Stephen C. West
Encyclopedia
Dr Stephen Craig West, FRS
(born 11 April 1952 at North Ferriby, near Hull, Yorkshire) is a British
biochemist
and molecular biologist specializing in research on recombination
and DNA repair
. He is known for pioneering studies on homologous recombination
, and for defining the links between recombinational repair and genome instability
diseases including cancer
. He currently works at the London Research Institute’s laboratories at Clare Hall in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.
, Yorkshire
, to Joseph Clair West, a fishbuyer, and Louise West. He was an undistinguished student from a working class background, but did well enough at his local school (Hessle High) to be able to go on to study biochemistry
at Newcastle University. He graduated with a BSc in 1974 and stayed in Newcastle to carry out his PhD with Peter Emmerson.
protein, which is essential for recombination in bacteria. After finishing his PhD, which he completed within three years, he moved to the United States in 1978 to join the group led by Paul Howard-Flanders at Yale University
in New Haven. While there, he purified and characterized RecA protein, and in doing so discovered many key aspects relating to the ways in which cells mediate DNA-DNA interactions and strand exchange. Parallel studies were carried out in the groups of Charles Radding (also at Yale) and Robert Lehman (Stanford University
), providing the groundwork for our current understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms of recombination.
In 1985, West moved back to England and established his own group at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, now known as Cancer Research UK
. There he continues his work on recombination and repair, discovering cellular enzymes that resolve DNA intermediates (E. coli RuvC
, S. cerevisiae Yen1 and human GEN1) and making key contributions to our understanding of the cellular roles of tumour suppressor proteins such as BRCA2
. West is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of EMBO
, and in 2007 was awarded the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine
. He has been awarded several medals and prizes, notably from the Royal Society
, the Biochemical Society
and the Genetics Society.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(born 11 April 1952 at North Ferriby, near Hull, Yorkshire) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and molecular biologist specializing in research on recombination
Recombination
Recombination may refer to:* Recombination , the process by which genetic material is broken and joined to other genetic material* Recombination , in semiconductors, the elimination of mobile charge carriers...
and DNA repair
DNA repair
DNA repair refers to a collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors such as UV light and radiation can cause DNA damage, resulting in as many as 1...
. He is known for pioneering studies on homologous recombination
Homologous recombination
Homologous recombination is a type of genetic recombination in which nucleotide sequences are exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA. It is most widely used by cells to accurately repair harmful breaks that occur on both strands of DNA, known as double-strand breaks...
, and for defining the links between recombinational repair and genome instability
Genome instability
Usually, all cells in an individual in a given species show a constant number of chromosomes, which constitute what is known as the karyotype defining this species , although some species present a very high karyotypic variability.Sometimes, in a species with a stable karyotype, random variations...
diseases including cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He currently works at the London Research Institute’s laboratories at Clare Hall in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.
Early life
Stephen West was born on 11 April 1952 in North FerribyNorth Ferriby
North Ferriby is a village and civil parish in the Haltemprice area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.-Geography:It is situated on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, approximately to the west of Hull city centre. To the north, atop a hill, lies Swanland via the B1231. South Ferriby is...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, to Joseph Clair West, a fishbuyer, and Louise West. He was an undistinguished student from a working class background, but did well enough at his local school (Hessle High) to be able to go on to study biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at Newcastle University. He graduated with a BSc in 1974 and stayed in Newcastle to carry out his PhD with Peter Emmerson.
Career
During his PhD work, he became interested in how cells recombine their DNA and use recombination for DNA repair. In 1977 he showed that ‘protein X’ was the elusive RecARecA
RecA is a 38 kilodalton Escherichia coli protein essential for the repair and maintenance of DNA. RecA has a structural and functional homolog in every species in which it has been seriously sought and serves as an archetype for this class of homologous DNA repair proteins...
protein, which is essential for recombination in bacteria. After finishing his PhD, which he completed within three years, he moved to the United States in 1978 to join the group led by Paul Howard-Flanders at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven. While there, he purified and characterized RecA protein, and in doing so discovered many key aspects relating to the ways in which cells mediate DNA-DNA interactions and strand exchange. Parallel studies were carried out in the groups of Charles Radding (also at Yale) and Robert Lehman (Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
), providing the groundwork for our current understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms of recombination.
In 1985, West moved back to England and established his own group at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, now known as Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
. There he continues his work on recombination and repair, discovering cellular enzymes that resolve DNA intermediates (E. coli RuvC
RuvABC
RuvABC is a complex of three proteins that mediate branch migration and resolve the Holliday junction created during homologous recombination in bacteria. As such, RuvABC is critical to bacterial DNA repair....
, S. cerevisiae Yen1 and human GEN1) and making key contributions to our understanding of the cellular roles of tumour suppressor proteins such as BRCA2
BRCA2
BRCA2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BRCA2 gene.BRCA2 orthologs have been identified in most mammals for which complete genome data are available....
. West is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of EMBO
Embo
For the scientific organisation, see European Molecular Biology Organization.Embo is a village in the Highland Council Area in Scotland and the former/postal county of Sutherland, about 2 miles NNE of Dornoch....
, and in 2007 was awarded the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine
Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine
The Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine is awarded annually by the Louis-Jeantet Foundation to biomedical researchers in Europe; the awards are made each April...
. He has been awarded several medals and prizes, notably from the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, the Biochemical Society
Biochemical Society
The Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
and the Genetics Society.
Awards and recognition
- 1995 Fellow of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
- 2000 Fellow of the Academy of Medical SciencesAcademy of Medical SciencesThe Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
- 2002 Leeuwenhoek MedalLeeuwenhoek LectureThe Leeuwenhoek Lecture is a prize lecture of the Royal Society originally given annually, but now every three years, on the subject of microbiology. It is named after the Dutch microscopist Anton van Leeuwenhoek and was instituted in 1948 from a bequest...
of the Royal Society - 2007 Louis-Jeantet Prize for MedicineLouis-Jeantet Prize for MedicineThe Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine is awarded annually by the Louis-Jeantet Foundation to biomedical researchers in Europe; the awards are made each April...
- 2008 Novartis Medal l of the Biochemical SocietyBiochemical SocietyThe Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
- 2010 GlaxoSmithKline MedalGlaxoSmithKline PrizeThe GlaxoSmithKline Prize and Lecture is awarded by the Royal Society of London "for original contributions to medical and veterinary sciences published within ten years from the date of the award". Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the medal is awarded with a gift of £2500...
of the Royal Society