These models depict molecules that are essential for autophagy. Autophagy means “self-devouring” and is a process in our cells where molecules are broken down and recycled. These structures are composed of "ATG proteins", where ATG stands for "autophagy-related". The club-shaped structure is composed of ATG 12, ATG 15 and ATG 16. The spherical structure depicts the ATG 8 protein.
Yoshinori Ohsumi donated the models to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2012.
The statuette represents Yoshinori Ohsumi at his microscope when he started his research on autophagy, the process cells use to recycle chemical substances. Ohsumi was a professor at Tokyo University at the time. The statuette was made several years later, and Ohsumi received it as a gift from his colleagues.
Yoshinori Ohsumi donated the statuette to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2012.
