Brian A. Larkins

Brian Allen Larkins (August 12, 1946 – January 19, 2025) was an American plant molecular biologist recognized for contributions to maize endosperm development and seed protein biology. He attended York High School, graduating in 1964. After graduating, he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, earning his BS degree in 1969 and his PhD degree in botany in 1974. As a graduate student, he developed methods for isolating intact plant polysomes, a technical advance that enabled early studies of plant messenger RNAs.

Larkins served as a professor in the department of biochemical genetics at Purdue University from 1976 to 1988. His research established foundational models for the synthesis, structure, and cellular organization of maize storage proteins, particularly zeins, and elucidated molecular mechanisms underlying endosperm development and kernel quality.

Beyond his research, Larkins was widely recognized for leadership and service to the plant biology community. For example, he served as Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell and as President of the International Society for Plant Molecular Biology, and later led major fundraising initiatives for the American Society of Plant Biologists, including the creation of the ASPB Legacy Society, which supports early-career scientists and long-term society programs.