Cell biologist gains honor

By Anna Herkamp
Summer Reporter

Some professors choose to study one subject, while others such as professor William Cramer like to mix their different interests.

"I started out in physics because I liked it in high school," Cramer said. However, as time went on he developed an interest in biology and pre-medical studies as well.

Cramer was named one of the two new distinguished professors, Friday at the Board of Trustees meeting.

Cramer graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1959 with a degree in physics and completed a master's degree in the same subject from the University of Chicago in 1960. He finished his doctorate in biophysics at the University of Chicago in 1965 and spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate at the University of California at San Diego before joining the Purdue faculty in 1968.

Cramer's main research focuses on the structure and function of membrane proteins, especially cytochrome complexes associated with photosynthetic energy transduction and the formation of ion channels in bacteria.

Cramer said he chose these particular subjects of study because of his interest in photosynthetic energy transduction, a problem mediated by the proteins in cell membranes, he said.

"I liked the problems of energy and biology because most energy transfers happen at the cell membrane," he said.

Cramer has written over 183 journal articles on a range of topics. Those topics include energy conversion, the details of electron proteins, the structure of proteins and how ions get transferred across channels through membranes. This is another topic of research he explores. "I am very interested in the mechanisms of how protein gets imported into cells," he said.

Cramer has served on various governmental boards and agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health Panels. Cramer calls these panels "peer-review panels" because it is one way anyone who does good research is called upon to rate and judge current research and advise government committees how to spend money, he said. "Judging each other's research helps ensure the taxpayers' money is spent well."

Cramer and his research team are exploring the structure of large integral membrane proteins, and the proton and electron transfer impact.

Cramer gives his entire department and staff recognition for his distinguished professorship. "We are doing things no one has ever done before, but we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us."

Cramer also recognizes a specific group of people with whom he works. Without the involvement of students and fellow faculty, nothing could be accomplished, he said.

"It's not possible to carry out good long-term research without excellent students and post-doctorates. I am grateful to my long-term colleagues: D. Huang, M. Lindeberg, G. Soriano, R. Taylor, S. Zakharov, and H. Zhang."

He said his greatest career achievement of understanding the structure and function of protein transduction and ion transport across membranes could not have been achieved without them.

In the future, Cramer says he'd like to be able to fully understand the function of membrane proteins and continue working on disease and health related problems.

Of his distinguished professorship, Cramer says, "I hope it's an indication of the high quality of research and technology offered at Purdue."

Janet Smith, professor of biological sciences, said Cramer has been a tremendous asset to the biological sciences program at Purdue. He has been an excellent mentor to students and post doctorates, as well as the junior faculty, she said.

"He's also done a lot to raise research money for the department," Smith said.

Smith also collaborated with Cramer to study the molecular level of photosynthesis.

"I'd like to see our department stay on the cutting edge, combining different research approaches to answer complicated questions. We also do a variety of things that link different departments including computer science, chemistry and biology. Bill (Cramer) is always enthusiastic about building bridges. That's exactly the kind of leadership we need today," Smith said.

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