Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Dr. Nirotpal Mrinal

Assistant Professor

nmrinal@sau.ac.in

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:

Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – CDFD, Hyderabad (2008)

M.Sc. (Life Sciences) – Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (2001)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Assistant Professor: South Asian University, New Delhi, (2010 onwards)

Research Associate: CDFD, Hyderabad, (2008-2010)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Research focus of the lab is centered on genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

1. We work on gene regulation by bi-functional transcription factors like Rel, p53 etc. which can activate as well as repress gene expression. The question is that how these transcription factors find and distinguish activator and repressor target genes in the genome. Recently we showed that the major groove geometry of the Rel binding kB motifs is different in the activator and repressor target genes. We are working on other determinants of this molecular specificity which enable these transcription factors to correctly identify their targets. We mainly employ genetic and molecular approaches but also exploit computational methods to address these questions. Model system of the lab is Drosophila but we also use insect and mammalian cells for in vitro studies.

2. Other research interest of the lab is molecular evolution. We are trying to understand the evolution of modularity in the gain/loss of function in gene superfamilies.

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS:

1. Mrinal N*, Tomar A and Nagaraju J. Role of sequence encoded κB-DNA geometry in gene regulation by Dorsal. Nucleic Acids Res. (2011, In Press) [* Corresponding Author].

2. Mrinal N and Nagaraju J. Dynamic repositioning of Dorsal to two different kB motifs controls its autoregulation during immune response in Drosophila. J. Biol. Chem. 2010.

3. Mrinal N and Nagaraju J. Intron loss is associated with gain of function in the evolution of gloverin family of antibacterial genes in Bombyx mori. J. Biol. Chem. 2008.

INVITED REVIEW:

1. RNA interference in Lepidoptera: an overview of successful and unsuccessful studies and implications for experimental design. J. Insect Physiol. 2011

Terenius O, Papanicolaou A, Garbutt JS, Eleftherianos I, Huvenne H, Kanginakudru S, Albrechtsen M, An C, Aymeric JL, Barthel A, Bebas P, Bitra K, Bravo A, Chevalier F, Collinge DP, Crava CM, de Maagd RA, Duvic B, Erlandson M, Faye I, Felföldi G, Fujiwara H, Futahashi R, Gandhe AS, Gatehouse HS, Gatehouse LN, Giebultowicz JM, Gómez I, Grimmelikhuijzen CJ, Groot AT, Hauser F, Heckel DG, Hegedus DD, Hrycaj S, Huang L, Hull JJ, Iatrou K, Iga M, Kanost MR, Kotwica J, Li C, Li J, Liu J, Lundmark M, Matsumoto S, Meyering-Vos M, Millichap PJ, Monteiro A, Mrinal N, Niimi T, Nowara D, Ohnishi A, Oostra V, Ozaki K, Papakonstantinou M, Popadic A, Rajam MV, Saenko S, Simpson RM, Soberón M, Strand MR, Tomita S, Toprak U, Wang P, Wee CW, Whyard S, Zhang W, Nagaraju J, Ffrench-Constant RH, Herrero S, Gordon K, Swevers L, Smagghe G.

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY:

Molecular methods for GMO detection and quantification (2001-2004): N. Mrinal and J. Nagaraju.

This product has been successfully commercialized. (http://www.cdfd.org.in/lmgtot.html).