MADISON - Thomas Record, a biophysical chemist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been named one of six 2006 Society Fellows by the Biophysical Society, a 7,000-member U.S. organization that represents global biophysics research.

A chaired professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Record hopes that the new honor will help in continuing to attract talented students and extramural funding for his research.

A UW-Madison faculty member for 35 years, Record is a basic scientist whose laboratory has long explored how cell proteins recognize and bind to DNA sequences, a critical process for the expression of genetic information. Record and his group have described, for instance, the binding behavior of a protein known as RNA polymerase, which, like a tiny molecular machine, recognizes where gene sequences begin on DNA and effectively translates that information into a "cellular recipe" for protein manufacture.

Before joining the UW-Madison faculty in 1970, Record completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University and received a doctoral degree in biophysical chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. As an undergraduate, Record studied chemistry at Yale University.

MADISON - University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemists have developed an approach that allows them to measure with unprecedented accuracy the strengths of hydrogen bonds in a protein. The scientists were then able to predict the function of different versions of the protein based on structural information, a novel outcome that was published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

MADISON - Vibrantly colored creatures from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean harbor toxins that potentially can act as powerful anti-cancer drugs, according to research findings from University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemists and their Italian colleagues.

The research team has defined the structure of the toxins and provided a basic understanding that can be used to synthesize pharmaceuticals, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Researchers at the Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics, based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have received a $20 million award to fund Phase II of the Protein Structure Initiative over the next five years.

Wisconsin's newest agricultural ambassador, Gena Cooper, 22 of Mukwonago, is ready to take the message of quality agricultural products to the ends of the state, the country and beyond.

The world's largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society, has named Laura L. Kiessling editor in chief of ACS Chemical Biology, a new publication scheduled to launch in 2006. Kiessling is professor of chemistry and biochemistry and MacArthur Foundation Fellow at UW-Madison.

Colleen Clary from the Department Office was awarded for her dedication and hard work with graduate student admissions.

Four faculty members are recipients of the 2005 Hilldale Awards, which annually recognize excellence in teaching, research and public service.

The awards, given yearly since 1987, honor top professors in four university divisions: biological sciences, physical sciences, social studies, and arts and humanities.

The award is to recognize faculty/staff who have demonstrated unusual concern for, and provided exceptional service to, undergraduate, graduate and Short Course students. The service should exceed the level that might normally be expected from faculty or staff, and can include: mentoring /advising of individual students or student groups; creating formal or informal experiential learning opportunities; providing *leadership to improve the educational experience; service on committees related to student life and academic achievement; other activities that enhance the educational experience of students.

The Emil Thomas Kaiser Award from the Protein Society award recognizes a significant contribution in applying chemistry to the study of proteins