ONE-PAGE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FOR PERMANENT NIH INTRAMURAL SCIENTIST NAME TITLE BIRTHDATE & PLACE ClTKENSHlP Marshall Nirenberg Chief, Lab. of Biochemical Geneticb 4-10-27 New York ITSA Institute/Division/laboratory OFFlCE (Bldg./Room No.) LABORATORY (Bldg./Room No.) NHLBI/Lab. of Biochemical Genetics 36/1C-27 4C-20 EDUCATION and TRAINING: Years institution Degree Discipline 1952-57 Univ. of Mich.Ann Arbor Ph.D. Biochemistry 1950-52 Univ. of Florida M.S. Biology 1945-48 Univ. of Florida B.S. Biology and Chemistry CHRONOLOGY OF EMPLOYMENT (Limited to space provided) 1966-m Chief, Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics, NHLBI 1962-66 Chief, Section on Biochemical Genetics, NHLBI 1960-62 Research Biochemist, Section of Metabolic Enzymes, NIAMD 1957-60 Postdoctoral Fellow with Dewitt Stetten, Jr. (2 yrs.), Gordon Tomkins(3rd year l3i3MCH INTERESTS AND ACCOMPUSHMENTS (Limited to space provfded) Interest. Regulation of gene expression. Neurobiology, Genetics, Drosophila,Neuroblastoma Accomplishments. Deciphered.the genetic code. Showed that RNA is a template for protein synthesis. Established clonal lines of neuroblastoma and somatic hybrid cells that form synapses in vitro as model systems for neurobiology. -- Discovered 10 novel homeobox genes and 2 novel Pou-domain genes. -. IMPORTANT AND RECENT PUEUCATIONS (Limited to 5) Total Number of Publications: 159 1. Hara, Y., Rovescalli, A., Kim, Y., and Nirenberg, M.: 7 Structure and Evolution of Four POU-Domain Genes Expressed in Mouse Brain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 89: 3280-3284 (1992). - 2. Nazarali, A., Kim, Y., and Nirenberg, M.: Hox 1.11 and Hox-4.9 Homeobox Genes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 89: 2883-2887 m 3. Kim, Y. and Nirenberg, M.: Drosophila NK-homeobox Genes. Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. 7716-7720' (1989). 4. Nirenberg,.M. W. and Leder, P.: RNA codewords and protein synthesis. I. The effect of 5. Ti:~BEP~~~~~#~a~~~~~~~h~~~d3~~.pfTg~N~et",,5~~~~ondEs'e~y 145'13g~;~4~~ $~g~~)* .- y occu?rlng or SyntRetlc polyrigonuc e%~i~~e$~oc. hat?. Acad. c-1. IlSA. 47. . 158%lhfI7. --- AWARDS, HONORS, EDlTORSHIPS, AND COMMITTEES (Examples limited to space provided) Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology (1968). Member National Academy of Science. Shared with H.G. Khorana and R.W.Holley. Member National Academy of Medicine. @ft'gifif $i%zgi$ !%~~f! 1 ~~~~~Y~~ra~~U~~p~~t~~~* Neurobiology Editorial Board - Molecular Neurobiology DATE FORM COMPLETED: August 13 1993 SIGNATURE P 3 Dr. Marshall Nlrenberg (1992-1993) CRITICAL ELEMENT I 1: Malnta'lns and manages a creative envlronment In the Laboratory of Blochemlcal Genetlcs. Fncouraaement of Semlnars and Journal Clubs. Laboratory seminars are held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The most recent interesting papers that have been published are presented at the Monday noon seminar. The Tuesday 4:00 PM seminar is for Dr. Nirenberg's group. This is a highly informal seminar with no scheduled speakers. Each person discusses the experimental results that he or she obtained during the previous week, technical problems encountered, methods, and so forth. Ideas also are discussed. The Wednesday noon seminar series focuses on the research of the investigators in the laboratory. Each person gives a one hour talk on the research that he or she has done over the past 4-6 months, answers questions, and considers critical comments. Consultatlons with Sectlon Chlefs and Professional Staff to Review Their Research Proaress and Fncouraae Collaboratlons where AdvIseable. Usually, Dr. Nirenberg discusses results of the current or last experiment with each postdoctoral fellow each day and also discusses plans for the next experiment or set of experiments. However, the frequency of discussion often is tailored to the needs of the postdoctoral fellow and the experimental difficulties that are encountered. Large projects usually are deslgned as collaborative projects: i.e., different postdoctor$ fellows work on separate but related parts of the same problem. In igators in with the results of * addit other other their ion, A projects are being studied in collaboration with Invest laboratories at the NIH. Additional discussions also are held permanent, independent investigators in the laboratory on the research and their plans for future research. Fffectlve Performance of Support Staff, The performance of support staff is monitored closely and suggestions are made as needed. Problems are dlscussed with Dr. Nirenberg and are monitored until they are solved. Dr. Nirenberg's technicians w: !m are effective and productive. A medical problem has impaired the effectiveness of Dr. Daniel's technician, but this problem should be resolved soon. Compli ante ~th F. E.0. And Affl rmatl ve Action Gum1 ines And 0b.k th E.E.O. and affirmative action objectives in the lab, Derek Tangy from Viet Nam, taught many t procedures used in molecular biology, and no research for of each day, which should enable him to obtain a promotion. Afro-A icans in the laboratory also have been taught many technical procedures. -Effective and Ffflclent Manaaement of Flwial Resources. Dr. Nirenberg makes sure that all members of the laboratory conserve resources in a responsible manner. Years ago, to save money policies were Instituted in this laboratory which are still being followed* J because of the expense no one in this laboratory uses NIH sterile glassware or tm the NIH media room. The NIH Art Department is used very infrequently: figures are drawn on the computer orders are approved by Dr. Nirenberg or Dr. Peterkofsky prior to placement, Computer printouts of expenditurw are examlned each month by Dr. Nirenberg and appropriate actions are taken *needed. Dr. Marshall Nlrenberg (1992-1993) CRITICAL ELEMENT 2: PURSUES AND DIRECTS A VIGOROUS RESEARCH PROGRAM. v. Three manuscripts were written that were supposed to be in press by now but have been delayed a few months because several months ago Dr. Nirenberg thought it was more important for him to-focus intensively on some research concerning the pattern of expression of the NK-2 homeobox gene during the development of Drosophilg embryos. This analysis led to predictions/ Cftr)ch of the rules for assembling part of the central nervous system of Drosobhilg and explains how posltional ow the nervous system is assembled. With a slight modification the hypothesis also applles to the assembly of part of the mammalian CNS. Presentations at Scientific Meetinas. Dr. Nirenberg was a coauthor of 7 abstracts that were presented as posters or talks at the following meetings: Society for Cell Biology, Society for Neuroscience meeting, Neurobiology of Drosophila meeting at Cold Spring Harbor, Biophysical Society meeting, Eastern Analytical Symposium, and the Third Forum on Peptides and Proteins, Biarritz, France. Dr. Nirenberg also presented a symposium talk at the International Meeting on the Biochemistry of Cell Membranes, sponsored by the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Bari, Italy. Peer Recoanitlon. Was invited to select the speakers and cochairperson for a symposium on Drosophila Neurobiology and to be the Chairman of the symposium at the International Congress of Biochemistry in New Delhi in 1994. Was invited to be a plenary speaker at the European Pharmacology Society Meeting in Berlin in 1994. Was a member of the Organizing Committee and an invited lecturer for the Elba International Neuroscience Meeting in Marina di Campo, Isola d'Elba, Italy for 1993. Was invited to be a symposium speaker at a meeting "DNA: The Double Helix, Forty Years: Perspective and Prospective" sponsored by the New York Academy of Science. Invited lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois and Georgetown University. Many other invitations to give talks were not accepted. Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, Molecular Neurobloloav. Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Cellular and Molecular Neurobioloav. Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Neuroaenetics.. Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, George Washington Medical School, Washington, D.C. Member of an American College of Neurology Committee to choose the recipient of a major award for research. Influence on Research Proiects. Essentially all of the research objectives of Dr. Nirenberg's group, past and present, originated from Dr. Nirenberg. The ideas for 2 of the 3 collaborative projects that Dr. Nirenberg currently is working on were originated by Dr. Nirenberg, The idea for the third collaborative project in collaboration with a former postdoctoral fellow of Dr. Nirenberg's was equally obvious to Dr. Nirenberg and the other investigator. Dr.\ Marshall Nirenberg (1992-1993) Prwr&ati ens at Sci entl fi c Meetl m . Dr. Nirenberg was a coauthor or talks w at the following meetings: Society for Cell iology, Society for Neuroscience meeting, Neurobiology of Drosophila meeting at Cold F Symposium, and the symposium talk at the International Meeting on the Biochemistry of Cell Membra.r!?s, sponsored by he International Union of Biochemistr /sL y in Bari, Italy. inul-tpd teJae-a ieL (4 Peer Recoanition. Was invited to select the a symposium on speakers for k Drosophila Neurobiology and to be the Chairman of the symposium at the International Congress of Biochemistry in New Delhi in 1994. Was invited to be a plenary speaker at the European Pharmacology Society Meeting in Berlin in 1994. Was a member of the Organizing Committee and an invited lecturer for the Elba International Neuroscience Meeting in Marina di Campo, Isola d'Elba, Italy for 1993 * Was invited to be a symposium speaker at a meeting "DNA: The Double Helix, Forty Years: Perspective and Prospective" sponsored by the New York Academy of Science. Invited lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry " / a College of University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois and Georgetown University. tations to give talks were not accepted. the Editorial Advisory Board, Molecular Neurobioloay. Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Cellular and Molecular Neurobioloav. Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Neuroaenetics. Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, George Washington Medical School, Washington, D.C. Member of an American College of Neurology Committee to choose the recipient of a award for research. Influence on Research Projects. Essentially all of the research objectives of Dr. Nirenberg's group, past and present, originated from Dr. Nirenberg. The tive projects that Dr. investigator. Dr. Marshall Nlrenberg (1992-1993) CRITICAL ELEMENT 4 3: MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PROFESSION AS INDICATED BY: Reviews Manuscripts for Scientific Journals. Dr. Nirenberg is a member of the ards of 3 scientific journals and reviews manuscripts for these lso serves as an ti b reviewer of many manuscripts for other Acti ve Part1 cl pati on 1 n SC1 enti fl c Socl et1 es . Dr. Nirenberg is an active member of the following societies: National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. National Academy of Medicine, U.S.A. American Academy of Arts and Sciences American Society of Biological Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology American Chemical Society American Neurochemistry Society Biophysical Society American Association for the Advancement of Science Society for Neuroscience The Society for Developmental American S&&&+W-Neurolog European Academy of Arts and Sciences Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Vatican Federation of American Scientists International Society for Neuroimmunomodulation Dr. Nirenberg is a Sponsor of The Federation of American tiientists and a of the Advisory Board of the The International Society for Neuroimmunomodulation. During the past year, signed about 10 letters from different scientific societies Dr. Marshall Nirenberg (1992~1993),, NONCRITICAL ELEMENT x 4: SERVES ON COMMITTEES WITHIN NIH AND ELSEWHERE AS REQUESTED, As discussed on previous pag Dr. Nirenberg is a member of the Editorial Boards of 3 ientific journals, )J@% a member of the Advisory Board of the is a member of the Advisory Board of the Beckman Institute of the University of Illinois at Ubana-Champaign, IL. He also was a member of the doctoral committee of Mrs. Wha Kwon and directed the research of Mrs. Kwon, who received a Ph.D. degree several months ago from the Department of Biology, University of MD. Dr. Marshall Nlrenberg (1990-1995) CRITICAL ELEMENT 15: SUPPORTS THE NIH EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS BY ACTIONS THAT INSURE EQUAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES. Dr. Nirenberg always has supported the National Institutes of Health and Public Health Service Equal Employment Opportunlty programs and has a long, well established record of treating all employees equally and of recruiting, developing, and advancing minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. About half of the investigators in the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics are embers of minorities. lvidual with a s a postdocto young man with little or no background in science, a member of a minority group, was recruited to maintain liquid nitrogen freezers, and other laboratory equipment 4 and to take care of the laboratory I! stoc room, was taught many technical procedures during the past year that are required for recombinant DNA research and now spends most of the day doing research. Other individuals who are members of minorities also were taught various technical procedures during the past year. Dr. Korn came attended by al to the Laboratory 1 members of the of Biochemical Genetics and gave a ta laboratory o;r issues related to sexual lk Which was harassment