Alexander Spirin
Alexander Sergeevich Spirin (Russian: Александр Сергеевич Спирин) (born September 4, 1931) is a Russian biochemist, Distinguished Professor at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (since 1999),[1] a former Director of Institute of Protein Research Russian Academy of Sciences, Puschino (Пущино-на-Оке), Moscow Region (Московская Область), Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences. His primary scientific interests in biochemistry include nucleic acids and protein biosynthesis.
Alexander Sergeevich Spirin | |
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Born | |
Education | Doctor of Science (1962), Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences |
Alma mater | Moscow State University (1954) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biochemistry, Molecular Biology |
Institutions | Moscow State University |
Doctoral advisor | Andrey Belozersky |
Career
In 1957 together with Andrey Nikolayevich Belozersky (Андрей Николаевич Белозерский) he conducted comparative analysis of bacterial DNA and RNA,[2] and predicted existence of messenger RNA. He gave the first qualitative description of the structure of high-polymer RNA (1959–61). In 1963 he discovered structural transitions of ribosomes and formulated one of the principles of structure of ribosomes. He discovered artificial ribosomal self-assembly (1963–66). Proposed a molecular mechanism of the ribosome role in protein synthesis (1968). He conducted extra-cellular protein synthesis on modified ribosomes — non-enzymatic translation (together with L.P. Gavrilova) (1970–74).
In 1957, he defended his Candidate's Dissertation. In 1962, he defended his doctoral dissertation. In 1964, he received the title of Professor. He was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1966 and full member in 1970.
Awards
Dr. Spirin was awarded the Sir Hans Krebs Medal in 1969, elected an Honorary Fellow of University of Granada in 1972 and awarded the prestigious Demidov Prize in 2013.[3] In 1974 he was elected a Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.[4] He was elected a foreign associate of the US National Academy of Sciences in April 2019.[5]
References
- "Заслуженные профессора Московского университета | Летопись Московского университета".
- Morange, Michel; Cobb, Matthew (2000). A History of Molecular Biology. Harvard University Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-674-00169-5. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- "Demidov Prize Winners 2013". Russia-infocentre. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- "List of Members". www.leopoldina.org. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- "2019 NAS Election". National Academy of Sciences. April 30, 2019.