Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
818/677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

Nobel Laureate to Share Experiences with Students

Boyer will discuss his pioneering research related to the mechanism of energy metabolism in cells and how his efforts were initially ignored by his peers.

His seminar, "A Research Journey," will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. in Engineering Room 100 near the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

"It is a pleasure to have Professor Boyer visit our campus, and show students by his example how exciting and interesting doing science is,' said Edward J. Carroll, Jr., dean of the CSUN's College of Science and Mathematics. "Dr. Boyer's field, biochemistry, relates to energy metabolism and has many applications to everyday life."

Boyer, professor emeritus from UCLA's Biochemistry Department, shares the 1997 Nobel Prize with two other scientists for work based on his research into the action of the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). His work relates to the synthesis of ATP in mitochondria, the so-called powerhouse of cells.

In brief, ATP is the cellular energy currency used to drive the breakdown and synthesis of other molecules necessary for cellular maintenance and growth such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Boyer's unique contribution is a detailed understanding of the organization of the enzyme that synthesizes ATP. ###