Prof Sir Shankar Balasubramanian awarded Khorana Prize

Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian has received the Royal Society of Chemistry Khorana Prize, awarded for outstanding contributions through work at the chemistry and life science interface.

Professor Balasubramanian is recognised for groundbreaking and highly influential work exploring the chemistry and chemical biology of nucleic acids. These discoveries are advancing our understanding of cancer and gene regulation, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches.

DNA generally forms a two-stranded double helix, in which the four DNA building blocks link across the strands through specific hydrogen bonded base pairs – guanine (G) pairing with cytosine (C), and adenine (A) pairing with thymine (T).

In addition to this well-known form, a distinct four-stranded secondary structure called a G-quadruplex can form in certain G-rich regions of DNA (or RNA). In these structures, four guanine bases hydrogen-bond together in a planar arrangement known as a G-tetrad.

For the past 27 years, the Balasubramanian Group has focused on the chemistry, biological presence and functional significance of G-quadruplexes in human cells. These structures can form in genomic regions that regulate gene activity, suggesting they play a role in controlling whether genes are turned on or off.

The team believes G-quadruplexes appear to represent a previously unrecognised mechanism for regulating gene expression and cellular states. G-quadruplex formation is often associated with genes that are highly active in cancer.

Small, drug-like molecules that selectively bind to G-quadruplex structures have shown promising anticancer activity and have the potential to target a wide range of cancers without the extreme toxicities associated with standard chemotherapies

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The chemical sciences cover a rich and diverse collection of disciplines, from fundamental understanding of materials and the living world, to applications in medicine, sustainability, technology and more. By working together across borders and disciplines, chemists are finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Our prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge base, and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type, including those who contribute to the RSC’s work as volunteers. We celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself.

“Their passion, dedication and brilliance are an inspiration. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”