4-Mar-2023: Revisiting Structure- function relationships of protein on the Birth Centenary of Dr. G. N. Ramachandran: A pioneering biophysicist and structural biologist (CPBCR)

Department of Biochemistry at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat organized an international conference in offline mode on “Celebrating Proteins on the Birth Centenary of Dr. G. N. Ramachandran (2023)”. He was a pioneering scientist in the field of protein structure, who opened doors to the field of structural biology with his discovery of the structure of collagen and Ramachandran plots. The birth centenary celebrations of G. N. Ramachandran call for remembering his unique pursuits and outstanding achievements in science.

G. N. Ramachandran (1922-2001) is best known for his contributions to the study of the structure and function of proteins. He was born in Ernakulam, Kerala, and obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Madras.

Ramachandran's work focused on understanding the three-dimensional structures of proteins, which are essential for their biological functions. He is particularly well-known for his development of the Ramachandran plot, a graph that shows the distribution of the angles between the peptide bonds in a protein's backbone. This plot is widely used in structural biology to determine the conformation of amino acid residues in proteins.

Ramachandran also made significant contributions to the field of crystallography, which is the study of the arrangement of atoms in crystals. He was awarded numerous honors for his work, including the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, two of India's highest civilian honors, and the Guggenheim Fellowship.

Ramachandran was also known for his advocacy for scientific research in India. He was a founding member of the Indian National Science Academy and served as its president from 1985 to 1987.