| Citation | Steven Martin has pioneered the genetic analysis of both retroviral oncogenes, and the transformation of cells from a normal to a cancerous state. In a landmark experiment, published in 1970, Dr. Martin isolated mutants of the acutely oncogenic Rous sarcoma virus that were temperature-sensitive for their ability to induce neoplastic transformation. This work led to the identification of the viral 'src' oncogene, and thereby laid the foundation for our current understanding of cancer genes. Dr. Martin has gone on to analyze the biochemical mechanisms by which the Src gene product elicits cellular transformation, and was the first to show a general role for tyrosine phosphorylation in eukaryotes through his identification of tyrosine kinase activity in yeast. Recently, Dr. Martin has made important contributions to our understanding of the cell cycle, and signal transduction through the Ras pathway. Dr. Martin's work has been unique and of critical importance for our present knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer. |