GN Ramachandran (1922–2001)

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Obituary bonded atoms. This investigation eventually resulted in the celebrated G. N. Ramachandran (1922–2001) Ramachandran map, proposed in 1963 by Ramachandran, C. Ramakrishnan and V. There are few instances where research Sasisekharan. The map sets the limits from a comparatively obscure laboratory, imposed on polypeptide chain far removed from the main centres of conformation by the need for non-bonded

international research, has made a lasting atoms to keep out of each other’s way. ADENINE PRESS impression on world science. The work of Eventually the Ramachandran map G. N. Ramachandran, the renowned turned out to be much more broadly crystallographer and molecular biophysicist applicable than had perhaps been (or structural biologist in the current originally intended. Today it provides the parlance), is one such rare example. simplest complete description of protein Ramachandran died at Chennai, formerly conformation. It is also the most Madras, on 7 April 2001. It is also important tool for the validation of remarkable that he produced so much protein structure and, in a way, has seminal work even after withdrawing from immortalized Ramachandran. But he and mainstream research while still quite young. his colleagues’ research on proteins other Ramachandran had his early education than collagen, and on nucleic acids and at Ernakulam, now in the southern Indian polysaccharides, was also monumental. state of Kerala, and earned his first degree And Ramachandran was among the in physics at St Joseph’s College, Trichy, in pioneers who laid the foundations of the Tamil Nadu state. He joined the Indian Renowned thriving field of molecular modelling. Institute of Science, Bangalore, in 1942 to crystallographer and His early work in optics, X-ray study electrical engineering. But he soon structural biologist diffraction and diffuse scattering stood came under the spell of the Nobel laureate, Ramachandran in good stead when C. V. Raman, and — to the consternation subsequently worked on mathematical dealing with problems in X-ray of the professor of electrical engineering philosophy and logic until he was crystallography. He illuminated the field — shifted to the physics department. After incapacitated by bad health. with imaginative theoretical ideas as earning his MSc and DSc under the It was discussions with J. D. Bernal, much as he suggested practical solutions. supervision of Raman, he moved to the who visited Madras in 1952–53, that led His 1956 contribution on the use of Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK, Ramachandran to the problem of the anomalous dispersion in phase on a scholarship, where he took his second structure of collagen. Collagen is the determination in X-ray structure analysis doctorate. He returned to the Indian fibrous protein found in skin, bone and is a landmark in the development of the Institute of Science in 1949, working as an tendon, and it was to long defy attempts to field. He initiated studies on assistant professor in the physics solve its structure using X-ray fibre crystallographic statistics. And his work department until 1952. diffraction and modelling. By the early on Fourier methods, along with others It was his move to start a physics 1950s Linus Pauling had already predicted such as R. Srinivasan, created part of the department at Madras University, at the the existence of the famous Ȋ-helix — a foundations of modern X-ray comparatively young age of 29 for a full characteristic structural feature of crystallography. Finally, he contributed to professor, that marked the beginning of an proteins — using simple modelling, and developments in three-dimensional image extraordinarily productive phase in Watson and Crick’s structure of DNA was reconstruction, an aspect of his work that Ramachandran’s career. This period saw shortly to appear. More than one group is insufficiently appreciated. It is fitting his greatest achievements, including were at that time working on collagen, but that the last major award he received, in determination of the structure of the protein Bernal felt that the problem was still open. 1999, was the Ewald Prize of the collagen, and was characterized by what I Following his advice, Ramachandran International Union of Crystallography. can only think was a unique relationship and Gopinath Kartha set to work, and This prize is awarded only every three between a senior university official and a within a couple of years developed the years, and went to Ramachandran for his young scientist. A. L. Lashmanaswamy three-stranded, coiled-coil, helical model huge overall influence on crystallography. Mudaliar (here on the left, with of collagen. This was followed by what in To scientists of my generation in India, Ramachandran in the centre), the retrospect appears to be needlessly Ramachandran was a source of scientific university’s vice-chancellor, treated acrimonious controversy over the details. and personal inspiration. Most of his Ramachandran almost as a son and Ramachandran and his colleagues contributions were based on simple, yet provided him with full administrative and continued to refine the structure by striking, ideas; and he showed how financial support. Ramachandran’s mandate including water molecules. Some 50 years international science could be influenced was to develop a world-class research on, the Ramachandran model has stood even from less well-endowed centre at Madras, which he duly did. the test of time. neighbourhoods. Ramachandran left Twenty years on, however, he found it The controversy over the structure had structural biology and mainstream difficult to adjust to the new regime when two effects on Ramachandran, one research about a quarter of a century ago. Mudaliar retired. In 1971, he returned to negative and one positive. On one hand, Yet his presence in the area remains as the Bangalore Institute to establish the he felt that there was undue hesitation in vibrant as ever. M. Vijayan molecular biophysics unit, which today according him the credit due to him. On M. Vijayan is at the Molecular Biophysics Unit, remains a major research centre. He the other, it led him to an intense study of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012, largely withdrew from mainstream the core issue in the debate, the minimum India. scientific research in the mid-1970s, and possible distance between two non- e-mail:[email protected]