Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Indian-British-American: Pioneering Structural Biologist, Nobel Laureate, and Former President of the Royal Society

Biography about Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

Venkatraman "Venki" Ramakrishnan is a renowned Indian-British-American structural biologist and biophysicist who has made pioneering contributions to the understanding of the ribosome, the molecular machinery responsible for protein synthesis in cells. Born in India, educated in the United States, and currently based in the United Kingdom, Ramakrishnan’s work has had a profound impact on molecular biology and has earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His achievements culminated in his tenure as President of the Royal Society, one of the most prestigious scientific organizations in the world. This biography delves into his life, education, career, and the legacy of his work.

 

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was born on April 5, 1952, in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. His parents, C. V. Ramakrishnan and Rajalakshmi Ramakrishnan, were both scientists. His father was a biochemist, and his mother was a physicist. This academic environment played a significant role in shaping Ramakrishnan’s intellectual curiosity from a young age.

Ramakrishnan grew up in an era when India was still finding its footing as an independent nation, and his parents' scientific background provided him with a strong foundation in the sciences. His family’s commitment to education, along with their supportive environment, encouraged him to explore various disciplines.

Education in India

Ramakrishnan completed his early education at local schools in Tamil Nadu, and after high school, he enrolled in Baroda University (now Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda) in Gujarat. He initially studied physics, receiving a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in physics in 1971. His interest in physics, particularly theoretical physics, stemmed from his admiration for prominent physicists like Richard Feynman and Paul Dirac. However, after completing his degree, Ramakrishnan felt a growing fascination with biology, which led him to shift his focus.

Academic Career and Transition to Biology

Graduate Studies in the United States

After completing his undergraduate studies, Ramakrishnan pursued graduate education in the United States. In 1971, he joined Ohio University to pursue a Ph.D. in physics. While studying at Ohio University, he developed a keen interest in the emerging field of molecular biology. This interdisciplinary field combined his interests in physics and biology, and he realized that the techniques of physics could be applied to biological systems to understand their function at a molecular level.

Ramakrishnan received his Ph.D. in physics in 1976, but by this time, he had firmly set his sights on biology. His interest in understanding the structures of biological molecules led him to pursue postdoctoral studies in biology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he worked in the lab of Mauricio Montal, a prominent biophysicist.

Shift to Structural Biology

Ramakrishnan’s shift from physics to biology was driven by his fascination with the molecular machinery of life. He decided to focus on structural biology, a field that uses techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structures of biological molecules. This was a bold move at the time, as structural biology was still a developing field, but Ramakrishnan’s background in physics gave him the skills necessary to tackle complex biological problems.

After his postdoctoral work at UCSD, he joined Yale University as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Here, Ramakrishnan began his research on the ribosome, a complex molecular machine responsible for synthesizing proteins in all living cells. His work at Yale marked the beginning of a long and fruitful journey into the study of the ribosome, which would eventually lead to groundbreaking discoveries.

Research on the Ribosome

The Ribosome and its Importance

The ribosome is a vital cellular component that reads the genetic code carried by messenger RNA (mRNA) and translates it into proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of cells. Understanding the structure and function of the ribosome is crucial for understanding the fundamental processes of life. Additionally, the ribosome is a key target for many antibiotics, making its study important for drug development.

Ramakrishnan’s research focused on determining the atomic structure of the ribosome. This was a monumental challenge because of the ribosome’s large size and complexity. Nevertheless, Ramakrishnan was determined to unravel the mysteries of this essential molecular machine.

X-ray Crystallography and Structural Biology

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ramakrishnan began using X-ray crystallography to study the structure of the ribosome. X-ray crystallography is a powerful technique that allows scientists to determine the three-dimensional structure of a molecule by analyzing the patterns produced when X-rays are scattered by the atoms in a crystal of the molecule. However, the ribosome is a particularly challenging target for crystallography because of its size and complexity.

Ramakrishnan worked at several institutions during this period, including Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Utah. During his time at these institutions, he collaborated with other leading scientists in the field of structural biology, including Ada Yonath and Thomas Steitz, both of whom were also working on ribosome structure.

Breakthroughs in Ribosome Research

After years of painstaking work, Ramakrishnan and his colleagues achieved a major breakthrough in 2000 when they determined the atomic structure of the small subunit of the ribosome. This discovery was a significant milestone in molecular biology, as it provided the first detailed look at the ribosome’s structure and shed light on how it functions.

The publication of the ribosome structure in 2000 was a watershed moment for Ramakrishnan’s career. It was quickly followed by the determination of the structure of the large subunit of the ribosome, and together, these discoveries provided a comprehensive view of the ribosome’s architecture and function. Ramakrishnan’s work revealed the intricate details of how the ribosome reads the genetic code and translates it into proteins, providing a molecular basis for understanding one of life’s most fundamental processes.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry

In 2009, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Ada Yonath and Thomas Steitz, for their groundbreaking research on the structure and function of the ribosome. The Nobel Committee recognized their work for “showing what the ribosome looks like and how it functions at the atomic level.” Their discoveries have had a profound impact on the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry, providing insights into how proteins are synthesized and how antibiotics can target bacterial ribosomes without affecting human cells.

The Nobel Prize was a defining moment in Ramakrishnan’s career, but he remained modest about the achievement. He often emphasized the collaborative nature of science and credited his colleagues and students for their contributions to the research. He also highlighted the importance of basic research, noting that discoveries like the ribosome structure often have far-reaching implications that may not be immediately apparent.

Career and Contributions Post-Nobel Prize

Move to the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Following his Nobel Prize win, Ramakrishnan continued his research on the ribosome and related topics. In 1999, shortly before his Nobel-winning discovery, he had moved to the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The MRC LMB is one of the world’s leading centers for molecular biology research and has been home to several Nobel laureates over the years.

At the MRC LMB, Ramakrishnan led a research group that continued to investigate the ribosome’s structure and function. His work contributed to a deeper understanding of how antibiotics interact with the ribosome and how mutations in the ribosome can lead to drug resistance. Ramakrishnan’s research has also explored the evolution of the ribosome and its role in the early stages of life on Earth.

Leadership and Presidency of the Royal Society

In 2015, Ramakrishnan was elected as the President of the Royal Society, one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific organizations in the world. The Royal Society, founded in 1660, has been at the forefront of scientific research and discovery for centuries, and its members have included some of the greatest minds in history, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein.

As President of the Royal Society, Ramakrishnan played a key role in promoting scientific research and education in the United Kingdom and internationally. He was a vocal advocate for the importance of science in addressing global challenges such as climate change, public health, and technological innovation. During his tenure, Ramakrishnan also emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in science, recognizing that a wide range of perspectives is essential for fostering innovation and creativity.

Ramakrishnan served as President of the Royal Society until 2020, and his leadership was widely praised for its emphasis on the importance of science in society and its support for early-career researchers.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his illustrious career, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to science. In addition to the Nobel Prize, some of his notable accolades include:

Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) (2003)

• Awarded By: Royal Society of London
• For: His outstanding contributions to biological sciences, including his pioneering work on ribosome structure.

Padma Vibhushan (2010)

• Awarded By: Government of India
• For: His exceptional and distinguished service in the field of science and engineering, particularly for his work on the ribosome structure.

Knighthood (2012)

• Awarded By: The United Kingdom
• For: His services to molecular biology, Ramakrishnan was knighted as a Knight Bachelor.

Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2007)

• Awarded By: Louis-Jeantet Foundation
• For: His contributions to medical research, particularly his elucidation of the structure of the ribosome and its role in protein synthesis.

Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences (2007)

• Awarded By: National Academy of Sciences, USA
• For: His outstanding contributions to the field of molecular biology and his work on ribosomes.

Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (2008)

• Awarded By: Indian National Science Academy
• For: His achievements and contributions to science on an international level.

Member of EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) (2002)

• Awarded By: EMBO
• For: His excellence in molecular biology research and contributions to the field.

Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge

• Awarded By: Trinity College, University of Cambridge
• For: His academic and scientific contributions, Ramakrishnan was elected as a Fellow of one of the most prestigious colleges at Cambridge.

President of the Royal Society (2015-2020)

• Appointed By: Royal Society of London
• For: His leadership and contributions to science and scientific policy, Ramakrishnan was elected as the President of the Royal Society, one of the most significant scientific organizations globally.

Order of Merit (2022)

• Awarded By: Queen Elizabeth II
• For: His distinguished service to science and molecular biology, especially for his research on the ribosome.

Copley Medal (2017)

• Awarded By: Royal Society
• For: His sustained, impactful work on ribosomes. The Copley Medal is the Royal Society’s oldest and most prestigious award, predating the Nobel Prize.

Sir Hans Krebs Medal (2006)

• Awarded By: Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
• For: His significant contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology.

Heinz Prize in Biological Sciences (2010)

• Awarded By: The Heinz Family Foundation
• For: His work on ribosomes and contributions to the understanding of biological processes that are essential for life.

Pearl Meister Greengard Prize (2010)

• Awarded By: Rockefeller University
• For: His contributions to the structural biology of the ribosome.

Personal Life and Legacy

Personal Life

Ramakrishnan is known for his humility and down-to-earth personality, despite his remarkable achievements in science. He is married to Vera Rosenberry, an author and illustrator of children’s books. The couple has two children. Ramakrishnan’s personal life reflects his passion for both science and the arts, and he has often spoken about the importance of creativity and curiosity in both fields.

Ramakrishnan has also been candid about the challenges he faced throughout his career, including the difficulty of switching fields from physics to biology and the perseverance required to solve complex scientific problems. He has encouraged young scientists to be resilient and to pursue their passions, even when faced with obstacles.

Contributions to Science and Society

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan’s contributions to science have had a lasting impact on the fields of molecular biology and structural biology. His work on the ribosome has not only advanced our understanding of one of life’s most fundamental processes but has also opened new avenues for drug development and medical research.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Ramakrishnan’s leadership in the scientific community has left a lasting legacy. His tenure as President of the Royal Society helped to raise the profile of science in public discourse and emphasized the importance of research and education in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

Conclusion

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan’s journey from a small town in India to the pinnacle of scientific achievement is a testament to his intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and dedication to advancing human knowledge. His groundbreaking research on the ribosome has transformed our understanding of biology, and his leadership in the scientific community has inspired countless researchers around the world.

Ramakrishnan’s story is one of resilience and determination, and his contributions to science will continue to shape the future of molecular biology for years to come. Through his work, Ramakrishnan has not only uncovered the molecular machinery of life but has also demonstrated the power of science to transcend borders and bring people together in the pursuit of knowledge.

Share this

Earthisone