Nobel Prize in Chemistry Is Awarded to 3 Scientists for Using Evolution in Design of Molecules

The 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to Frances H. Arnold of the United States, and jointly to George P. Smith of the United States and Gregory P. Winter of Britain for their work on evolutionary science.

Arnold conducted the first directed evolution of enzymes, proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Smith developed a method, known as phage display, in which a virus that infects bacteria can be used to evolve new proteins. Winter has used phage display to produce new pharmaceuticals.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the scientists had managed to harness the power of evolution in test tubes. Enzymes produced through directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from biofuels to medical treatments. Phage display has produced antibodies that can neutralize toxins, counteract autoimmune diseases and even cure metastatic cancer.

“This year’s Nobel laureates in chemistry have been inspired by the power of evolution and used the same principles — genetic change and selection — to develop proteins that solve mankind’s chemical problems,” the academy said in documents explaining the prizes.

Arnold’s work, which has been utilized to create sustainable biofuels, is “contributing to a greener world,” the academy added.

Smith’s development of phage display to link proteins to genes was described by the academy as “brilliant in its simplicity.” Winter was one of the leaders in using phage display to develop new biomolecules, including disease-blocking antibodies.

Arnold is a professor of chemical engineering, bioengineering and biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Smith is a professor emeritus of biological sciences at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Winter is research leader emeritus at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England.

The academy said that half of the roughly $1 million prize would be awarded to Arnold and that the other half would be shared by her fellow laureates, Dr. Smith and Dr. Winter.

Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson were recognized for developing a new way to assemble precise three-dimensional images of biological molecules like proteins, DNA and RNA. Their work has helped scientists decipher processes within cells that were previously invisible, and has led to better understanding of viruses like Zika.

— Arthur Ashkin of the United States, Gérard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for their work developing tools made of light beams.

— James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo were awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine Monday for a discovery that the body’s immune system can be used to attack cancer cells.

— The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday in Norway.

— The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science will be announced Monday in Sweden.

— The Nobel Prize in literature has been postponed. The institution that chooses the laureate is embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct, financial malpractice and repeated leaks — a crisis that led to the departure of several board members and required the intervention of the king of Sweden.