Karolin Luger
{{short description|Austrian-American biochemist and biophysicist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Karolin Luger
| image = Karolin-Luger41010-web.jpg
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| birth_place =
| citizenship = Austria, USA
| nationality =
| fields = biochemistry, biophysics
| workplaces = Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Colorado State University, University of Colorado, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| alma_mater = University of Basel
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| notable_students =
| known_for = Discovering the three-dimensional structure of chromatin
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = Vorarlberg Science Prize,{{Break}}Searle Scholar Award,{{Break}} [https://www.thewlaprize.org/ World Laureates Association Prize]
| website = {{URL|www.lugerlab.org}}
}}
Karolin Luger is an Austrian-American biochemist and biophysicist known for her work with nucleosomes and discovery of the three-dimensional structure of chromatin. She is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Biochemistry Department.
Life
Luger was born the youngest child after several brothers. Though not interested in mathematics, electronics, or physics, as her brothers were, she became fascinated with biology. She has stated that she chose a career in science during middle school, when she realized that "not everything was 'known' yet". As a young woman in Austria, Luger attended a gymnasium where she specialized in foreign languages.{{cite web |url = http://www.biophysics.org/Publications/Newsletter/PastIssues/December2012/BiophysicistinProfile/tabid/4105/Default.aspx |journal = Biophysical Society Newsletter |date = December 2012 |title = Biophysicist in Profile: Karolin Luger |accessdate = 10 January 2013}}
Education
Luger earned a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and a Master of Science in biochemistry from the University of Innsbruck. She completed her Ph.D in biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Basel.{{cite web |url = http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/3646 |title = Colorado State University Biomedical Scientist Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator |publisher = Colorado State University |date = 21 March 2005 |accessdate = 25 December 2012}}
Career
In 1997, as a postdoc with Timothy J Richmond, Luger was first author on the paper that described the first structure determined for the nucleosome. The structure was discovered by X-ray crystallography.{{cite web |url = http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/luger_bio.html |title = Karolin Luger, Ph.D. |publisher = Howard Hughes Medical Institute |work = HHMI Investigators |accessdate = 26 December 2012}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Luger K, Mader AW, Richmond RK, Sargent DF, Richmond TJ |title=Crystal structure of the nucleosome core particle at 2.8 A resolution |year=1997 |journal=Nature |volume=389 |pages=251–260 |doi=10.1038/38444 |pmid=9305837|bibcode=1997Natur.389..251L }} She also proposed that histone-DNA bonds are weaker at points where less of the histone contacts the DNA, which was confirmed by Michelle Wang in a 2009 paper.{{cite journal |url = http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/may2009/features/neatniks3.html |date = May 2009 |journal = HHMI Bulletin |publisher = Howard Hughes Medical Institute |title = Cellular Neatniks |volume = 22 |issue = 2 |accessdate = 26 December 2012 |first = Amanda Leigh |last = Mascarelli |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130108120810/http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/may2009/features/neatniks3.html |archive-date = 8 January 2013 |url-status = dead }} After several years at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Luger was hired by Colorado State University in 1999.{{cite web |url = http://lugerlab.org/History.html |title = About Us - History |publisher = Luger Chromatin Structure & Dynamics Research Laboratory |date = 20 February 2011 |accessdate = 25 December 2012 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130415084706/http://lugerlab.org/History.html |archive-date = 15 April 2013 |url-status = dead }} Her work there includes extensive further research on the nucleosome's three-dimensional structure. The nucleosome, a building block of the chromatin genetic material that makes up chromosomes, consists of DNA wrapped around a disk of proteins. In 2005, Luger and Kenneth Kaye used X-ray crystallography to determine the mechanism that the virus causing Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer that affects subdermal connective tissue, uses to spread. The virus attaches to chromatin and inserts its genetic material, which is then copied along with the cell's DNA. Luger and Kaye thus showed that a virus can attach to chromatin as a "docking platform".{{cite journal |url = http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/dec2005/features/structures.html |title = Viewing Vital Structures |publisher = Howard Hughes Medical Institute |journal = HHMI Bulletin |date = December 2005 |volume = 18 |issue = 3 |accessdate = 26 December 2012 |last = Pines |first = Maya |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121226145756/http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/dec2005/features/structures.html |archive-date = 26 December 2012 |url-status = dead }}
Since 2010, Luger has done significant studies of histones, researching the connection between their chaperone proteins and acetylation, as well as variant structures.{{cite web |url = http://lugerlab.org/Introduction.html |title = Research - Introduction |publisher = Luger Chromatin Structure & Dynamics Research Laboratory |date = 20 February 2011 |accessdate = 25 December 2012 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130415065904/http://lugerlab.org/Introduction.html |archive-date = 15 April 2013 |url-status = dead }} Histones are important in the process of gene expression, and their positioning as determined by chaperone proteins is essential to that role. The chaperones also can change the conformation of the nucleosome as a whole. Modifications to histones, including acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation, are important because of their role in activating and deactivating genes. In 2008, Luger published a study that showed that physical changes to the nucleosome do not occur when DNA is methylated.{{cite news |url = http://www.hhmi.org/news/luger20080914.html |publisher = Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Research News |date = 14 September 2008 |title = Seeing the Shape of Gene Silencing |accessdate = 10 January 2013}} Luger's research as of 2012 also comprises several other areas of study with chromatin, including the processes of DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and repair in chromatin. She and her research group have also developed various assays for examining chromatin structure, to augment traditional X-ray crystallography. Another related research interest for Luger's research group is the genetic cause of Rett syndrome, the gene MECP2. The gene codes for a protein that binds to methyl groups on chromatin, altering its conformation.
= Honors =
Luger has received many honors throughout her career. She was the recipient of the Searle Scholar Award in 1999, her first year as a professor at Colorado State University. In 2003, she was named a Monfort Professor and awarded $75,000 a year for two years in research funds by the university.{{cite web |url = http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/461 |title = Colorado State University Announces World-Leading Researchers as Two Newest Monfort Professors |publisher = Colorado State University |date = 29 April 2004 |accessdate = 24 December 2012 |archive-date = 15 September 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140915221207/http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/461 |url-status = dead }} Two years later, Luger was appointed as an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2007 she received the State Science Prize of Vorarlberg Austria. From 2008 to 2012, Luger sat on the National Institute of General Medical Sciences' advisory board.
She has also received several prestigious grants throughout her career, including a 5-year award from the National Institute of Health and a $1.2 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation.
In 2007, Luger was named CSU University Distinguished Professor{{Cite web |title=Dr. Karolin Luger named University Distinguished Professor |url=https://www.bmb.colostate.edu/cns-announcement/dr-karolin-luger-named-university-distinguished-professor/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology {{!}} CSU |language=en-US}}
In 2012, Luger was chosen to be the National Lecturer for the Biophysical Society's 2013 meeting.{{cite news |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2843220161.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160325053014/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2843220161.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 25 March 2016 |publisher = Colorado State University {{subscription required|HighBeam Research}} |title = Colorado State University's Karolin Luger Selected As Biophysical Society National Lecturer |date = 14 December 2012 |accessdate = 10 January 2013 |last = Wilmsen |first = Emily Narvaes}}
In 2014, Luger was named 2014 Fellow Of The Biophysical Society{{Cite web |title=Karolin Luger named 2014 Fellow of the Biophysical Society |url=https://www.bmb.colostate.edu/cns-announcement/karolin-luger-named-2014-fellow-of-the-biophysical-society/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology {{!}} CSU |language=en-US}}
In 2017, Luger has been selected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.{{Cite news|url=https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2017/04/12/biochemist-philosopher-join-american-academy-arts-and-sciences|title=Biochemist, philosopher join American Academy of Arts and Sciences|date=2017-04-12|work=Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine|access-date=2018-05-02|language=en}}
In 2018, Luger was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hhmi.org/news/national-academy-sciences-elects-new-members|title=The National Academy of Sciences Elects New Members|work=HHMI.org|access-date=2018-05-02|language=en}}
In 2023, Luger was named a CU distinguished Professor {{Cite web |date=2023-03-01 |title=CU Boulder faculty member added to list of distinguished professors |url=https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/03/01/cu-boulder-faculty-member-added-list-distinguished-professors |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=CU Boulder Today |language=en}}
In 2023, Luger, Rhodes and Richmond were awarded the World Laureates Association Prize{{Cite web |title=Karolin LUGER - 2023 - WLA Prize |url=https://www.thewlaprize.org/Laureates/2023/Karolin_Luger/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.thewlaprize.org}} for elucidating the structure of the nucleosome at the atomic level
References
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Category:Austrian biophysicists
Category:American women biochemists
Category:American biophysicists
Category:Colorado State University faculty
Category:Austrian women scientists
Category:Howard Hughes Medical Investigators
Category:21st-century American women scientists
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)