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Krzysztof Palczewski

Appointment

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life

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Case Western Reserve University

About

Krzysztof Palczewski’s research focuses on the activation and signalling of the light-sensitive rod and cone cells found in the eye. He is best known for his discovery of the structure of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive receptor protein, and its folding and binding properties. The goals of his research group are to understand the biochemical mechanisms of rhodopsin inactivation; the biochemical similarities and differences in how rod and cone cells generate signals; and the enyzmes involved in molecular transformations in the retina.

Awards

  • Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU), 2015
  • Science Award, Foundation for Polish Science, 2014
  • Friedenwald Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2014
  • Beckman-Argyros Award in Vision Research, 2014
  • Cogan Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 1996

Relevant Publications

  • Golczak, M. et al. “LRAT-specific domain facilitates Vitamin A metabolism by domain swapping in HRASLS.” Nature Chem Biol. 11 (2014): 26–32.

  • Tsybovsky, Y., and K. Palczewski. “Retinoid Pathway Gene Mutations and the Pathophysiology of Related Visual Diseases.” In The Retinoids: Biology, Biochemistry, and Disease, edited by P. Dollé and K. Niederreither. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

  • Kiser, P.D. et al. “Catalytic mechanism of a retinoid isomerase essential for vertebrate vision.” Nature Chem Biol. 11, no. 6 (2015): 409–15.

  • Palczewska, G. et al. “Human infrared vision is triggered by two−photon chromophore isomerization.” Proc Natl Acad Sci 111 (2014): E5445–E5454.

  • Maeda, A. et al. “Primary amines protect against retinal degeneration in mouse models of retinopathies.” Nat Chem Biol. 8 (2012): 170–78.

  • Chen, Y. et al. “Systems pharmacology identifies drug targets for Stargardt disease-associated retinal degeneration.” J Clin Invest 123 (2013): 5119–5134.

Institution

Case Western Reserve University

Department

Department of Pharmacology

Education

  • PhD (Biochemistry), Technical University of Wroclaw
  • MS (Organic Chemistry), Technical University of Wroclaw

Country

United States

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