I am deeply saddened at the recent passing of Autar Krishen Mattoo, my colleague, scientific mentor and friend of over 44 years.
When I arrived at the Weizmann Institute as a graduate student in 1980, Autar was in the middle of an extended research fellowship there. The cover picture shows a young, bearded Autar standing on the left and an even younger me perched on the right. Our group was working on a very short-lived protein of chloroplast membranes, synthesized rapidly only to degrade within hours (Mattoo et al, 1984). At that time, we did not know it was the key “D1” protein of the photosynthetic reaction centre, using light energy to split water, releasing oxygen and providing electrons for CO₂ fixation. In so doing, the protein gets damaged needing frequent replacement. Autar established a very special, lifelong partnership with my PhD advisor, Prof. Marvin Edelman, and thus became a second mentor.
After taking a permanent position at the USDA Beltsville station, Mayland, Autar continued the collaborative research on theD1 protein, but also on his second scientific love, the plant hormone ethylene. His most cited publications include articles on both. Autar was a scientific heavyweight, with hundreds of publication, thousands of citations, and numerous international honours.
Autar was flamboyant and knew how to enjoy the good things in life, sharing them generously with his many friends. He was a strong presence in any scientific or social event he attended as reflected in his numerous coauthors, and hundreds of Facebook friends with whom he shared exquisite photographs through most of 2024.
He travelled widely, including frequent visits to his native India. He wore his identity as a Kashmiri Hindu with pride and humility in a delicate balance with his less-humble worldliness!
Namaste Autar. We will miss you.
The most-cited publications of AK Mattoo (from Google Scholar - https://lnkd.in/dkVbXEqA)
🙏 Mattoo AK, Hoffman-Falk H, Marder JB, Edelman M (1984). Regulation of protein metabolism: Coupling of photosynthetic electron transport to in vivo degradation of the rapidly metabolized 32-kilodaltonprotein of the chloroplast membranes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81(5),1380–1384. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.81.5.1380- 619 citations
🙏 Mattoo AK, Suttle JC eds (1991). The plant hormone ethylene (p.347). CRC press. ISBN 9781315896663 https://lnkd.in/dpxgf5y3- 507 citations.
