Rengaswami Chandrasekaran

Department of Food Sciences

Professor Emeritus of Food Science

Email

chandra@purdue.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D. (X-ray Crystallography), University of Madras, India

Affiliations

Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research

Research

The main focus is determination of three-dimensional structures of polysaccharides useful in industrial applications and nucleic acids of specific base compositions and sequences which are biologically important. X-ray diffraction analysis and computer modeling are two of the major tools used in this research. These systematic investigations enable us to establish the molecular structures of polysaccharides, often surrounded by cations and water molecules, to visualize their interactions with proteins, and subsequently, to correlate these results with their functional properties. This information is relevant for developing tailor-made polymer systems by chemical modification, addition of co-solutes, preparation of mixtures or other means. Similarly, structural data from our studies on nucleic acid morphologies and nucleic acid-drug complexes are helpful to understand the molecular basis of biological functions and are intended to aid in designing possible cures for some diseases.

Teaching

Polysaccharide Structure and Function

X-ray Fiber Diffraction Laboratory

Industrial

Research projects with polysaccharide gum industries

International

Collaborative research with laboratories in Britain, Italy, Japan and France

Awards & Honors

(2003) Carbohydrate Research Cover page (2003). Carbohydrate Research.

Selected Publications

Chandrasekaran, R., & Stubbs, G. (2012). Fiber diffraction. In International Tables for Crystallography (2nd ed/Vol F, Ch 19.5, pp 583-592). Chichester, UK: Wiley.

Janaswamy, S., & Chandrasekaran, R. (2008). Heterogeneity in iota-carrageenan molecular structure: insights for polymorph II-III transition in the presence of calcium ions. Carbohydrate Research, 343, 364-373.

Chandrasekaran, R., & Janaswamy, S. (2008). Polysaccharide architecture and functionality. Chemistry, Physics and Biology in Macromolecular Science, 147-158.

Janaswamy, S., & Chandrasekaran, R. (2007). A novel packing arrangement of calcium iota-carrageenan. Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2007). Fiber diffraction, molecualr modeling and polysaccharide architecture.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2007). Polysaccharide architecture and functionality.

Han, X., Ao, Z., Janaswamy, S., Jane, J., Chandrasekaran, R., & Hamaker, B. (2006). Development of a low glycemic maiz starch: Preparation and characterization. Biomacromolecules, 7, 1162-1168.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Food Science at Purdue University.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Polymorphic and pseudopolymorphic behavior of the sodium salt of iota-carrageenan.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Polysaccharides: Paradigms or Puzzles?