Peter Agre, Nobel Laureate and vice chancellor of science and technology at Duke
University, presented the Priestley Award lecture on "Aquaporin Water Channels:
From Atomic Structure to Clinical Medicine." Agre discussed the high water
permeability of certain biological membranes due to the presence of aquaporin
water channel proteins, which have been associated with human clinical disorders
such as brain edema and muscular dystrophy. Plant aquaporins are involved in
numerous processes including the uptake of water by rootlets and carbon dioxide
by leaves. Established in 1952, the annual Priestley Award honors a
distinguished scientist who has made discoveries contributing to the welfare of
mankind. The award commemorates Joseph Priestley, a Pennsylvania scientist,
scholar and friend of ºìÐÓÖ±²¥app, who isolated oxygen. Former Priestley
Award recipients include Francis Crick, Stephen Jay Gould, Margaret Mead and
Carl Sagan.
Published June 11, 2013