Phillip A. Sharp
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1993)
Biography
Phillip Allen Sharp, born on June 6, 1944, in Falmouth, became a leading figure in molecular biology during the late 20th century. His research greatly changed how we understand gene structure and expression in organisms with complex cells. Sharp studied at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and Union Commonwealth University, where he honed his skills in genetics and molecular biology.
Sharp's most notable achievement was the co-discovery of RNA splicing, a process that removes non-coding sections, known as introns, from messenger RNA. Collaborating with Richard J. Roberts, Sharp found that genes in complex organisms are broken up by sections that need to be cut out for proper protein production. This discovery transformed molecular biology by showing that the same DNA sequence could lead to different proteins through various splicing patterns.
For this work, Sharp and Roberts won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993. The Nobel Committee honored their discovery that genes have introns and that RNA splicing can happen in multiple ways, allowing a wide range of proteins from the same genetic material. This helped explain how complex organisms could produce a vast array of proteins with a limited number of genes.
Beyond his Nobel-winning work, Sharp has significantly contributed to the study of non-coding RNA. His lab focuses on microRNAs (miRNAs) and their effects on gene regulation. They have pinpointed specific miRNA targets and identified miRNA types produced near transcription start points. Sharp's research also looks into how miRNA impacts processes like blood vessel formation and how cells respond to stress, furthering the knowledge of gene control after transcription.
Sharp's career is decorated with many prestigious awards recognizing his scientific contributions. These include the Canada Gairdner International Award in 1986, the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1988, the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize in 1988, the National Medal of Science in 2004, and the Othmer Gold Medal in 2015. In 2011, he was made a Foreign Member of the Royal Society, highlighting his worldwide influence in biological sciences.
Before Fame
Sharp grew up right after World War II when molecular biology was becoming a new field. Watson and Crick discovered the DNA double helix in 1953 during his childhood, setting the scene for the molecular changes that would shape his career. Sharp studied at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and Union Commonwealth University at a time when key molecular techniques like DNA sequencing and recombinant DNA technology were being developed.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the scientific world saw rapid advances in understanding gene expression and protein synthesis. Sharp began his research during this pivotal time when scientists started questioning the then-simple view of gene structure. The common belief was that genes were straightforward coding sequences, but new evidence from viral studies suggested more complexity in eukaryotic gene organization.
Key Achievements
- Co-discovered RNA splicing and the existence of introns in eukaryotic genes
- Shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Richard J. Roberts
- Identified classes of microRNAs and their gene regulatory mechanisms
- Received the National Medal of Science in 2004 for contributions to molecular biology
- Advanced understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation and cellular stress responses
Did You Know?
- 01.Sharp's Nobel Prize-winning discovery was initially met with skepticism because it contradicted the established understanding that genes were continuous coding sequences
- 02.The RNA splicing mechanism he discovered occurs in virtually all human genes, with over 90% of human genes containing introns that must be spliced out
- 03.His research on microRNAs revealed that these tiny regulatory molecules can control hundreds of target genes simultaneously
- 04.Sharp received both the Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. Prize and Canada Gairdner International Award in the same year (1986)
- 05.The splicing process he discovered is so essential that errors in splicing contribute to approximately 15% of human genetic diseases
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1993 | for their discoveries of split genes |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 1988 | — |
| Canada Gairdner International Award | 1986 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 2004 | — |
| Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize | 1988 | — |
| Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. Prize | 1986 | — |
| Dickson Prize in Medicine | 1991 | — |
| NAS Award in Molecular Biology | 1980 | — |
| Mendel Medal | 1993 | — |
| Foreign Member of the Royal Society | 2011 | — |
| Othmer Gold Medal | 2015 | — |
| Howard Taylor Ricketts Prize | 1985 | — |
| AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research | 2020 | — |
| Winthrop-Sears Medal | — | — |