Roderick MacKinnon

{{Short description|American biophysicist, neuroscientist, and businessman (born 1956)}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Roderick MacKinnon

| image = Roderick MacKinnon, M.D. (cropped).jpg

| caption = MacKinnon in 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|02|19}}

| birth_place = Burlington, Massachusetts, U.S.

| nationality = American

| spouse = Jue Chen (2017–)

| field = Chemistry

| workplaces = {{plainlist|

}}

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

Brandeis University (BA)
Tufts University (MD)

}}

| doctoral_advisor =

| doctoral_students =

| known_for = Potassium Channel Structure

| prizes = {{plainlist|

Newcomb Cleveland Prize {{small|(1997)}}
Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research {{small|(1999)}}
Perl-UNC Prize {{small|(2001)}}
Nobel Prize in Chemistry {{small|(2003)}}
Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize {{small|(2003)}}
Bijvoet Medal {{small|(2004)}}

}}

Roderick MacKinnon (born February 19, 1956{{Cite web|date=2013-02-19|title=Roderick MacKinnon – pioneer in ion channels in cell membranes|url=https://www.worldofchemicals.com/173/chemistry-articles/roderick-mackinnon-pioneer-in-ion-channels-in-cell-membranes.html|access-date=2020-08-06|website=worldofchemicals.com|language=en-US}}) is an American biophysicist, neuroscientist, and businessman. He is a professor of molecular neurobiology and biophysics at Rockefeller University who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Peter Agre in 2003 for his work on the structure and operation of ion channels.{{cite news|url=http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/2003/bnlip100803.htm|title=2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded to Researcher Roderick MacKinnon|date=October 8, 2003|publisher=Brookhaven National Labs|access-date=11 February 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/3783-nobel-prize-honors-rockefeller-university-scientist-roderick-mackinnon-for-revealing-process-of-electrical-signaling-in-humans-and-other-living-organisms/|title=Nobel Prize honors Rockefeller University scientist Roderick MacKinnon for revealing process of electrical signaling in humans and other living organisms|date=October 8, 2003|publisher=The Rockefeller University|access-date=20 April 2018}}{{cite journal |author=Birmingham K |title=Rod MacKinnon |journal=Nat. Med. |volume=7 |issue=6 |pages=648 |date=June 2001 |pmid=11385491 |doi=10.1038/89005 |s2cid=21231263 |doi-access=free }}

Biography

=Early life and education=

MacKinnon was born in Burlington, Massachusetts and initially attended the University of Massachusetts Boston. MacKinnon then transferred to Brandeis University after one year, and there he received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 1978, studying calcium transport through the cell membrane for his honors thesis in Christopher Miller's laboratory. It was also at Brandeis where MacKinnon met his future wife and working-colleague Alice Lee.{{cite book|last=MacKinnon|first=Roderick|title=The Nobel Prizes 2003|editor=Tore Frängsmyr|publisher=Nobel Foundation|location=Stockholm, Sweden|date=October 2003|access-date=11 February 2010|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2003/mackinnon/auto-biography/}}

After receiving his bachelor's degree from Brandeis University, MacKinnon entered medical school at Tufts University. He got his M.D. in 1982 and received training in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He did not feel satisfied enough with the medical profession, so in 1986 he returned to Christopher Miller's laboratory at Brandeis for postdoctoral studies.

=Career=

In 1989 he was appointed assistant professor at Harvard University{{Cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2003|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2003/mackinnon/biographical/|access-date=2020-08-04|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Laureate – Roderick MacKinnon|url=https://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/mackinnon|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Lindau Nobel Mediatheque|language=en}} where he studied the interaction of the potassium channel with a specific toxin derived from scorpion venom, acquainting himself with methods of protein purification and X-ray crystallography. In 1996 he moved to Rockefeller University as a professor and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics where he started to work on the structure of the potassium channel. These channels are of particular importance to the nervous system and the heart and enable potassium ions to cross the cell membrane.

Scientific contributions

Potassium channels demonstrate a seemingly counterintuitive activity: they permit the passage of potassium ions, whereas they do not allow the passage of the much smaller sodium ions. Before MacKinnon's work, the detailed molecular architecture of potassium channels and the exact means by which they conduct ions remained speculative.{{verification needed|date=May 2025}}

In 1998, despite barriers to the structural study of integral membrane proteins that had thwarted most attempts for decades, MacKinnon and colleagues determined the three-dimensional molecular structure of a potassium channel from an actinobacterium, Streptomyces lividans, utilizing X-ray crystallography. With this structure and other biochemical experiments, MacKinnon and colleagues were able to explain the exact mechanism by which potassium channel selectivity occurs.{{cite journal |vauthors=MacKinnon R, Cohen SL, Kuo A, Lee A, Chait BT |title=Structural conservation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic potassium channels |journal=Science |volume=280 |issue=5360 |pages=106–9 |date=April 1998 |pmid=9525854 |doi=10.1126/science.280.5360.106 |bibcode = 1998Sci...280..106M }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Doyle DA, Morais Cabral J, Pfuetzner RA, etal |title=The structure of the potassium channel: molecular basis of K+ conduction and selectivity |journal=Science |volume=280 |issue=5360 |pages=69–77 |date=April 1998 |pmid=9525859 |doi=10.1126/science.280.5360.69 |bibcode=1998Sci...280...69D}}

His prize-winning research was conducted primarily at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) of Cornell University, and at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of Brookhaven National Laboratory.{{cite web|url=http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/history/nobel/nobel_03.asp|title=The Chemistry of the Cell|publisher=Brookhaven National Lab|access-date=13 March 2010}}

MacKinnon was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2005.{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Roderick+MacKinnon&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-05-28|website=search.amphilsoc.org}} In 2007 he became a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.{{cite web|url=https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/foreign-members/7414 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213193939/https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/foreign-members/7414 |title=R. MacKinnon |publisher=Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences |archive-date=13 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016}}

Awards and recognition

1997: Newcomb Cleveland Prize
1998: W. Alden Spencer Award
1999: Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award{{cite web |title=Function and structure of ion channels |url=https://laskerfoundation.org/winners/function-and-structure-of-ion-channels/ |website=Lasker Foundation |publisher=Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation |access-date=5 November 2021}}
2000: Rosenstiel Award
2001: Gairdner Foundation International Award
2003: Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
2003: Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Business activities

MacKinnon is co-inventor with his friend and scientific collaborator, neurobiologist Bruce Bean of Harvard Medical School, of a dietary supplement for treating and preventing muscle cramps; they tested it in clinical trials and are co-founders a company to commercialize their invention, Flex Pharma.{{cite news|title=A Scientific Solution to (Finally) Stop Muscle Cramps|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/2007171/scientific-solution-muscle-cramps|access-date=20 July 2016|publisher=Outside|date=1 September 2015}} Christoph Westphal and Jennifer Cermak were co-founders as well.{{cite news|last1=Fidler|first1=Ben|title=To Fight Cramps, Christoph Westphal Taps Boston All-Stars for $40M|url=http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/09/09/to-fight-cramps-christoph-westphal-taps-boston-all-stars-for-40m/|work=Xconomy|date=9 September 2014}} The company undertook drug development of a formulation of supplement as a drug candidate for neuromuscular disorders like ALS, and raised a $40 million Series A round.{{cite news|last1=Carroll|first1=John|title=Christoph Westphal launches another biotech, with the help of some wealthy friends|url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/venture-capital/christoph-westphal-launches-another-biotech-help-of-some-wealthy-friends|work=FierceBiotech|date=September 8, 2014|language=en}} The company had an $86 million initial public offering in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Garde|first1=Damian|title=Flex Pharma pulls off an $86M IPO for its cramp-treating spice cocktail|url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/flex-pharma-pulls-off-an-86m-ipo-for-its-cramp-treating-spice-cocktail|access-date=20 July 2016|publisher=Fierce Biotech|date=28 January 2015}} In 2016, the company launched "HotShot" as a dietary supplement for endurance athletes.{{cite news|title=Fuel Buzz: New HotShot Drink Aimed at Preventing Cramps|url=http://running.competitor.com/2016/06/news/fuel-buzz-new-hotshot-drink-aimed-preventing-cramps_151129|access-date=20 July 2016|publisher=Competitor|date=2 June 2016}} In June 2018 the company halted clinical development of the drug candidate due to tolerability issues, cut its workforce, and said it was considering its strategy.{{cite news |last1=Al Idrus |first1=Amirah |title=Flex Pharma dumps midstage trials, cuts workforce, mulls a sale to stay alive |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/flex-pharma-dumps-midstage-trials-cuts-workforce-mulls-a-sale-to-stay-alive |work=FierceBiotech |date=June 13, 2018 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=10Q Quarterly Report |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1615219/000161521918000052/flks2018063010-q.htm |website=www.sec.gov |publisher=Flex via SEC Edgar |date=1 August 2018}} In July 2018 MacKinnon resigned from the board of directors.{{cite web |title=Form 8K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1615219/000161521918000042/a8-kforrm.htm |publisher=Flex via SEC Edgar |date=25 July 2018}}

References

External links

[http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/121 Interview with Roderick MacKinnon by Harry Kroto] Freeview video provided by the Vega Science Trust.
[http://lab.rockefeller.edu/mackinnon/ Website of his lab at The Rockefeller University]
[http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/specialcollections/events/2008legacyaward/video-mackinnon.html Ion Channel Chemistry: The Electrical System of Life] Transcribed video of a May 2008 talk by MacKinnon, sponsored by the Oregon State University Libraries.
[http://nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=550 Nobel Lecture by Roderick MacKinnon, 2003]
[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Introduction_to_Neuroscience/jXnkai44PxYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Roderick+MacKinnon&pg=PA68&printsec=frontcover Introduction to Neuroscience by Donald C.Cooper]
{{Nobelprize}}