| RefNo | EC/1995/37 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Walker, Sir John Ernest: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Date | 1988 |
| Description | Citation typed. Supplementary certificate attached to principal certificate |
| Citation | Distinguished for his contributions to protein chemistry, and in particular for his work on the ATP synthase from bacteria, chloroplasts and human mitochondria. Responsible for the protein analysis in the discoveries of the first triple overlapping gene, of new proteins predicted from the DNA sequences in mitochondria, lambda phage and E. coli, and of the non-universality of the genetic code. His emphasis on micromethods led him to develop a solid phase microsequencer. He was among the pioneers in combining protein and nucleic acid sequencing for the elucidation of protein structures, and developed new methods using organic solvents to isolate hydrophobic mitochondrial proteins. He showed that the mammalian mitochondrial ATP synthase is a complex of thirteen proteins and sequenced all but four already known. Sequence analysis of all genes involved, resulted in a number of original observations, including two genes for bovine subunit C sharing an identical mature protein but a weakly related "import" sequence. He showed that ADP/ATP translocases belong to a wider multigene family involved in transport into mitochondria, and that translocase has a three-fold pseudo-repeat structure shared by all members of the family. He analysed the genes for E. coli ATPase, and proposed a motif involved in binding purine nucleotides later found in many nucleotide binding proteins. |
| After more than 10 years continuous effort, he and his colleagues have crystallised bovine ATP synthase and determined its detailed atomic structure, revealing many fundamental new features. This represents a crystallographic landmark in terms of complexity and size of the asymmetric unit. In addition, he has made major advances in another key energy transducing enzyme, NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, sequencing the 35 nuclear encoded subunits. These achievements put him in the forefront of bioenergetic research. |
| Extent | 2 sheets |
| AccessStatus | Closed |