Roger Kornberg | Biography

Roger D. Kornberg's pioneering research in structural biology led to the discovery of the nucleosome, a fundamental particle of the human chromosome. A subunit of chromatin, a nucleosome is composed of a short length of DNA wrapped around a core of specialized proteins. Kornberg's discovery helped fuel later research on the structure of chromatin and its role in gene regulation.

The award-winning genetics researcher is also honored for his significant studies in the field of transcription, the first step in the regulation of gene expression. Before a cell divides or differentiates, the genetic information held by a cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strands must be copied or "transcribed" onto a messenger strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA). An enzyme called RNA polymerase II (poll II) affects the copying of this genetic code, but in the past, analysis of poll II has been difficult. A team of structural biologists, including Kornberg, successfully met this challenge and created a high-resolution model of poll II. The landmark accomplishment structurally detailing the transcription initiation complex helped scientists begin unraveling the mysteries of DNA transcription.

Kornberg's experiments have led to the discovery of a number of complexes involved in transcription. In the mid-1990s, he discovered a 20-protein complex, called mediator, required for transcription control. This complex is viewed as the central processing unit of gene regulation. During the same time, he discovered a 9-protein complex, termed TFIIH, which helps control the cell cycle and plays important roles in transcription, DNA repair. Kornberg also identified a chromatin remodeling machine believe to enable transcription of the natural, chromosomal DNA template.

Kornberg was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended college at Harvard and Stanford Universities, obtaining a B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry, respectively. He obtained his postdoctoral training at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, where he was later named a member of the scientific staff. Kornberg returned to Harvard in 1976, where he became an assistant professor of biological chemistry at the university's medical school. Two years later, he moved cross-country to join the Stanford University School of Medicine as a professor of structural biology. From 1984 to1992, Kornberg served as chair of the Department. Kornberg is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His work in genetics has rewarded him with many top honors, including the Eli Lilly Award, the Passano Award, the Ciba-Drew Award, the Harvey Prize, the Gairdner International Award (shared with R. Roeder) and the Hoppe-Seyler Lecture Award.