Rengaswami Chandrasekaran

Professor Food Sciences

Department: Department of Food Sciences
Phone: 765.494.4923
E-mail: chandra@purdue.edu

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

Curriculum Vitae

- Recent Publications

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

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

Chandrasekaran, R. (2007). Polysaccharide architecture and functionality. Osaka University Macromolecular Symposium on Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in Macromolecular Scien.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2007). Fiber diffraction, molecualr modeling and polysaccharide architecture. Symposium on Molecular Model Simulation: Can it contribute to develop effective use of bioresources?.

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Polysaccharides: Structures and Functionality. 2006 Food Science Forum.

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

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Sheet formation from Arabinan association: results from powder diffraction data. FiberNet Fiber Diffraction Workshop.

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

Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Polysaccharides: Paradigms or Puzzles?. FiberNet Fiber Diffraction Workshop.