| Citation | Dr Roberts has been the principal driving force behind the identification and characterization of new DNA restriction enzymes and he was one of the discoverers of RNA splicing. His work with restriction enzymes has been crucial for the development of both DNA sequencing and genetic engineering. Since 1972, over 100 such enzymes have been discovered in his laboratory and their sequence specificities determined. Many of the genes for these nucleases and their cognate methylases were cloned. Most recently, his group has determined the crystal structure of a DNA methyl-transferase with and without DNA, discovering that the target cytosine is flipped out of the double helix by the enzyme.
Dr Roberts has also studied transcription of adenovirus-2 late mRNAs: he discovered that mRNAs for different genes possessed identical 5' termini. This led directly to the discovery of intervening sequences and RNA splicing, for which he shared the 1993 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. He subsequently sequenced the adenovirus genome. Between 1986 - 1992 he was Assistant Director for Research at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and in 1992 he moved to New England Biolabs. |