Paul Greengard

Paul Greengard was an American neuroscientist renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries concerning signal transduction within the brain. His research elucidated how dopamine and other neurotransmitters exert their effects on neurons through slow synaptic transmission, fundamentally altering the understanding of molecular and cellular neuroscience. For this work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000, sharing the honor with Arvid Carlsson and Eric Kandel. His career was primarily based at Rockefeller University, where he directed the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, he served in the United States Navy during World War II as an electronics technician working on radar systems. After the war, he attended Hamilton College, graduating with a degree in mathematics and physics in 1948. He then pursued graduate studies in biophysics at Johns Hopkins University, earning his Ph.D. in 1953 under the supervision of future Nobel laureate Haldan Keffer Hartline. His postdoctoral work included positions at the University of London, University of Cambridge, and the National Institutes of Health, where he began to shift his focus from biophysics to neurochemistry.

Research and scientific contributions

Greengard's seminal work centered on the biochemical pathways activated by neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. He demonstrated that when a molecule like dopamine binds to a receptor on a neuron, it triggers a cascade of intracellular events involving second messengers such as cyclic AMP. This cascade leads to the phosphorylation of key proteins, including DARPP-32, which he discovered, thereby altering the neuron's excitability and function. This model of slow synaptic transmission provided a crucial link between the rapid firing of neurons and longer-term changes underlying learning, memory, and neurological disorders. His research had profound implications for understanding and treating Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and depression.

Awards and honors

His most prestigious recognition was the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Other major awards include the NAS Award in the Neurosciences from the National Academy of Sciences in 1991, the Ralph W. Gerard Prize from the Society for Neuroscience in 1994, and the Karl Spencer Lashley Award from the American Philosophical Society in 1999. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1978 and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also received honorary doctorates from institutions such as the University of Basel and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Personal life and legacy

In 1985, he married sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard. He had three children, including his son Claude Greengard. A significant portion of his Nobel Prize monetary award was dedicated to establishing the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, an annual award at Rockefeller University honoring women in biomedical research, named in memory of his mother who died giving birth to him. He remained an active researcher and mentor at Rockefeller University until his death in Manhattan. His work established the foundational principles of neuropharmacology and continues to influence drug discovery for psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Selected publications

* Greengard, P. (1978). *Cyclic Nucleotides, Phosphorylated Proteins, and Neuronal Function*. Distinguished Lecture Series of the Society of General Physiologists. * Nestler, E.J. & Greengard, P. (1984). *Protein Phosphorylation in the Nervous System*. John Wiley & Sons. * Greengard, P. et al. (1999). "The DARPP-32/protein phosphatase-1 cascade: a model for signal integration in the striatum." *Trends in Neurosciences*. * Svenningsson, P. et al. (2004). "DARPP-32: An Integrator of Neurotransmission." *Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology*.

Category:American neuroscientists Category:Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine Category:Rockefeller University faculty Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences