The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2006

This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Roger D. Kornberg for "for his studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription". His fundamental studies uncovered how the information stored in the genes is copied, and then transferred to those parts ofthe cells that produce proteins. Kornberg was the first to create an actual picture of this process at themolecular level, in the important group of organisms called eukaryotes (which, as opposed to bacteria,have well-defined cell nuclei). Mammals like ourselves, as well as ordinary yeast, belong to this groupof organisms.
Advanced information: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2006/chemadv06.pdf

Original scientific articles:
Cramer, P., Bushnell, D.A. and Kornberg, R.D. (2001) Structural basis of transcription: RNA polymerase II at 2.8ångstrom resolution. Science 292, 1863-1876.
Gnatt, A.L., Cramer, P., Fu, J., Bushnell, D.A. and Kornberg, R.D. (2001) Structural basis of transcription: An RNApolymerase II elongation complex at 3.3 Å resolution. Science 292, 1876-1882.
Bushnell, D.A., Westover, K.D., Davis, R.E. and Kornberg, R.D. (2004) Structural basis of transcription: An RNApolymerase II – TFIIB cocrystal at 4.5 angstroms. Science 303, 983-988.
Review article:Boeger, H., Bushnell, D.A., Davis, R., Griesenbeck, J., Lorch, Y., Strattan, J.S., Westover, K.D. and Kornberg, R.D.(2005). Structural basis of eukaryotic gene transcription. FEBS Lett. 579, 899-903.
Link:Film of transcription: The Dolan DNA learning center – genes in education. http://www.dnalc.org/home.html.Media showcase; Transcription: DNA codes for mRNA, 3D animation.