David Julius

{{Short description|American physiologist and Nobel laureate 2021}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = David Julius

| image = File:Dr David Julius by christopher michel in 2022 04 (cropped2).jpg

| caption = Julius in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|4}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| education = Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS)
University of California, Berkeley (MS, PhD)
Columbia University (post-doctoral training)

| spouse = Holly Ingraham

| awards = {{plainlist|

Nobel Prize for Medicine (2021)
Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2020)

}}

| fields = Physiology
Biochemistry
Neuroscience

| workplaces = University of California, San Francisco

| doctoral_advisor = Jeremy Thorner
Randy Schekman

| thesis_title = Protein processing and secretion in yeast: biosynthesis of α-factor mating pheromone

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/303332941/

| thesis_year = 1984

| academic_advisors = Richard Axel{{cite web |url=http://physio.ucsf.edu/julius/julius.html |title=Julius Lab at UCSF Mission Bay | David Julius Lab |accessdate=November 30, 2013 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523021727/http://physio.ucsf.edu/julius/julius.html |url-status=live}}
Alexander Rich

}}

David Jay Julius (born November 4, 1955) is an American physiologist and Nobel Prize laureate known for his work on molecular mechanisms of pain sensation and heat, including the characterization of the TRPV1 and TRPM8 receptors that detect capsaicin, menthol, and temperature. He is a professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

Julius won the 2010 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine and the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.{{cite web|title=Julius Named to Receive the Shaw Prize|url=http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2010/05/5991/julius-named-receive-shaw-prize|website=ucsf.edu|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429011753/https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2010/05/5991/julius-named-receive-shaw-prize|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=David Julius, PhD 49th Faculty Research Lecture Award|url=http://senate.ucsf.edu/2005-2006/frl-2005-2006.html|website=senate.ucsf.edu|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801154215/https://senate.ucsf.edu/2005-2006/frl-2005-2006.html|url-status=live}} In 2020 he was awarded The Kavli Prize, and in 2021 the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with Ardem Patapoutian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/summary/|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021|website=NobelPrize.org|accessdate=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004114036/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/press-release/?related=1&_pjax=%23pjax-well|url-status=live}}

Early life and education

Julius was born to an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Russia) in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York City,{{Cite web|last=Hanau|first=Shira|url=https://www.jta.org/2021/10/04/united-states/scientist-david-julius-whose-grandparents-fled-antisemitism-in-czarist-russia-wins-nobel-prize-in-medicine|title=Scientist David Julius, whose grandparents fled antisemitism in Czarist Russia, wins Nobel Prize in medicine|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=October 4, 2021|accessdate=October 4, 2021}} where he attended Abraham Lincoln High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He attained his doctorate from University of California, Berkeley in 1984, under joint supervision of Jeremy Thorner and Randy Schekman, where he identified Kex2 as the founding member of furin-like proprotein convertases.{{cite thesis |title=Protein Processing and Secretion in Yeast: Biosynthesis of Alpha-Factor Mating Pheromone |date=1984 |institution= University of California, Berkeley |degree=Ph.D. |last=Julius |first=David Jay |id={{ProQuest|303332941}} |oclc=21756165}} In 1989, he completed his post-doctoral training with Richard Axel at Columbia University where he cloned and characterized the serotonin 1c receptor.{{Cite journal|last1=Julius|first1=D.|last2=MacDermott|first2=A. B.|last3=Axel|first3=R.|last4=Jessell|first4=T. M.|date=July 29, 1988|title=Molecular characterization of a functional cDNA encoding the serotonin 1c receptor|journal=Science|volume=241|issue=4865|pages=558–564|issn=0036-8075|pmid=3399891|doi=10.1126/science.3399891|bibcode=1988Sci...241..558J}}

While at Berkeley and Columbia, Julius became interested in how psilocybin mushrooms and lysergic acid diethylamide work, which led him to look more broadly into how things from nature interact with human receptors.{{Cite news|last1=Mueller|first1=Benjamin|last2=Santora|first2=Marc|last3=Engelbrecht|first3=Cora|date=October 4, 2021|title=Nobel Prize Awarded for Research About Temperature and Touch|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/health/nobel-prize-medicine-physiology-temperature-touch.html?smid=tw-share|access-date=October 5, 2021}}

Research career

File:22 Hegasy EN Nobel Prize 2021 TRPV1 Piezo2.png

He started his career as faculty at the University of California, San Francisco in 1989.{{Cite web|title=David Julius '77 shares the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine|url=https://news.mit.edu/2021/david-julius-77-shares-nobel-prize-physiology-medicine-1004|access-date=2021-10-07|website=MIT News {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/press-release/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US}} In 1997, Julius's lab cloned and characterized TRPV1 which is the receptor that detects capsaicin, the chemical in chili peppers that makes them "hot".{{Cite journal|last1=Caterina|first1=M. J.|last2=Schumacher|first2=M. A.|last3=Tominaga|first3=M.|last4=Rosen|first4=T. A.|last5=Levine|first5=J. D.|last6=Julius|first6=D.|date=October 23, 1997|title=The capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathway|journal=Nature|volume=389|issue=6653|pages=816–824|doi=10.1038/39807|issn=0028-0836|pmid=9349813|bibcode=1997Natur.389..816C|s2cid=7970319|doi-access=free}} They found that TRPV1 also detects noxious heat (thermoception).{{Cite journal|last1=Tominaga|first1=M.|last2=Caterina|first2=M. J.|last3=Malmberg|first3=A. B.|last4=Rosen|first4=T. A.|last5=Gilbert|first5=H.|last6=Skinner|first6=K.|last7=Raumann|first7=B. E.|last8=Basbaum|first8=A. I.|last9=Julius|first9=D.|date=September 1998|title=The cloned capsaicin receptor integrates multiple pain-producing stimuli|journal=Neuron|volume=21|issue=3|pages=531–543|issn=0896-6273|pmid=9768840|doi=10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80564-4|s2cid=2054891|doi-access=free}} TRPV1 is part of a large family of structurally related TRP (transient receptor potential) cation channels. Animals that lack TRPV1 (using genetic knockouts of the protein) lose sensitivity to noxious heat and capsaicin.{{Cite journal|last1=Caterina|first1=M. J.|last2=Leffler|first2=A.|last3=Malmberg|first3=A. B.|last4=Martin|first4=W. J.|last5=Trafton|first5=J.|last6=Petersen-Zeitz|first6=K. R.|last7=Koltzenburg|first7=M.|last8=Basbaum|first8=A. I.|last9=Julius|first9=D.|date=April 14, 2000|title=Impaired nociception and pain sensation in mice lacking the capsaicin receptor|journal=Science|volume=288|issue=5464|pages=306–313|issn=0036-8075|pmid=10764638|doi=10.1126/science.288.5464.306|bibcode=2000Sci...288..306C}}

Julius's lab has also cloned and characterized TRPM8 (CMR1) and TRPA1, both members of the TRP superfamily. They demonstrated that TRPM8 detects menthol and cooler temperatures{{Cite journal|last1=McKemy|first1=David D.|last2=Neuhausser|first2=Werner M.|last3=Julius|first3=David|date=March 7, 2002|title=Identification of a cold receptor reveals a general role for TRP channels in thermosensation|journal=Nature|volume=416|issue=6876|pages=52–58|doi=10.1038/nature719|issn=0028-0836|pmid=11882888|bibcode=2002Natur.416...52M|s2cid=4340358|doi-access=}}{{Cite journal|last1=Bautista|first1=Diana M.|last2=Siemens|first2=Jan|last3=Glazer|first3=Joshua M.|last4=Tsuruda|first4=Pamela R.|last5=Basbaum|first5=Allan I.|last6=Stucky|first6=Cheryl L.|last7=Jordt|first7=Sven-Eric|last8=Julius|first8=David|date=July 12, 2007|title=The menthol receptor TRPM8 is the principal detector of environmental cold|journal=Nature|volume=448|issue=7150|pages=204–208|doi=10.1038/nature05910|issn=1476-4687|pmid=17538622|bibcode=2007Natur.448..204B|s2cid=4427901}} and TRPA1 detects mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate).{{Cite journal|last1=Jordt|first1=Sven-Eric|last2=Bautista|first2=Diana M.|last3=Chuang|first3=Huai-Hu|last4=McKemy|first4=David D.|last5=Zygmunt|first5=Peter M.|last6=Högestätt|first6=Edward D.|last7=Meng|first7=Ian D.|last8=Julius|first8=David|date=January 15, 2004|title=Mustard oils and cannabinoids excite sensory nerve fibres through the TRP channel ANKTM1|journal=Nature|volume=427|issue=6971|pages=260–265|doi=10.1038/nature02282|issn=1476-4687|pmid=14712238|bibcode=2004Natur.427..260J|s2cid=4354737}} These observations suggested that TRP channels detect a range of temperatures and chemicals. David Julius's lab has also made contributions to the study of nociception by discovering toxins that modulate these channels,{{Cite journal|last1=Bohlen|first1=Christopher J.|last2=Chesler|first2=Alexander T.|last3=Sharif-Naeini|first3=Reza|last4=Medzihradszky|first4=Katalin F.|last5=Zhou|first5=Sharleen|last6=King|first6=David|last7=Sánchez|first7=Elda E.|last8=Burlingame|first8=Alma L.|last9=Basbaum|first9=Allan I.|date=November 16, 2011|title=A heteromeric Texas coral snake toxin targets acid-sensing ion channels to produce pain|journal=Nature|volume=479|issue=7373|pages=410–414|doi=10.1038/nature10607|issn=1476-4687|pmc=3226747|pmid=22094702|bibcode=2011Natur.479..410B}} describing unique adaptations of the channels in diverse species{{Cite journal|last1=Gracheva|first1=Elena O.|last2=Ingolia|first2=Nicholas T.|last3=Kelly|first3=Yvonne M.|last4=Cordero-Morales|first4=Julio F.|last5=Hollopeter|first5=Gunther|last6=Chesler|first6=Alexander T.|last7=Sánchez|first7=Elda E.|last8=Perez|first8=John C.|last9=Weissman|first9=Jonathan S.|date=April 15, 2010|title=Molecular basis of infrared detection by snakes|journal=Nature|volume=464|issue=7291|pages=1006–1011|doi=10.1038/nature08943|issn=1476-4687|pmc=2855400|pmid=20228791|bibcode=2010Natur.464.1006G}} and solving the cryo-EM structures of numerous channels.{{Cite journal|last1=Liao|first1=Maofu|last2=Cao|first2=Erhu|last3=Julius|first3=David|last4=Cheng|first4=Yifan|date=December 5, 2013|title=Structure of the TRPV1 ion channel determined by electron cryo-microscopy|journal=Nature|volume=504|issue=7478|pages=107–112|doi=10.1038/nature12822|issn=1476-4687|pmc=4078027|pmid=24305160|bibcode=2013Natur.504..107L}}{{Cite journal|last1=Cao|first1=Erhu|last2=Liao|first2=Maofu|last3=Cheng|first3=Yifan|last4=Julius|first4=David|date=December 5, 2013|title=TRPV1 structures in distinct conformations reveal activation mechanisms|journal=Nature|volume=504|issue=7478|pages=113–118|doi=10.1038/nature12823|issn=1476-4687|pmc=4023639|pmid=24305161|bibcode=2013Natur.504..113C}}

Julius’ laboratory also made pioneering contributions to the discovery of purinergic receptors, both the P2Y class of G protein-coupled receptors, and the P2X class of ligand-gated ion channels.{{Cite journal |last=Lustig |first=K D |last2=Shiau |first2=A K |last3=Brake |first3=A J |last4=Julius |first4=D |date=June 1, 1993 |title=Expression cloning of an ATP receptor from mouse neuroblastoma cells. |url=https://pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.90.11.5113 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=90 |issue=11 |pages=5113–5117 |doi=10.1073/pnas.90.11.5113 |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=46665 |pmid=7685114}}{{Cite journal |last=Brake |first=Anthony J. |last2=Wagenbach |first2=Michael J. |last3=Julius |first3=David |date=October 6, 1994 |title=New structural motif for ligand-gated ion channels defined by an ionotropic ATP receptor |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/371519a0 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=371 |issue=6497 |pages=519–523 |doi=10.1038/371519a0 |issn=0028-0836|url-access=subscription }} This included the cloning of P2Y12, the receptor for clopidogrel and related antiplatelet medications that are widely used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.{{Cite journal |last=Hollopeter |first=Gunther |last2=Jantzen |first2=Hans-Michael |last3=Vincent |first3=Diana |last4=Li |first4=Georgia |last5=England |first5=Laura |last6=Ramakrishnan |first6=Vanitha |last7=Yang |first7=Ruey-Bing |last8=Nurden |first8=Paquita |last9=Nurden |first9=Alan |last10=Julius |first10=David |last11=Conley |first11=Pamela B. |date=January 11, 2001 |title=Identification of the platelet ADP receptor targeted by antithrombotic drugs |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/35051599 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=409 |issue=6817 |pages=202–207 |doi=10.1038/35051599 |issn=0028-0836|url-access=subscription }} The group also cloned the 5HT3 receptor, a serotonin-activated ion channel and the target for drugs such as ondansentron for the treatment of nausea and vomiting.{{Cite journal |last=Maricq |first=Andres V. |last2=Peterson |first2=Andrew S. |last3=Brake |first3=Anthony J. |last4=Myers |first4=Richard M. |last5=Julius |first5=David |date=1991-10-18 |title=Primary Structure And Functional Expression of the 5HT 3 Receptor, A Serotonin-gated Ion Channel |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1718042 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=254 |issue=5030 |pages=432–437 |doi=10.1126/science.1718042 |issn=0036-8075|url-access=subscription }}

File:Dr_David_Julius_by_christopher_michel_in_2022_08.jpg

From 2007–2020 Julius served as the editor of the peer-reviewed journal the Annual Review of Physiology.{{cite journal|doi=10.1146/annurev.ph.69.013107.100001|title=David Julius for the ARP Editorial Committee|year=2007|last1=Julius|first1=David|journal=Annual Review of Physiology|volume=69}}{{cite web|url=https://www.annualreviews.org/db/directory?2020,physiol | title=Editor of the Annual Review of Physiology - Volume 82, 2020 |website=Annual Reviews| access-date=26 July 2021 }}

Awards

In 2000, Julius was awarded the inaugural Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize for his work on cloning the capsaicin receptor. In 2006, he was honored be The International Prize for Translational Neuroscience of the Max Planck Society.{{Cite web |title=International Prize for Translational Neuroscience |url=https://www.mpg.de/prizes/international-prize-for-translational-neuroscience |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.mpg.de |language=en}} In 2007, Julius received the W. Alden Spencer Award by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Department of Neuroscience, and The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University, and the Julius Axelrod Prize of the Society for Neuroscience.{{Cite web |title=Julius Axelrod Prize |url=https://www.sfn.org/careers/awards/outstanding-career-and-research-achievements-awards/julius-axelrod-prize |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.sfn.org |language=en}} In 2008, he held the [https://medicine.yale.edu/pharm/events/endowed-lectureships/#jack-r-cooper-lecture Jack Cooper Lecture] at Yale School of Medicine. In 2010, he won the Shaw Prize for his work identifying the ion channels involved in various aspects of nociception. He received the Passano Award in the same year. In 2014, he was honored by Johnson & Johnson with the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research for discovering the molecular basis for pain and thermosensation. In 2017, he won the Gairdner Foundation International Award{{Cite news|url=https://gairdner.org/award_winners/david-julius/|title=David Julius – Gairdner Foundation|work=Gairdner Foundation|access-date=November 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022185824/https://gairdner.org/award_winners/david-julius/|url-status=live}} and the HFSP Nakasone Award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hfsp.org/awardees/hfsp-nakasone-award/2017-award|title=The 2017 HFSP Nakasone Award goes to David Julius {{!}} Human Frontier Science Program|website=www.hfsp.org|language=en|access-date=November 9, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070822/http://www.hfsp.org/awardees/hfsp-nakasone-award/2017-award|url-status=dead}} He has also been awarded the 2010 Prince of Asturias Prize for Technical and Scientific Research, the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences,{{Cite web|url=https://breakthroughprize.org/News/54|title=Breakthrough Prize – Winners Of The 2020 Breakthrough Prize In Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics And Mathematics Announced|website=breakthroughprize.org|accessdate=October 4, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214131954/https://breakthroughprize.org/News/54|url-status=live}} and the 2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience (together with Ardem Patapoutian){{cite web |url=http://kavliprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/prizes/2020-kavli-prize-neuroscience |title=2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615081147/http://kavliprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/prizes/2020-kavli-prize-neuroscience |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |website=www.kavliprize.org |access-date=2020-05-27 }} and the 2020 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontiersofknowledgeawards-fbbva.es/|title=homepage|website=Premios Fronteras|accessdate=October 4, 2021|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921232238/https://www.frontiersofknowledgeawards-fbbva.es/|url-status=live}}

In 2021, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.{{Cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/summary/|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004114036/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/press-release/?related=1&_pjax=%23pjax-well|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Julius was awarded the UCSF Medal by the University of California, San Francisco.{{Cite web |title=UCSF Medal {{!}} Office of the Chancellor |url=https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor-awards/ucsf-medal |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=chancellor.ucsf.edu}} In 2023, he received the John J. Bonica Award, by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA).{{Cite web |title=John J. Bonica Award |url=https://www.asra.com/about-asra/recognition-awards/john-j.-bonica-award |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=ASRA Pain Medicine |language=en}} In 2025, Julius was awarded a Honorary Membership in the Society of Toxicology.{{Cite web |last=Toxicology |first=Society of |title=SOT Honorary Members |url=https://www.toxicology.org/about/lnm/honorary-members.asp |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Society of Toxicology (SOT) |language=en}}

References

External links

[https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/09/421486/biography-david-julius Website at UCSF]
[https://profiles.ucsf.edu/david.julius UCSF Profiles - David Julius]

{{Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni

Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:American physiologists

Category:Annual Reviews (publisher) editors

Category:Jewish American scientists

Category:Kavli Prize laureates in Neuroscience

Category:Living people

Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences

Category:Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine