Biochemist whose vision of cell signalling transformed cancer research.
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Bernstein, A., Rossant, J. Anthony James Pawson (1952–2013). Nature 501, 168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/501168a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/501168a
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Keith Ashman
Multi-Dimensional Biology (a Tribute to Tony Pawson)
There is no doubt that advances in technology and science are inseparable. Without the microscope the fascinating world of cells and microbes would not have been revealed and DNA sequencing techniques have developed amazing capacity to unravel genetic information. The number of genomes that now exist in silico is growing rapidly(http://www.ebi.ac.uk/genome..., http://www.sanger.ac.uk/res... ) but perhaps the excitement generated by this vast amount of data is causing us to forget that biological systems are not just the sum of their genes. All living things are composed of complex networks of interacting molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, metal ions... These chemicals are 3 dimensional entities and small structural changes can drastically alter the way they behave towards each other. Adding a phosphate group or a methyl group can lead to the attraction or repulsion between two compounds being radically different. This often results in a signal being sent due to the start or stop of an enzymic reaction, causing a change in concentration of a metabolite, or the disruption of a protein complex, which in turn sets off a cascade of effects. I had the good fortune to work with the recently deceased Tony Pawson in Toronto, Canada. His insight into how bio-molecular systems operate at the 3-dimensional structural, the kinetic and temporal levels has profound implications for understanding the dynamic changes that underlie the function or dysfunction of cells. The molecular lego defined by protein domains, as Tony pointed out, is with hindsight a simple concept, which has lead to the development of new more specific drugs (e.g. Gleevec) but more importantly provided a mechanism to explain how cell signaling works. It is this basic understanding of function that leads to new applications that change the world. Tony also understood the need to apply the best technology and be patient. So thank You Tony! Science and humanity needs more of your kind, you will be sorely missed.