| 1 | Name: | Dr. Judith P. Klinman | |
| Institution: | University of California, Berkeley | ||
| Year Elected: | 2001 | ||
| Class: | 2. Biological Sciences | ||
| Subdivision: | 201. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry | ||
| Residency: | Resident | ||
| Living? : | Living | ||
| Birth Date: | 1941 | ||
Judith Klinman has made significant contributions to our understanding of enzyme function, including two fundamental discoveries, rare events in the field of enzymology: a new redox cofactor in eukaryotes and the unanticipated demonstration of hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic reactions. The latter provides an experimental link to the role of protein motions in catalysis. In addition, she has been a leader in utilizing isotope effects to probe enzymatic reaction mechanisms and has also begun to unravel the mechanism of copper dependent biological redox reactions. Her approach amply demonstrates the rewards of applying the principles and tools of physical organic chemistry to biological sciences. Dr. Klinman has worked at the Institute of Cancer Research (1972-78) and the University of Pennsylvania (1974-78); since 1982 she has been professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also chaired the department of chemistry (2000-03) and serves as professor of molecular and cell biology. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences; the National Academy of Sciences; the American Chemical Society; the Protein Society; the Biophysics Society; and the American Society of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (president, 1998). In 2014 she was awarded the National Medal of Science. | |||