[Nobel Prize 2002 for chemistry: mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance]

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2002 has been awarded to two powerful spectroscopic methodologies through three valorous scientists, John Fenn and Koichi Tanaka, for mass spectrometry and Kurt Wüthrich for nuclear magnetic resonance. These techniques were previously known for their intensive use in chemical analysis. They are now developed at the chemistry/biology interface. Two new methods of soft ionization in mass spectrometry and a strategy of sequential assignment of nuclear magnetic resonance signals of biopolymers now allow the use of these powerful and complementary methodologies for the structural analysis of biological macromolecules, proteins, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and polysaccharides. Through the elucidation of their planar and three-dimensional structures and of the molecular mechanisms that govern their interactions, these techniques now may afford precious clues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of life.