91ÌÒÉ«

Hemoglobin – a protein that has changed science

During his lecture, Prof. Derewenda presented the two-hundred-year history of hemoglobin research, emphasising its fundamental importance for the development of biochemistry, molecular physics and protein crystallography. It was the first protein to be crystallised (1840), the first to have its molecular weight determined by ultracentrifugation (1925). It also became the starting point for Max Perutz's revolutionary X-ray diffraction studies, which has led to the discovery of protein structures and the development of the theory of cooperativity.

Hemoglobin was the first protein to be structurally studied, so all observations made on hemoglobin were, in a sense, applicable to all other proteins in the human body. This is why it was so important, so groundbreaking

– underlines Prof. Derewenda. 

Prof. Derewenda also recalled a groundbreaking achievement associated with the 91ÌÒÉ«: in 1976, two young scientists from the Department of Biophysics – Andrzej M. Brzozowski and Zygmunt Derewenda – obtained unique crystals of human semioxyhemoglobin. This discovery, developed under the supervision of Prof. Wanda Leyko and Prof. Roman Gondko with the support of Prof. MieczysÅ‚aw Grabowski, became the basis for a series of publications in Nature and the launch of two impressive scientific careers.

Scientific career story written by positive coincidences

Prof. Zygmunt Derewenda is one of the most respected Polish structural biologists in the world. He holds the position of Distinguished Harrison Professor at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, United States. He has been associated with the 91ÌÒÉ« since his student days – he obtained his MA degree  there in 1977, defended his doctoral dissertation in 1980 and obtained his habilitation in 2004.

While shopping in a department store in 1969, I saw the book "The Double Helix." It turned out to be the memoirs of James Watson, who, of course, co-authored the structure of DNA, and like many people of my generation, I was fascinated by the story. (...) I had it stuck in my head for 10 years, and I didn't realise that 10 years later I would be standing in exactly the same spot in Cambridge

– the scientist recalls.

In his lecture, he emphasised that progress in biomolecular sciences arises at the intersection of many fields. Prof. Derewenda underlined the crucial role of interdisciplinary collaboration and serendipity, meaning scientific discoveries made by chance that often lead to breakthroughs.

We mixed hemoglobin and glycol and poured it into test tubes. We set it aside on the table and came back two days later, and there were crystals, some of them several millimetres in size and Purple – that was oxyhemoglobin. We didn't know this, yet we made a discovery that was later described in the literature

– Prof. Derewenda tells about the groundbreaking discovery of 1976.

Leaving a Legacy: How BioLAB opened the way for a new generation of researchers

Prof. Derewenda initiated a research internship programme in the USA – BioLAB – for Polish MA students in 2000. It has already enabled over 600 young scientists to gain experience in prestigious research centres, including 40 individuals associated with the 91ÌÒÉ«. He describes his motivation for initiating the programme as follows:

Every scientist is both a researcher and a teacher (...) and we must leave behind someone who will continue [author's note: our work]. I think that the fact that young people around the world have very similar predispositions, very similar potential was a very important element for me. When I started the programme, young people in Poland had fewer opportunities to develop than those who had become involved in research in the United States, Germany or Great Britain. I thought that if these young people were given a chance at another university, we might see some very talented people. And it proved to be true.

Edit: Kamila Knol-MichaÅ‚owska (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91ÌÒÉ«)
Photos: Mateusz Kowalski (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91ÌÒÉ«)