Venki Ramakrishnan

How Venki Ramakrishnan's pioneering work in ribosomes led to a Nobel Prize

Introduction

Venki Ramakrishnan is an Indian-born British structural biologist who was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome. Ribosomes are the protein-producing machinery of cells, and Ramakrishnan's work has provided fundamental insights into how they work. His research has also led to the development of new antibiotics that target ribosomes.

Early life and education

Venki Ramakrishnan was born in Chidambaram, India, in 1952. He studied physics at the University of Madras and then moved to the United States to pursue a doctorate in biophysics at the University of California, Berkeley. After completing his doctorate, he moved to the University of Yale, where he began his work on ribosomes.

Research on ribosomes

Ribosomes are large, complex machines that are responsible for protein synthesis. They are composed of two subunits, a large subunit and a small subunit. The large subunit contains the catalytic site where proteins are synthesized, while the small subunit binds to messenger RNA (mRNA) and helps to decode the genetic code.

Ramakrishnan's research focused on the structure of the large subunit of the ribosome. He used X-ray crystallography to determine the atomic structure of the subunit, which revealed the location of the catalytic site and the path of mRNA through the ribosome.

Ramakrishnan's work has provided fundamental insights into how ribosomes work. His research has also led to the development of new antibiotics that target ribosomes. These antibiotics are effective against a wide range of bacteria, including those that are resistant to other antibiotics.

Awards and honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Ramakrishnan has received numerous other awards and honors for his work. He is a member of the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences. He has also been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honor.

Conclusion

Venki Ramakrishnan is one of the world's leading structural biologists. His work on the structure and function of ribosomes has provided fundamental insights into how cells work. His research has also led to the development of new antibiotics that target ribosomes. Ramakrishnan's work is a testament to the power of basic research to improve our understanding of the world and to develop new technologies to improve human health.