Source: Interfolio F180


Paul Schimmel

Professor
Department of Molecular Medicine


 Email

Scripps Research Joint Appointments

Chemistry

Research Focus

Decoding Genetic Information In Translation
The genetic code was established over two billion years ago and became universally adopted by all living organisms. The rules of the code--which relate specific nucleotide triplets to specific amino acids--are established by aminoacylation reactions catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. In these reactions, an amino acid is associated with a specific nucleotide triplet of the genetic code, by virtue of being linked to a specific tRNA that harbors the anticodon triplet cognate to the amino acid. Because of their central role in establishing the rules of the code, the tRNAs are thought to have arisen quite early, perhaps in the context of an RNA world. The synthetases may have been amongst the earliest proteins to appear, perhaps replacing ribozymes that catalyzed the aminoacylation of primordial tRNAs. The Schimmel laboratory is interested in understanding all aspects of these systems.

Our present work focuses on the discovery of the large new biology that flows out of the tRNA synthetases. These enzymes are now known to be secreted, to have nuclear functions, and to pervade most or all parts of human biology with activities that are distinct from their catalytic function of charging tRNA. The laboratory uses methods and logic of molecular and cell biology, chemistry, and structural analysis to more deeply investigate these novel functions that have a fundamental role in maintaining organismal homeostasis, and in developing and regulating nervous, vascular, and immunological systems. The research is leading to the development of a broad new class of therapeutics to treat and cure human diseases.


Education

Ph.D. (Biophysical Chemistry), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1966
A.B. (Pre-Medicine), Ohio Wesleyan University, 1962

Awards & Professional Activities

1970 Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
1978 Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry, American Chemical Society
1985 Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of California, Riverside
1985 American Association for the Advancement of Science
1987 American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1989 National Institutes of Health Merit Award
1990 National Academy of Sciences
1992 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, MIT
1996 Doctor of Science (Hon), Ohio Wesleyan University
1999 American Philosophical Society
2000 Emily M. Gray Award for Significant Contributions to Education in Biophysics (co-recipient), Biophysical Society
2001 Ernest and Jean Hahn Professor
2004 Nucleic Acids Award, British Biochemical Society & Royal Society of Chemistry
2005 Institute of Medicine (of National Academy of Sciences)
2005 
David Perlman Award, American Chemical Society
2007 Stein and Moore Award, The Protein Society
2007 Distinguished Achievement Award, Ohio Wesleyan
2007 Brilliant Achievement Award, Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association
2011 San Diego BioPharma Award
2012 Frank H. Westheimer Medal, Harvard University, Cambridge
2013 Doctor of Science (Hon), Scripps Research - The Kellogg School of Science and Technology
2015 National Academy of Inventors
2020 ARCS 2020 Scientist of the Year, The ARCS Foundation San Diego Chapter
2020 Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success, American Chemical Society

Selected Publications

Kuhle, B.; Hirschi, M.; Doerfel, L. K.; Lander, G. C.; Schimmel, P. Structural basis for a degenerate tRNA identity code and the evolution of bimodal specificity in human mitochondrial tRNA recognition. Nature Communications 2023, 14, 4794.
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Cui, H.; Diedrich, J. K.; Wu, D. C.; Lim, J. J.; Nottingham, R. M.; Moresco, J. J.; Yates, J. R.; Blencowe, B. J.; Lambowitz, A. M.; Schimmel, P. Arg-tRNA synthetase links inflammatory metabolism to RNA splicing and nuclear trafficking via SRRM2. Nature Cell Biology 2023, 25, 592-603.

Morodomi, Y.; Kanaji, S.; Sullivan, B. M.; Zarpellon, A.; Orje, J. N.; Won, E.; Shapiro, R.; Yang, X. L.; Ruf, W.; Schimmel, P.; Ruggeri, Z. M.; Kanaji, T. Inflammatory platelet production stimulated by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase mimicking viral infection. PNAS 2022, 119, e2212659119.
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Kuhle, B.; Hirschi, M.; Doerfel, L. K.; Lander, G. C.; Schimmel, P. Structural basis for shape-selective recognition and aminoacylation of a D-armless human mitochondrial tRNA. Nature Communications 2022, 13, 5100.
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Cui, H.; Kapur, M.; Diedrich, J. K.; Yates, J. R.; Ackerman, S. L.; Schimmel, P. Regulation of ex-translational activities is the primary function of the multi-tRNA synthetase complex. Nucleic Acids Research 2021, 3603-3616.
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Adams, R. A.; Fernandes-Cerqueira, C.; Notarnicola, A.; Mertsching, E.; Xu, Z.; Lo, W.; Ogilvie, K.; Chiang, K. P.; Ampudia, J.; Rosengren, S.; Cubitt, A.; King, D. J.; Mendlein, J. D.; Yang, X.; Nangle, L. A.; Lundberg, I. E.; Jakobsson, P.; Schimmel, P. Serum-circulating His-tRNA synthetase inhibits organ-targeted immune responses. Nature Cell Mol Immunol. 2021, 1463-1475.
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