Nobel Laureate Ada Yonath Mourned by Science World

Professor Aharon Ciechanover, a 2004 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, paid tribute to his late colleague Professor Ada Yonath, who passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Ciechanover described Yonath as a friend of decades, emphasizing her "extraordinary courage and faith." The two scientists, though from different institutions (Yonath from the Weizmann Institute and Ciechanover from the Technion), shared a scientific connection through their complementary research on protein synthesis and degradation, respectively.

Ciechanover recounted meeting Yonath at a Nobel laureates' conference in Germany, noting she was accompanied by her family, including her daughter and granddaughter, both physicians, and a great-granddaughter. He observed that while she seemed "okay," she had some difficulty walking.

He highlighted Yonath's groundbreaking work on the ribosome, the cellular machine responsible for protein synthesis, for which she was awarded the Nobel Prize. Ciechanover revealed that Yonath was repeatedly advised to abandon her ribosome research, but she persisted with "unusual courage," employing "every possible trick" in her scientific arsenal, from studying hibernating bears to deep freezing techniques, to decipher its structure.

This research, Ciechanover explained, is crucial for understanding antibiotic resistance in bacteria, a major challenge in modern medicine. He also shared that Yonath faced the threat of dismissal from the Weizmann Institute due to her prolonged ribosome research without immediate publications. She was ultimately saved by supportive figures, including the late Professor Michael Sela, then president of the institute, who provided her with the necessary time, encouragement, and belief to continue her work against all odds.