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G.N. Ramachandran was an Indian physicist, and his contributions led to the development of the Ramachandran Plot for the understanding of the peptide structure. He is considered the first person to propose the triple-helical structure of collagen, and he also made major contributions to biology and physics. Read this blog to learn more about G.N. Ramachandran and his life.
Table of Contents
Overview of G.N. Ramachandran
| Field | Description |
| Full Name | Gopalasamudram Narayanan Iyer Ramachandran |
| Life Span | 1922-2001 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Field | Biochemistry, Crystallography |
| Known for | Ramachandran plot (protein structure analysis) |
| Contribution | Pioneered understanding of protein structure and function |
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Early Life of G.N. Ramachandran
Ramachandran was born in a small town in Tamil Nadu, known as Ernakulam, to a Brahmin family and completed his BSc Honours in Physics from St. Joseph College in 1939.
- In 1942, he joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
- Under the guidance of Sir C.V. Raman, he completed his master’s in physics and doctoral thesis.
- While receiving his D.Sc. degree in 1947, he studied crystal physics and optics.
- Later, under the guidance of Professor William Alfred Wooster, also known as W.A. Wooster, Ramachandran spent two years (1947–1949) at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, where he was awarded his PhD for “studies on X-ray diffuse scattering and its application to the determination of elastic constants.”
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G.N. Ramachandran Discovery
The areas of G.N.Ramachandran’s research and his discoveries ere –
| Area of Research | Specific Contribution | Impact |
| Protein Structure & Function | Proposed the triple helical structure of collagen (1954) | Explained the strength and flexibility of connective tissues |
| Protein Structure & Function | Developed the Ramachandran plot (1960s) | Essential tool for protein structure prediction and understanding protein function |
| Crystallography | Pioneered image reconstruction using the convolution technique | Advanced structural analysis in various scientific fields |
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G.N. Ramachandran Later years
Throughout his later years, G.N. Ramachandran maintained his scientific contributions, gained global recognition, and saw a slow deterioration in his health.
- His work on the collagen structure was a huge success, after which he shifted his focus to other biological macromolecules and their roles in biological processes.
- The “Madras conferences” are the name given to the series of international conferences on biopolymer conformation that Ramachandran organized.
- In 1970, Ramachandran left the University of Madras and spent a year at the Biophysics Department of the University of Chicago.
- In 1971, Ramachandran returned to India and established the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore
- His work is acknowledged globally, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
- He passed away in 2001 at the age of 78.
FAQs
A tool for visualizing protein backbone conformations, crucial for understanding protein structure and function.
He pioneered the triple helical structure of collagen and developed the Ramachandran plot.
He conducted research at institutions like the Indian Institute of Science and the University of Chicago.
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