Protein tyrosine phosphatases to be topic of ASBMB-Merck Award lecture

Jack E Dixon, Professor and Dean of Scientific Affairs at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has
been selected to receive the 2005 ASBMB-Merck Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research in
biochemistry and molecular biology. Dr. Dixon will present his award lecture on protein tyrosine phosphatases at 4:45 p.m. on
Sunday, April 3 at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting in San Diego.


The cell's ability to respond to its extracellular environment depends on a complex, highly organized series of events
referred to as cellular signaling. These events regulate fundamental cellular responses, the loss of which can lead the
development of disease.


The protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are a diverse group of enzymes that participate in cellular signaling by regulating
the reversible addition of phosphate to the tyrosine residues in proteins. All members of the PTP family contain a highly
conserved motif in their active sites. Dr. Dixon's laboratory has recently identified 107 members of this family in the human
genome. The PTP superfamily enzymes participate in a wide variety of cellular processes, including growth, metabolism,
differentiation, motility, and programmed cell death. Bacteria also have proteins that contain the PTP active site motif, and
these proteins play key roles in bacterial pathogenesis.


Recent observations have shown that PTPs can also function as tumor suppressor genes. The PTEN gene, which is among the most
commonly mutated tumor suppressor genes in human cancer, is a member of the PTP superfamily. Like many other tumor
suppressors, PTEN targets proteins in signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and apoptosis.


Dr. Dixon has brought a strong chemical background and expertise in molecular biology and molecular genetics to his research
investigations. Early in his career, he was a leader in research on the biosynthesis and posttranslational processing of
polypeptide hormones. He adopted the tools of molecular biology as they became available in the late 1970's, and his
laboratory was among the first to use a synthetic oligonucleotide to identify and clone cDNAs encoding peptide hormones such
as somatostatin, cholecystokinin, and neuropeptide Y. He subsequently became a pioneer and intellectual leader in the
structure and function of PTPs.


The ASBMB-Merck Award consists of a plaque, stipend, and transportation and expenses of the recipient and spouse to the 2005
Annual Meeting to present a lecture. Recipients over the past several years include Jack L. Strominger in 2004, Stephen
Benkovic in 2003, Robert G. Roeder and Robert D. Kornberger who shared the Award in 2002, and Avram Hershko and Alexander J.
Varshavsky who shared the Award in 2001.


The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization
with 12,000 members in the United States and internationally. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and
universities. Others conduct research in various government laboratories, nonprofit research institutions, and industry.



Founded in 1906, the Society is based in Bethesda, Maryland, on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology. The Society's primary purpose is to advance the sciences of biochemistry and molecular biology through
its publications, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Lipid Research, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, and
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, and the holding of scientific meetings.


For more information about ASBMB see our website: asbmb.



Nicole Kresge - nkresgeasbmb

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology