Wanderings in Biochemistry

Abstract

Medicine in 1962 included the determination of the nucleotide compositions of codons specifying amino acids. The experiments were based on the use of random copolyribonucleotides (synthesized by polynucleotide phosphorylase) as messenger RNA in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system. At Yale University, where I joined the faculty, my co-workers and I first studied the mechanisms of protein synthesis. Thereafter, we explored the interferons (IFNs), which were discovered as antiviral defense agents but were revealed to be components of a highly complex multifunctional system. We isolated pure IFNs and characterized IFN-activated genes, the proteins they encode, and their functions. We concentrated on a cluster of IFN-activated genes, the p200 cluster, which arose by repeated gene duplications and which encodes a large family of highly multifunctional proteins. For example, the murine protein p204 can be activated in numerous tissues by distinct transcription factors. It modulates cell proliferation and the differentiation of a variety of tissues by binding to many proteins. p204 also inhibits the activities of wild-type Ras proteins and Ras oncoproteins.

Peter Lengyel (1929–2020): A Pioneer Researcher in Protein Synthesis and Interferon Action

“…cloning and characterization of interferon-stimulated genes leading to the characterization of the P200 family (Lengyel 2008(Lengyel , 2014. This turned out to be a treasure trove of interesting proteins with multiple cellular functions.…”

A genetikai kód megfejtésének magyar hőse: Lengyel Péter (1929–2020)

“…[…] Valószínűleg a magyar ügyért ér-zett szimpátiája és az én lelkesedésem bírta rá, hogy elfogadja doktoranduszi jelentkezésemet intézetébe. "(Lengyel, 2014) A spanyol származású Severo Ochoa nagy tekintélyű, elismert biokémikus volt, elsősorban az oxidatív foszforiláció mechanizmusának kutatása területén elért eredményei miatt.…”