Mark Wightman, W.R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Chemistry, has won an award in research excellence from the Biophysical Society.
In biophysics, researchers apply the principles of physics and chemistry and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work.
Wightman received the society’s Sir Bernard Katz Award for excellence in exocytosis and endocytosis research. Katz is one of the founding fathers of biophysics and neuroscience. The award recognizes scientists who have made significant contributions to the field.
Exocytosis is a process in which a vesicle, a small container that resides within cells, fuses with the cell membrane. In this way, the contents of the vesicle are released in the extracellular space. These contents are usually small amounts of chemicals that provide a signal to other cells. Endocytosis is the process by which cells absorb the vesicle after exocytosis. Wightman was honored for the development of electrochemical methods to detect individual exocytotic events of neurotransmitter release at neurons from brain tissue. His current work provides the first real-time analyses of neurotransmitter releases in preparations ranging from single, cultured cells to the brains of live animals during behavior.
Wightman’s chemistry colleague, professor Royce Murray, said of the award’s significance: It is “special news since it concerns how a chemist really can move other disciplines.”
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