George Emil Palade was a highly esteemed and a well renowned cell biologist of Romanian origin. He was born in 1912, in Moldavia, Romania. In 1974, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his pioneering work in Molecular biology. He shares this award along with Albert Claude and Christian de Duve. He was referred to as the "father of modern biology" and "the most influential cell biologist ever" for his innovative contribution to the field of cell biology.
While he was a medical student, he was invited by Albert Claude, the noble-winning biologist from the Rockfeller University who first researched the technique of cell fractionation to work along with him. Palade spent the next 27 years in Rockfeller unfolding the secrets of the cell using the electron microscope.
Discovery
His research work which included the electron microscopic studies and the development of tissue-preparation methods, advanced centrifuging techniques resulted in the discovery of several cellular structures. He was a pioneer in discovering the structural and functional organization of the cell. Palade described the fine structure of mitochondria and unveiled the fact that microsomes (which had previously been considered to be mitochondria fragments) are segments of the internal cellular transport system. He also studied and visualized small components of cytoplasm, which were later, coined the term ribosome. He was one of the cell biologists who first visualized cellular structures such as mitochondria and ribosome’s. His research, which identified the differences between tumor vessels and normal vessels, contributed to the idea to identify and destroy tumors by killing the blood vessels that nurture them.
At the Rockefeller University, Palade researched the details of endoplasmic reticulum and the intricate structure of chemical synapses. Much of his investigation provided a foundation for future research on the Golgi apparatus. Palade's research work of combining two techniques innovated by Claude - centrifugation and electron microscopy led to the to discovery of morphological information about cells which gave a clear understanding of the cell as a sophisticated system rather than a collection of components whose functions were unknown. In 1973, Palade made his entry into the Yale Medical School to start the department of cell biology, mainly focusing his research on membrane trafficking. He conducted many experiments in biology to find the secretory paths of pancreatic exocrine cell of guinea pigs. His study revealed that the function of microsomes’ was closely associated to internal transport than its metabolic activity.
Figure 1, 2. Cell images obtained by electron microscopy. Reprinted from George Emil Palade - a pioneer of cell biology, by T. Nicolici-Schultz and A. Neculae. 2008, Retrieved November 27 2013 from http://rukautestu.vin.bg.ac.rs/handson4/SCIENCE%20DISCOVERIES%20AND%20BALKAN%20REGION/8.GEORGE%20EMIL%20PALADE%20-%20A%20PIONEER%20OF%20CELL%20BIOLOGY,T.%20Nicolici-Schultz%20and%20Neculae%20Adrian.pdf. Copyright year 2008 by T. Nicolici-Schultz and A. Neculae. Reprinted with permission.
He also proved that the production of protein occurs in RNA strands in ribosome’s fastened to the endoplasmic reticulum. He also demonstrated that protein production takes place in RNA strands in ribosome’s attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. This led to the use of radio autography, the process in which he tagged and tracked radioactive proteins, showing that ribosome’s and endoplasmic reticulum involve in synthesizing and process proteins produced by exocrine cells. His research, which focused on differentiating the tumor vessels from normal vessels led to the idea of identifying and destroying tumor cells by killing the blood vessels that nurture them.
Conclusion
Palade’s work helps us to understand in general terms how a cell is organized. It also helps us to get a clear knowledge how the specialized organs in a cell function in a well integrated manner to secure its survival and replication. This new information has started to be put to good use in understanding abnormal cell function. The major medical problems that are faced today are degenerative diseases which can be traced by the improper malfunctioning in the regulatory mechanisms of cellular activities. A century old dream comes true through Cell Biology: analyzing diseases at the cellular level, and the first measure toward their final control.
Palade’s contribution has given rebirth to the field of Cell Biology and has paved the way for medicine of tomorrow. Most importantly, he provided the empirical framework for understanding effectively all facets of membrane trafficking and the way organelles jointly act to enable protein secretion, membrane biogenesis, and endocytosis. George deeply influenced amplify his impact on the scientific community and thus widening our knowledge of cellular organization to the unbelievable degree of molecular and functional complication we see today.
Works Cited
Mellman, Ira. "George E. Palade, Cell Biology and the JCB." ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.com. The Rockfeller University Press, 3 Nov 2008. Web. 27 Nov 2013.
“George Emil Palade.” how stuffworks.com” HowStuff Works Inc, n.d Web 27 Nov 2013
"George E. Palade life and biography." browsebiography.com. N.p., 21 Dec 17 2011. Web.
28 Nov 2013.
