In June 2011, one of the top Israeli scientists, Israel Prize laureate, Professor Natan Sharon, passed away
Professor Sharon was one of the leading biochemists in the world in the field that deals with the relationship between proteins and sugars. He focused his research on substances called glycoproteins, proteins associated with sugars, and lectins, proteins with the selective ability to recognize sugars and bind to them. These substances are very common throughout the animal and plant world and have important roles in a variety of processes such as cell adhesion, regulating the level of proteins in the blood and identifying pathogens. Sharon and his group members deciphered the molecular structures of many of these substances and discovered their biological function. It was Professor Sharon who gave a new name to the field - glycobiology. Like many who engage in pure research, Professor Sharon began his interest in the field out of pure curiosity, but over the years it became clear that understanding the structure and the binding method of sugars to cells is of crucial medical importance, and his research led to the development of new methods that led, among other things, to an improvement in the success of bone marrow transplant surgeries.
Natan Sharon studied for his doctorate at the Weizmann Institute of Science in the early 50s under the guidance of the late Professor Aharon Katzir and received the degree in 1953 from the Hebrew University (because the young institute was not yet allowed to award this degree). After training in the USA, he returned to the biophysics department at the institute where he worked until his last day, and even headed it in the years 1973-1983. He wrote hundreds of scientific articles and books, and gained a worldwide reputation. Befitting his status, he won a large number of prizes, signs of appreciation and scientific honors, among them membership in the Israeli Academy of Sciences and the Israel Prize - the highest award given by the state to its senior scientists.
Professor Sharon devoted his time to scientific communication, and did a lot to bring science closer to the general public. He often lectured in front of audiences, was one of the editors of the scientific programs on the radio "What's New in Science" and "Olam Hameda", edited a scientific column in the newspaper "Haaretz" and edited the journal "Mada".
Of blessed memory
