The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 Chemists have long dreamed of fully understanding and mastering the chemical tools of life – proteins. This dream is now within reach. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have successfully utilised artificial intelligence to predict the structure of almost all known proteins. David Baker has learned how to master life’s…

For Max Perutz, proving that X-rays could reveal the structures of complex, biologically important proteins would require a large dose of inspiration followed by an even larger amount of perspiration.

In 1961, Christian Anfinsen proved that the sequence of amino acids, in itself, determines the way the chain folds itself and that no additional genetic information is required in this process.

Linus Pauling worked in a broad range of areas within chemistry. In 1951 he published the structure of the alpha helix, which is an important basic component of many proteins.

As a result of Kendrew’s and Perutz’ contributions it is thus becoming possible to see the principles behind the construction of globular proteins.