The Nobel prize in medicine has been awarded to a Japanese cell biologist for discoveries on how cells break down and recycle their own components. Yoshinori Ohsumi, 71, will receive the prestigious 8m Swedish kronor (£718,000) award for uncovering “mechanisms for autophagy”, a fundamental process in cells that scientists believe can be harnessed to fight cancer and dementia. Yoshinori Ohsumi wins Nobel prize in medicine for discoveries on autophagy – live Read moreDysfunctional autophagy has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and a host of age-related disorders. By studying the process in yeast cells, Ohsumi identified the main genes involved in autophagy and showed how the proteins they code for come together to build the autophagosome membrane. “I’m very happy he’s got this year’s Nobel prize, it’s very well deserved,” he said.

Source: The Guardian October 03, 2016 09:40 UTC