Ferruccio Ritossa's scientific legacy 50 years after his discovery of the heat shock response: a new view of biology, a new society, and a new journal

Abstract

The pioneering discovery of the heat shock response by the Italian scientist Ferruccio Ritossa reached maturity this year, 2012. It was 50 years ago that Professor Ritossa, through an extraordinary combination of serendipity, curiosity, knowledge and inspiration, published the first observation that cells could mount very strong transcriptional activity when exposed to elevated temperatures, which was coined the heat shock response. This discovery led to the identification of heat shock proteins, which impact many areas of current biology and medicine, and has created a new avenue for more exciting discoveries. In recognition of the discovery of the heat shock response, Cell Stress Society International (CSSI) awarded Professor Ritossa with the CSSI medallion in October 2010 in Dozza, Italy. This article is based on a session of the Fifth CSSI Congress held in Québec commemorating Professor Ritossa and his discovery.

Fig. 1

Ferruccio Ritossa looking at chromosomal puffs in his laboratory in the early 1960s

Fig. 2

CSSI President Antonio De Maio presents the CSSI medallion to Ferruccio, October 2010, in Dozza, Italy

Fig. 3

Examples of sculptures by Ferruccio Ritossa. Da: Pensieri Scolpiti–Sculptured Thoughts. a “Timidi Flagellati”. b “Regina di Muffe”

Fig. 4

Gabriella Santoro, who organized the presentation event, with Ferruccio. One of his sculptures is in the background