|
Research
Activities
Publications
Citations
Education
Conference
Presentations
Reviewer
Role
Professional
Memberships
Current and Past Contacts
Resources
HOME PAGE
|
|
Research activities:
1. Current (Boston University,
MA): In the last decade, Shewanella
oneidensis has gained a lot of attention from
the microbiological research community, because of its potential
bioremediation, bioelectricity and bioenergy
applications. However, in order to turn the special capabilities of this
bacterium into useful applications, it is necessary to reach a thorough
understanding of its physiological, metabolic, proteomic and transcriptional
regulatory properties. This understanding, encoded in experimentally
supported quantitative models, will make it possible to engineer and optimize
the organism and its environment towards improved performance. Currently, we
are in process of building an integrated understanding of the metabolic and
gene regulatory systems of S. oneidensis MR-1
and their impact on the electron flux. Using a combination of experimental
and computational approaches, we are trying to define regulatory coupling
between catabolic and respiratory pathways, and integrating transcriptional
and metabolic regulatory networks of S. oneidensis
MR-1.
2.
Past (University of Pittsburgh, PA; and Northwestern
University, Chicago, IL):
Project 1-Metabolic Constraints in E.
coli: The effect of Macromolecular Crowding (MC) on metabolic networks
and cell function is still an unsolved problem in the constraint-based
literature, and has received very little formal attention. To assess the
effect of MC on the activity of metabolic networks, we used a modified FBA
model that takes into account the constraint imposed by inherent limit on the
attainable concentration of enzymes in the crowded cytoplasm. We performed
experimental measurements on E. coli and analyzed intracellular
fluxes, enzyme activities, extracellular substrates, and obtained the
transcriptional profile using microarrays on various set of growth conditions
to demonstrate that our new model (FBAwMC) up to a
great extent is sufficient to predict: 1./ maximum growth rates on individual
carbon substrates; 2./ selective substrate uptake and utilization from a
mixed-substrate environment; and 3./ existence of the regulatory events and metabolic
shifts that occur in E. coli during growth-phase shifts in both
multiple-, and single-substrate limited E. coli growth.
Project
2-Motifs and Origons in E. coli’s Transcriptional Regulatory
Network: Our goal was to understand the biological significance of in silico models of complex transcriptional networks
that arise from dynamic interactions among a variety of components and
together form various origons, motifs, modules and
networks in a cell. These networks do not function in isolation, however well
characterized functional origons exist in
biological systems. The diverse cellular processes of growth and development
are controlled by origons connected in elaborate
hierarchical and feedback structures. These origons
regulate the cellular growth, and the genes within these are part of several
metabolic pathways and are therefore involved in cellular response. Origons are responsible for autoregulation
in intracellular regulation of gene expression and also in feedback
inhibition in metabolic pathways. Our goal was to understand the fundamental
organizational levels of these biological systems using computational and
experimental approaches.
3. Ph.D. Microbiology (University
of Delhi, India):
My Ph.D. research in Microbiology was on
the "Characterization and application of a Bleach-stable alkaline
protease from Bacillus mojavensis in
detergent formulations". B. mojavensis,
a natural isolate produced an extracellular bleach-stable alkaline serine
protease, which was optimally active at a high alkaline pH and exhibited 60°C
as optimum temperature for maximum activity. I used this isolate for
production, purification, characterization and applications of its alkaline
protease in detergent formulations. Study of properties and compatibility of
the B. mojavensis alkaline protease with
various laboratory and commercial bleach, detergent, surfactants, and pH and
temperature kinetics, and comparison of its properties with other
commercially available alkaline proteases proved that this alkaline protease
can be used for large-scale application in detergent formulations.
4. MS Microbiology (Panjab University,
Chandigarh, India): The area of my
research during the MS program in Microbiology was on production and
characterization of alkaline xylanases and pectinases from microorganisms, and both these enzymes
were also tested for their applications in biobleaching
of pulp for a step towards minimizing the use of hazardous chlorine-based
chemicals used by commercial paper producing industries.
HOME
|
|
