Randy Schekman

Randy Schekman is an American cell biologist renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries concerning the machinery that regulates vesicular transport, a fundamental process in eukaryotic cells. His pioneering work, which utilized genetics in the model organism baker's yeast, elucidated how proteins and other molecules are packaged into vesicles and trafficked to specific destinations within and outside the cell. For these contributions, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2013 with James Rothman and Thomas Südhof. Schekman has spent his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he is a professor, and has been an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Early life and education

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Schekman developed an early interest in science. He completed his undergraduate studies in molecular biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. For his graduate work, he moved to Stanford University, where he pursued a Ph.D. in biochemistry under the mentorship of the future Nobel laureate Arthur Kornberg. His doctoral research focused on DNA replication, providing a strong foundation in genetics and biochemistry that would later inform his independent investigations.

Research and career

Upon joining the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley in the late 1970s, Schekman shifted his research focus to the fundamental problem of how cells organize and transport proteins. He pioneered the use of genetic screens in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify mutants defective in protein secretion. This work led to the discovery of numerous SEC genes and their encoded proteins, which are essential components of the vesicular transport machinery. His lab characterized key complexes involved in budding vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, fundamentally advancing the understanding of intracellular transport. Beyond his Nobel-recognized work, Schekman has also made significant contributions to the study of exosomes and extracellular vesicles. He served as the editor-in-chief of the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from 2006 to 2011 and has been a vocal advocate for open access publishing.

Awards and honors

Schekman's research has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. He received the Gairdner Foundation International Award in 1996 and the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2002, both shared with James Rothman. The pinnacle of this recognition came in 2013 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, jointly with Rothman and Thomas Südhof. He is an elected member of several elite scientific societies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He also holds foreign memberships in the Royal Society and the European Molecular Biology Organization.

Personal life

Schekman is married and has two children. He has been an active participant in public scientific discourse and policy, notably criticizing traditional subscription-based academic publishing models. His advocacy for open access led him to help establish the Life Science Alliance, a collaborative open-access journal. Outside of his scientific pursuits, he has expressed interests in music and the arts.

Selected publications

* Schekman, R., & Novick, P. (2004). "23 Genes, 23 Years Later". *Cell*. * Kaiser, C. A., & Schekman, R. (1990). "Distinct Sets of SEC Genes Govern Transport Vesicle Formation and Fusion Early in the Secretory Pathway". *Cell*. * Novick, P., Field, C., & Schekman, R. (1980). "Identification of 23 Complementation Groups Required for Post-translational Events in the Yeast Secretory Pathway". *Cell*. * Barlowe, C., et al. (1994). "COPII: A Membrane Coat Formed by Sec Proteins That Drive Vesicle Budding from the ER". *Cell*.

Category:American cell biologists Category:Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine Category:University of California, Berkeley faculty Category:Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators