Krzysztof Palczewski
Encyclopedia
Krzysztof Palczewski, Ph.D is a Polish biochemist
.
His MS and PhD are from the University of Wroclaw and Technical University of Wroclaw respectively (Poland), working with Dr. M. Kochman. His early posts were at the University of Florida
and the Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Palczewski completed much of his pivotal research at the University of Washington and moved to become the Chair and John H. Hord professor of Pharmacology
at Case Western Reserve University
in 2005.
He is the founder of two drug discovery companies, Polgenix and Retinagenix.
has given new insight into the function of G protein
receptors. This work has led to revolutionary advances in understanding hereditary blindness
and can slow retinal degeneration in adults.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
.
His MS and PhD are from the University of Wroclaw and Technical University of Wroclaw respectively (Poland), working with Dr. M. Kochman. His early posts were at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and the Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Palczewski completed much of his pivotal research at the University of Washington and moved to become the Chair and John H. Hord professor of Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in 2005.
He is the founder of two drug discovery companies, Polgenix and Retinagenix.
Research interests
Palczewski's research interest lie in mapping the Visual Transduction System. His work with determining the crystal structure of rhodopsinRhodopsin
Rhodopsin, also known as visual purple, is a biological pigment of the retina that is responsible for both the formation of the photoreceptor cells and the first events in the perception of light. Rhodopsins belong to the G-protein coupled receptor family and are extremely sensitive to light,...
has given new insight into the function of G protein
G protein
G proteins are a family of proteins involved in transmitting chemical signals outside the cell, and causing changes inside the cell. They communicate signals from many hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signaling factors. G protein-coupled receptors are transmembrane receptors...
receptors. This work has led to revolutionary advances in understanding hereditary blindness
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
and can slow retinal degeneration in adults.