Audrey Stevens Niyogi | |
|---|---|
 Audrey Stevens Niyogi, co-discoverer of RNA polymerase, at home in Oak Ridge, TN, February 12, 2002 | |
| Born | Audrey Louise Stevens (1932-07-21)21 July 1932 Leigh, Nebraska, United States |
| Died | 28 February 2010(2010-02-28) (aged 77) |
| Education |
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| Known for | Co-discoverer ofRNA polymerase |
| Spouse | Salil Kumar Niyogi |
| Children | Kris Kumar Niyogi Dev Kumar Niyogi |
| Awards | Election to theNational Academy of Sciences |
Audrey Stevens Niyogi (July 21, 1932 – February 28, 2010) was an American biochemist, best known as a co-discoverer ofRNA polymerase.[1][2]
Audrey Stevens Niyogi was born on a farm nearLeigh, Nebraska, the third child of Louise and John Stevens. She had an older brother Travis and a fraternal twin sister Ardyce.[3] Later the family moved to another farm about 10 miles fromWayne, Nebraska. When teenagers, Audrey and Ardyce boarded with a family in town so they could attend high school without the long commute.
Audrey pursued the study of chemistry following in her older brother’s footsteps, who pursued a career in organic chemistry.[4] After 2 years at theNebraska State Teachers College (nowWayne State College), she earned her BS in chemistry fromIowa State College (nowIowa State University) in 1953, and her PhD in biochemistry fromCase Western Reserve University in 1958.[3]
While a postdoctoral researcher atNIH, Audrey Stevens independently conducted original experiments demonstrating the synthesis of RNA inE. coli cells.[5] Thus, she is one of 4 researchers credited with the discovery ofRNA polymerase.[1] From there, Audrey became a professor atSt. Louis University School of Medicine and then spent time at theUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, before settling atOak Ridge National Laboratory, where she spent the rest of her career.[3]
In 1972, Stevens isolated a 10 kDa protein fromE.coli infected withT4 bacteriophage which inhibited RNA polymerase.[6] This protein is ananti-sigma factor which has been named "Audrey Stevens' Inhibitor".[7]
In 1998, Audrey Stevens Niyogi was elected to theNational Academy of Sciences[8] in recognition of her many valuable contributions to the field of biochemistry.[4]
Audrey was an early pioneer in balancing a scientific career with family life. In 1964, she married a fellow biochemist, Salil Kumar Niyogi. They remained married until their deaths in 2010. Together they had 2 sons, Krishna and Dev Niyogi,[3] who also pursued careers in the biological sciences.[9][10] After her second son was born in 1967, in order to devote more time to parenting, Audrey had her position atORNL officially changed to half time. Although she continued to work hours that were closer to full-time, this gave her the flexibility to be more available to her children.[4] She continued conducting experiments and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals into her late 60's.[4]
