Prof. N. Yathindra

Research Focus Key Words

Computational Structural Biology, Protein-nucleic Acid Interactions, RNase H.

Background

Prof. Yathindra obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physics from the University of Mysore. He then joined Prof. G N Ramachandran’s ‘Madras School of Biophysics’ from where he obtained his PhD degree in molecular biophysics. He went on to postdoctoral work with  Prof. M. Sundaralingam in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin. In 1977 he rejoined the University of Madras, where he served until 2004. Amongst other institutional responsibilities, he served one term as Dean (Academic). His various honours include being an elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences.

Education

PhD: Molecular Biophysics, University of Madras, Madras (1971)
Postdoctoral Research: Department of Biochemistry, University of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (1971-1976)
Professional Experience: Department of Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Madras (1977-2004)

Research Interest Profile

We have a broad interest in the area of computational approaches to better understand biomolecular structure and function with a focus on nucleic acids and protein-nucleic acid interactions. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations approaches are utilized to specifically examine how non-isostericity in base pairs and base triplets influence stability and sequence dependent structures of nucleic acids duplexes with non Watson and Crick base pairs and nucleic acids triplexes. We are exploring how disparate substrate recognition and catalytic action by the RNase H class of enzymes are manifested as a dynamic consequence of their static structures.

Group members

Dr. Raghavendran L N (post-doctoral fellow)

Publications and Patents

Prof. Yathindra has published almost 100 publications in the area of structural biology