The 2021 Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine has been awarded to two distinguished scientists based in the United States, David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian. They were recognized for their groundbreaking discoveries on the receptors of temperature and touch. Their main focus has been the domain of somatosensation, the ability of specialized organs, such as the eyes, ears, and skin, to perceive sensory information.
Delving into the Discoveries
David Julius made a breakthrough discovery with TRPV1, a heat-sensing receptor. He based his research on the skin’s sensation of temperature on specific cellular responses to capsaicin, the molecule that gives chili peppers their spiciness. This molecule triggers a simulated sensation of heat.
Ardem Patapoutian, on the other hand, has been acknowledged for discovering two mechanosensitive ion channels, also known as the Piezo channels. Piezo1, derives its name from the Greek word for pressure, “píesi”. Patapoutian is lauded for identifying the cellular mechanism and the underlying gene that converts a mechanical force on our skin into an electric nerve signal.
Significance of the Discoveries
The importance of these discoveries lies in the understanding they’ve provided of how heat, cold, and physical force can trigger nerve impulses that enable us to sense and adapt to our surroundings. This information is currently instrumental in formulating treatments for a broad spectrum of diseases, including chronic pain.
Somatosensation refers to the collective sensations of touch, temperature, body position, and pain, detected through neural receptors present in the skin and certain internal organs. It encompasses processes such as mechanoreception, thermoreception, and proprioception.
Mechanosensitive channels are intriguing proteins that function both as sensors and effectors. Embedded in membranes, they transduce mechanical stimuli like in-plane membrane tension and curvature into electrical or biochemical signals. This leads to the regulation of a diverse range of cellular processes that allow for adaptive responses.
Understanding the Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes were established according to the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist, in 1895. The Nobel Foundation – a private institution established in 1900 – presents these prestigious awards in recognition of significant contributions to the fields of Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine. The organization holds ultimate responsibility for realizing the intentions outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will. The very first Nobel Prizes across these domains were distributed in 1901.
In 1968, another addition was made with the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, put forth by Sveriges Riksbank.
Source Acknowledgment
The information provided in this article has been sourced from DTE.
