Robert Tjian
Encyclopedia
Robert Tjian is a U.S. biochemist best known for his work on eukaryotic transcription
. He is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley
and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
(HHMI). On April 1, 2009, Tjian became the President of HHMI.
, Zhejiang
, was a famous tycoon in Shanghai
and pioneer of China's modern paper industry. In April 1949, Tjian's family and business all moved to Hong Kong; in 1950 moved to São Paulo
, Brazil
; and later settled in New Jersey
, the United States.
Tjian received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971 and a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University
in 1976. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with James D. Watson
for three years before returning to the University of California in 1979 when he was appointed Assistant Professor of Biochemistry. In 2008, Tjian joined the Board of Director
s of the Lasker Foundation
.
In 1978, Tjian found the first protein of virus which can regulate gene expression in mammalian cells. He also discovered the first "activator" protein
, which plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression. He and his colleagues further discovered several gene-regulatory proteins
.
Tjian is also notable in drug-target studies and their applications. Tjian developed some highly-efficient and sensitive techniques to detect cellular quantities such as proteins. In 1989, Tjian, together with his other two colleges, co-founded Tularik Inc., a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California
.
Tjian is also a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival
's Advisory Board.
Eukaryotic transcription
Eukaryotic transcription is more complex than prokaryotic transcription. For instance, in eukaryotes the genetic material , and therefore transcription, is primarily localized to the nucleus, where it is separated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear membrane...
. He is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
(HHMI). On April 1, 2009, Tjian became the President of HHMI.
Biography
Tjian was born in Hong Kong in 1949. Tjian's father Tjian Tze-Ning (錢子寧), a native of ShaoxingShaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, was a famous tycoon in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and pioneer of China's modern paper industry. In April 1949, Tjian's family and business all moved to Hong Kong; in 1950 moved to São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
; and later settled in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, the United States.
Tjian received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971 and a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1976. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with James D. Watson
James D. Watson
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick...
for three years before returning to the University of California in 1979 when he was appointed Assistant Professor of Biochemistry. In 2008, Tjian joined the Board of Director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
s of the Lasker Foundation
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
.
In 1978, Tjian found the first protein of virus which can regulate gene expression in mammalian cells. He also discovered the first "activator" protein
Activator (genetics)
An activator is a DNA-binding protein that regulates one or more genes by increasing the rate of transcription. The activator may increase transcription by virtue of a connected domain which assists in the formation of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme, or may operate through a coactivator. A...
, which plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression. He and his colleagues further discovered several gene-regulatory proteins
Regulation of gene expression
Gene modulation redirects here. For information on therapeutic regulation of gene expression, see therapeutic gene modulation.Regulation of gene expression includes the processes that cells and viruses use to regulate the way that the information in genes is turned into gene products...
.
Tjian is also notable in drug-target studies and their applications. Tjian developed some highly-efficient and sensitive techniques to detect cellular quantities such as proteins. In 1989, Tjian, together with his other two colleges, co-founded Tularik Inc., a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California
South San Francisco, California
South San Francisco is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area...
.
Tjian is also a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival
USA Science and Engineering Festival
USA Science and Engineering Festival was a science festival in Washington, D.C. that founder Larry Book deemed the country’s first national science festival. The inaugural event was held from October 10, 2010 through October 24, 2010 and was planned to be a yearly event. The two week festival...
's Advisory Board.
Awards and honors
- Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1997)
- Elected to the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(1991) - Elected to the American Philosophical SocietyAmerican Philosophical SocietyThe American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
- Elected to the Academia SinicaAcademia SinicaThe Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
, TaipeiTaipeiTaipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
(1990) - Pfizer Award for Enzymology (1983)
- Cancer Research Award, Milken Family Medical Foundation (1988)
- National Academy of Sciences Monsanto Award for Molecular Biology (1991)
- California Scientist of the Year (1994)
- Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical ScienceRosenstiel AwardIn 1971, the Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research was established as an expression of the conviction that educational institutions have an important role to play in the encouragement and development of basic science as it applies to medicine.Medals are...
(1995) - Monsanto Award
- Passano AwardPassano FoundationThe Passano Foundation, established in 1945, provides an annual award of $ 100 000 to an American research scientist whose work is thought to have immediate practical benefits. Many Passano laureates have subsequently won the Nobel Prize....
(1995) - Alfred P. Sloan Jr. PrizeAlfred P. Sloan FoundationThe Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
, from General Motors Cancer Research Foundation (1999) - Louisa Gross Horwitz PrizeLouisa Gross Horwitz PrizeLouisa Gross Horwitz Prize for Biology or Biochemistry is an annual prize awarded by Columbia University to a researcher or group of researchers that have made an outstanding contribution in basic research in the fields of biology or biochemistry....
(1999) - MERIT Award, from National Cancer InstituteNational Cancer InstituteThe National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
(2004) - Grand Prix Charles-Leopold Mayer (2010)
- Glenn T. Seaborg Medal Glenn T. Seaborg MedalThe Glenn T. Seaborg Medal was first awarded in 1987 by the University of California, Los Angeles , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to Nobel prize winning chemist Glenn T. Seaborg, a UCLA alumnus...
(2010)