 2002, the MBL presented a symposium in honor of Dr. Shimomura's achievements.

Osamu and Akemi Shimomura live in Falmouth, Massachusetts. They have two grown children.

The MBL is a leading international, independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to discovery and to improving the human condition through creative research and education in the biological, biomedical and environmental sciences. Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory, the MBL is the oldest private marine laboratory in the Western Hemisphere. For more information, visit www.MBL.edu