Israel Hanukoglu

Israel Hanukoglu - Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Former Science and Technology Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel (1996-1999). Founder of Israel Science and Technology Homepage.

Hanukoglu was awarded Hans Lindner Prize (1988), and Lubell Award (1991) for his elucidation of the structures of NAD/NADP coenzyme binding enzyme families, and his discovery of common motifs in the structure of these enzymes that allowed re-engineering their coenzyme specificities.

Hanukoglu's career in molecular biology started at the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Chicago (1980-1983 with Elaine Fuchs), where he cloned cDNAs coding for cytoskeleton proteins, actin and alpha keratins. He elucidated the first structures of cytoskeletal keratin families, and predicted the long helical domains of these proteins.

In later studies he applied molecular biology techniques to understand the structure and function enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. He cloned the first genes for some key enzymes in the pathways of steroid hormone synthesis that are involved in the cleavage of side chain of cholesterol, the precursor of steroid hormones. His award winning research on the structure of adrenodoxin reductase led to his discovery of motifs that are commonly observed in hundreds of enzymes. His other work in this field includes elucidation of the mechanism of action of hormones in regulating steroid hormone synthesis in adrenal cortex, and the cloning and elucidation of the structure of ACTH receptor.

He organized the first International Symposium in Molecular Steroidogenesis in Jerusalem in 1991 which served as the cornerstone for a continuing series of international Symposia gathering scientists who specialize in this field.

Hanukoglu founded Israel's first Molecular Biology B.Sc. degree program in the College of Judea and Samaria and is the Chairman of the Molecular Biology Department there.