Jorge Allende

Jorge Allende
Born (1934-11-11) 11 November 1934
Cartago, Costa Rica
Residence Santiago, Chile
Nationality Chile
Fields Biochemistry Molecular Biology
Institutions University of Chile National Institutes of Health
Alma mater Louisiana State University Yale University Rockefeller University
Doctoral advisor Frederic Richards
Other academic advisors Fritz Albert Lipmann Marshall Warren Nirenberg
Known for Protein biosynthesis, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM) at Universidad de Chile
Influences Enrico Fermi
Notable awards National Academy of Sciences, Great Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit, Brazil, National Prize for Nature Sciences, Chile, The puRkwa Prize

Jorge Eduardo Allende, is an Chilean biochemist and biophysicist known for his contributions to the understanding of proteic biosynthesis and how transfer RNA is generated,[1] and the regulation of maturation of amphibian eggs. He has been a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences since 2001,[2] and was awarded with the Chilean National Prize for Nature Sciences in 1992.

Early life

Jorge Allende was born in Cartago, Costa Rica, son of Octavio Allende Echeverría, Chilean Consul in the city of Puntarenas, and Amparo Rivera Ortiz, a Costa Rican artist.[3] Because of his father's job as an diplomat, he spent his childhood years between Costa Rica, Chile and the United States. He finished high school in a Jesuit School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where his father was appointed as the Chilean Consul.[4] Subsequently he studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He obtained the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree in 1957.

Career

He carried out his doctoral studies at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, obtaining his Ph.D. in 1961 under the tutorship of Prof. F.M. Richards. He did post doctoral work with Prof. Fritz Lipmann at Rockefeller University and with Marshall Warren Nirenberg at NIH.[5]

During the 1960s, his research was focused on protein synthesis, a field in which he made crucial contributions. In the 1970s he was a pioneer in studying the mechanism of hormonal induction of oocyte maturation. His later research is focused in two ubiquitous protein kinases, CK1 and CK2, involved in the phosphorylation of key cellular proteins.[6]

He devoted much of his life to organizing activities for the scientific integration in Latin America especially through organizing series of training courses in molecular biology techniques, and through the creation of the Latin American Network of Biological Sciences.[7]

In recent years, Doctor Allende has been an promoter of science education through his personal commitment in several projects, like the Science Education Inquiry Based program, funded by the University of Chile,[8] and through his participation in the Allende-Connelly Foundation, founded by he and his wife.[9][10]

Currently he is professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Research Vice President of the University of Chile.[11][12]

Personal life

He married Catherine Connelly in Holyoke, Massachusetts, On September 16, 1961. He raised a family of four children: Miguel Luis, Juan Ignacio, Jorge Eduardo and Maria Amparo and 13 grandchildren.[13]

With his wife, Catherine Connelly, he was making a stay at the University of California at San Diego, when there was the 1973 coup in Chile. He returned to Chile in May 1974 where he was one of the main defenders of university autonomy, endangered by the military intervention in academic life. In December 1975 he signed with other academic a letter entitled "University under surveillance" against military intervention in the University of Chile, written by philosopher Jorge Millas and published in the newspaper "El Mercurio". The letter was the first appearance of a public statement by a group of academics who criticized the handling of the University of Chile by the military government.[14]

Awards and distinctions

References

  1. ↑ Knud H. Nierhaus; Daniel N. Wilson (2004). Protein synthesis and ribosome structure : translating the genome. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-3-527-30638-1. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/1759.html
  3. ↑ "Ciento setenta años". Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Premios Nacionales - Jorge Allende Rivera". Explora. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ciento Setenta Años". Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Jorge Allende Premio Konex Mecosur 2013: Ciencia y Tecnología". Fundación Konex. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Jorge Allende Premio Konex Mecosur 2013: Ciencia y Tecnología". Fundación Konex. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Jorge Allende Premio Konex Mecosur 2013: Ciencia y Tecnología". Fundación Konex. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Fundación Allende Connelly, fomentando la educación en ciencias". Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Fundación Allende Connelly entrega la distinción 2015 de "Mejor tesis doctoral en Ciencias Biológicas"". Facultad de Medicina - Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Jorge Eduardo Allende Rivera". Grandes figuras de la Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Jorge Eduardo Allende Rivera". TWAS-Rolac. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Jorge Allende Premio Konex Mecosur 2013: Ciencia y Tecnología". Fundación Konex. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Jorge Eduardo Allende Rivera". Grandes figuras de la Universidad de Chile. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
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