The Legacy of a Founding Father of Modern Cell Biology: George Emil Palade (1912-2008)

George Emil Palade’s scientific contributions significantly advanced the field of modern cell biology. He pioneered a multidisciplinary approach, combining cell fractionation, biochemistry, and electron microscopy, which led to the identification of the ribosome as the site of protein synthesis and elucidated the eukaryotic secretory pathway. For these accomplishments, Palade, along with Albert Claude and Christian de Duve, won the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This article provides an overview of Palade’s seminal research in the context of the early developments in the field.