Brian Kobilka#Research

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Brian Kobilka

| image = Brian Kobilka 361726 by Christopher Michel 6-20-24.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Brian Kobilka at Stanford in 2024

| birth_name = Brian Kent Kobilka

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|05|30}}

| birth_place = Little Falls, Minnesota, United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| fields = Crystallography

| workplaces = Stanford University, Duke University

| education = University of Minnesota Duluth (BS)
Yale University (MD)

| doctoral_advisor =

| academic_advisors = Robert Lefkowitz

| doctoral_students =

| notable_students =

| awards = Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2012)

}}

Brian Kent Kobilka (born May 30, 1955){{Cite web | url=http://www.med.tsinghua.edu.cn/view.asp?id=1880 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216050006/http://www.med.tsinghua.edu.cn/view.asp?id=1880 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-12-16 | title=BRIAN K. KOBILKA, MD. | publisher=Tsinghua University School of Medicine | access-date=2013-01-16 }} is an American physiologist and a recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Robert Lefkowitz for discoveries that reveal the workings of G protein-coupled receptors. He is currently a professor in the department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is also a co-founder of ConfometRx, a biotechnology company focusing on G protein-coupled receptors. He was named a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2011.

Early life

Kobilka attended St. Mary's Grade School in Little Falls, Minnesota, a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud.{{Cite web|date=2012-10-23 |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20121023.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215164324/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20121023.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-15 |title=Catholic scientist at Stanford shares Nobel Prize for work in chemistry |publisher=Catholic News Service |access-date=2013-01-19 }} He then graduated from Little Falls High School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and earned his M.D., cum laude, from Yale University School of Medicine. Following the completion of his residency in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine's Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Kobilka worked in research as a postdoctoral fellow under Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University, where he started work on cloning the β₂-adrenergic receptor. Kobilka moved to Stanford in 1989.{{cite journal | url=http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v3/n7/box/nrd1458_BX14.html | title=The state of GPCR research in 2004 : Nature Reviews Drug Discovery | journal=Nature Reviews Drug Discovery | publisher=Nature | access-date=2013-01-19 | volume=3 | issue=7 | doi=10.1038/nrd1458 | pmid=15272499 | pages=577–626| year=2004 | author1=Nature Reviews Drug Discovery GPCR Questionnaire Participants | s2cid=33620092 | url-access=subscription }} He was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator from 1987 to 2003.{{Cite web | title=Brian K. Kobilka, M.D. | url=http://www.hhmi.com/research/investigators/kobilka_bio.html | publisher=HHMI | access-date=2013-01-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502155322/http://www.hhmi.com/research/investigators/kobilka_bio.html | archive-date=2014-05-02 | url-status=dead }}

Research

File:Brian Kobilka 1 2012.jpg

Kobilka is best known for his research on the structure and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); in particular, work from Kobilka's laboratory determined the molecular structure of the β₂-adrenergic receptor.{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4509167&page=1#.UHeI-lFKYsQ | title=Cell Insights Could Bring Better Drugs | work=Forbes | access-date=2013-01-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215182558/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4509167&page=1#.UHeI-lFKYsQ | archive-date=2011-02-15 | url-status=dead }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Rasmussen SG, Choi HJ, Rosenbaum DM, Kobilka TS, Thian FS, Edwards PC, Burghammer M, Ratnala VR, Sanishvili R, Fischetti RF, Schertler GF, Weis WI, Kobilka BK | title=Crystal structure of the human β₂-adrenergic G-protein-coupled receptor | journal=Nature | volume=450 | issue=7168 | pages=383–7 | year=2007 | pmid=17952055 | doi=10.1038/nature06325| bibcode=2007Natur.450..383R | s2cid=4407117 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Cherezov V, Rosenbaum DM, Hanson MA, Rasmussen SG, Thian FS, Kobilka TS, Choi HJ, Kuhn P, Weis WI, Kobilka BK, Stevens RC | title=High Resolution Crystal Structure of an Engineered Human β2-Adrenergic G protein-Coupled Receptor | journal=Science | volume=318 | issue=5854 | pages=1258–65 | year=2007 | pmid=17962520 | doi = 10.1126/science.1150577 | pmc=2583103| bibcode=2007Sci...318.1258C }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Rosenbaum DM, Cherezov V, Hanson MA, Rasmussen SG, Thian FS, Kobilka TS, Choi HJ, Yao XJ, Weis WI, Stevens RC, Kobilka BK | s2cid=1559802 | title=GPCR engineering yields high-resolution structural insights into β₂-adrenergic receptor function | journal=Science | volume=318 | issue=5854 | pages=1266–73 | year=2007 | pmid=17962519 | doi=10.1126/science.1150609| bibcode=2007Sci...318.1266R | doi-access=free }} This work has been highly cited by other scientists because GPCRs are important targets for pharmaceutical therapeutics, but notoriously difficult to work with in X-ray crystallography.ScienceWatch.com:{{cite web|url=http://sciencewatch.com/dr/fbp/2008/08augfbp/08augfbpKobilka/|title=Interview with Brian Kobilka|access-date=2008-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508201723/http://sciencewatch.com/dr/fbp/2008/08augfbp/08augfbpKobilka/|archive-date=2010-05-08|url-status=dead}} Before, rhodopsin was the only G-protein coupled receptor where the structure had been determined at high resolution. The β₂-adrenergic receptor structure was soon followed by the determination of the molecular structure of several other G-protein coupled receptors.{{Cite journal | last1 = Hanson | first1 = M. A. | last2 = Stevens | first2 = R. C. | doi = 10.1016/j.str.2008.12.003 | title = Discovery of New GPCR Biology: One Receptor Structure at a Time | journal = Structure | volume = 17 | issue = 1 | pages = 8–14 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19141277| pmc =2813843 }}

Kobilka is the 1994 recipient of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology.{{Cite web | url=http://www.aspet.org/awards/aspet/abel/ | title=John J. Abel Award | publisher=ASPET | access-date=2013-01-24}} His GPCR structure work was named "runner-up" for the 2007 "Breakthrough of the Year" award from Science.{{Cite web | url=http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/med-kobilka-010908.html | title=Kobilka's work recognized in magazine award | publisher=Stanford University | access-date=2013-01-24| date=2008-01-09 }} The work was, in part, supported by Kobilka's 2004 Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award{{Cite web | date=2004-11-10 | url=http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_javits_20041110.htm | title=Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award Recognizes Eight Exemplary Scientists | publisher=National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) | access-date=2013-01-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007044503/http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_javits_20041110.htm | archive-date=2008-10-07 | url-status=dead }} from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.{{Cite web | date=2007-12-05 | url=http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_GPCR_crystal_structure.htm | title=The Structure of an Important Drug Target Made Crystal Clear | publisher=National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) | access-date=2013-01-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001161512/http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_GPCR_crystal_structure.htm | archive-date=2008-10-01 | url-status=dead }} He received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Robert Lefkowitz for his work on G protein-coupled receptors.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444799904578048011360999952?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth|title=U.S. Scientists Win Chemistry Nobel|publisher=The Wall Street Journal Online |date=October 10, 2012|access-date=October 10, 2012|author=Hotz, Robert Lee}}{{cite news|title=Americans Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka win 2012 Nobel Prize in chemistry|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2-americans-win-nobel-prize-chemistry-article-1.1179081|access-date=11 October 2012|newspaper=Daily News|date=10 October 2012|agency=AP}} In 2017, Kobilka received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}

As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening "Nobel laureate research labs",{{Cite web|title=Shenzhen Has 7 Nobel Prize Winners' Labs, 3 More Planned|url=http://www.thatsmags.com/china/post/21997/shenzhen-has-7-nobel-prize-winners-labs-3-more-planned|access-date=2021-03-15|website=That's Online|language=en}} in 2017 he opened the Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in Southern China.{{Cite web|title=KOBILKA INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE DRUG DISCOVERY {{!}} CUHK-Shenzhen|url=https://lhs.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/62|access-date=2021-03-15|website=lhs.cuhk.edu.cn}}

Personal life

Kobilka is from Little Falls in central Minnesota. Both his grandfather Felix J. Kobilka (1893–1991) and his father Franklyn A. Kobilka (1921–2004) were bakers and natives of Little Falls, Minnesota.{{Cite web | date=2004-03-16 | url=http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2004/03/16/579978/ | title=Franklyn A. Kobilka, 83 | publisher=ECM Publishers, Inc | access-date=2013-01-16 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209103137/http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2004/03/16/579978/ | archive-date=2012-12-09 | url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |author1=Paul Walsh |author2=Alejandra Matos | date=2012-10-11 | url=http://www.startribune.com/local/173478201.html?refer=y | title=Little Falls bakery helps deliver a sweet reward: Nobel Prize | publisher=StarTribune | access-date=2013-01-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://sortedbyname.com/pages/k106122.html |title=Social Security Death Index |access-date=2012-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206040707/http://sortedbyname.com/pages/k106122.html |archive-date=2012-12-06 |url-status=dead }} Kobilka's grandmother, Isabelle Susan Kobilka (née Medved, 1891–1980), belonged to the Medved and Kiewel families of Prussian immigrants, who from 1888 owned the historical Kiewel brewery in Little Falls. His mother is Betty L. Kobilka (née Faust, b. 1930).

Kobilka met his wife Tong Sun Thian, a Malaysian-Chinese woman,{{Cite web | date=2012-10-11 | url=http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/264253?tid=2 | script-title=zh:大馬華人女婿獲諾獎‧化學獎得主科比爾卡會煮豉油雞 | publisher=星洲日報 | language=zh | access-date=2013-01-16 | archive-date=2012-12-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219061725/http://sinchew.com.my/node/264253?tid=2 | url-status=dead }} at the University of Minnesota Duluth. They have two children, Jason and Megan Kobilka.{{cite journal|last=Buchen|first=Lizzie|title=Cell signalling: It's all about the structure|journal=Nature|date=24 August 2011|volume=476|issue=7361|pages=387–390|doi=10.1038/476387a|pmid=21866135|bibcode=2011Natur.476..387B|doi-access=free}}

References

Publications

{{cite journal |author1=Bokoch, Michael P. |author2=Zou, Yaozhong |author3=Rasmussen, Søren G.F. |author4=Kobilka, Brian K. |title=Ligand-specific regulation of the extracellular surface of a G-protein-coupled receptor |journal=Nature |volume=463 |issue=1 |pages=108–112 |year=2010 |doi=10.1038/nature08650 |osti=1002248 |display-authors=etal |pmid=20054398 |pmc=2805469|bibcode=2010Natur.463..108B }}
{{cite journal |author1=Rasmussen, Søren G.F. |author2=DeVree, Brian T. |author3=Zou, Yaozhong |author4=Kobilka, Tong Sun |author5=Kobilka, Brian K. |title=Crystal Structure of the β2 Adrenergic Receptor—Gs Protein Complex |journal=Nature |volume=477 |issue=9 |pages=549–555 |year=2011 |doi=10.1038/nature10361 |osti=1026537 |pmid=21772288 |pmc=3184188|bibcode=2011Natur.477..549R |display-authors=etal}}
{{cite journal |author1=Haga, Kazuko |author2=Kruse, Andrew C. |author3=Asada, Hidetsugu |author4=Kobilka, Brian K. |title=Structure of the human M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor bound to an antagonist |journal=Nature |volume=482 |issue=2 |pages=547–551 |year=2012 |doi=10.1038/nature10753 |osti=1035713 |pmid=22278061 |pmc=3345277|bibcode=2012Natur.482..547H |display-authors=etal}}
{{cite journal |author1=Manglik, Aashish |author2=Kruse, Andrew C. |author3=Kobilka, Tong Sun |author4=Kobilka, Brian K. |title=Crystal structure of the µ-opioid receptor bound to a morphinan antagonist |journal=Nature |volume=485 |issue=7398 |pages=321–326 |year=2012 |doi=10.1038/nature10954 |osti=1043732 |display-authors=etal |pmid=22437502 |pmc=3523197|bibcode=2012Natur.485..321M }}

External links

[http://med.stanford.edu/kobilkalab/ Kobilka laboratory home page]
[http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Brian_Kobilka/ Brian Kobilka academic profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014014223/http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Brian_Kobilka/ |date=2012-10-14 }}
[http://www.confometrx.com/ ConfometRx home page]
{{Nobelprize}}

{{s-ttl|title=Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate|with=Robert Lefkowitz|years=2012}}

{{s-aft|after=Michael Levitt|after2=Martin Karplus|after3=Arieh Warshel}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:American Nobel laureates

Category:American physiologists

Category:American biophysicists

Category:American Roman Catholics

Category:American crystallographers

Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences

Category:Nobel laureates in Chemistry

Category:People from Little Falls, Minnesota