Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering

&ldquo;IIT Jodhpur is committed to impart quality education to facilitate the creation of qualified, competent and responsible human resources to meet the emerging technological challenges of the world. It is working towards creating an equitable learning platform that is positive, accessible and effective in the face of the modern societal and scientific advancements.

Flexibility in curriculum, in all its academic programs, encompassing elements of teaching, research, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship is the most unique feature of IIT Jodhpur. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the National Mission on Cyber Physical Systems, has identified IIT Jodhpur as a Technology &amp; Innovation Hub in the area of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The institute has also been nominated as the coordinator for the Jodhpur City and Knowledge Cluster by the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India.

The sprawling 852-acre IIT Jodhpur campus is a majestic tribute to the deep-rooted diverse cultural heritage of the region. The campus is an architectural masterpiece, which is slated to become an international exemplar of sustainability with net-zero energy, and advanced water and waste management strategies.&rdquo;

IIT Jodhpur

In routine course of life, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is a well-proposed notion that treatment of NSAIDs may induce anti-proliferative effects in numerous cancer cells. Ibuprofen from isobutylphenylpropanoic acid is NSAID and used to relieve fever, pain, and inflammation. It is also used for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, patent ductus arteriosus, and for pericarditis. Despite few emerging studies have expanded the fundamental concept that the treatment of NSAIDs influences apoptosis in cancer cells, however the NSAID-mediated precise mechanisms that determine apoptosis induction without producing adverse consequences in variety of cancer cells are largely unknown. In our present study, we have observed that ibuprofen reduces proteasome activity, enhances the aggregation of ubiquitylated abnormal proteins, and also elevates the accumulation of crucial proteasome substrates. Ibuprofen treatment causes mitochondrial abnormalities and releases cytochrome c into cytosol. Perhaps, the more detailed study is needed in the future to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of NSAIDs that can induce apoptosis without adverse effects and produce effective anti-tumor effects and consequently help in neurodegeneration and ageing. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

World University root node

Molecular Neurobiology

Ibuprofen Induces Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis Through Proteasomal Dysfunction

The physiochemical properties such as (i) electrical conductivity in solution phase, (ii) response to electrochemical perturbations, (iii) functional group finger print in Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR), Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and (iv) surface morphology employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) were studied for α,β-tubulin dimer (microtubules) extracted from the plant source, Arachis Hypogaea. To understand the difference in basic mechanism of electronic conduction, a comparison of physiochemical properties of microtubules, Graphite Encapsulated Iron Cobalt nanoparticles (GE-FeCo NPs) and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in the buffer solution were also studied. The electrical conductivity of the microtubules suspended in buffer solution is calculated as 0.056 S/m ± 0.005 S/m and the calculated value is approximately 37 times higher than the value of 0.0015S/m reported in the literature. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthetic Metals

Physiochemical Characterization of tubulin from Arachis hypogaea

Cancer Research 76 (14 Supplement)

Novel role of CB2R in tuning breast tumor microenvironment, EGF/EGFR and IGF-I/IGF-IR pathways

The heat shock response is a conserved defense mechanism that protects cells from physiological stress, including thermal stress. Besides the activation of heat-shock-protein genes, the heat shock response is also known to bring about global suppression of transcription; however, the mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood. One of the intriguing aspects of the heat shock response in human cells is the transcription of satellite-III (Sat3) long non-coding RNAs and their association with nuclear stress bodies (nSBs) of unknown function. Besides association with the Sat3 transcript, the nSBs are also known to recruit the transcription factors HSF1 and CREBBP, and several RNA-binding proteins, including the splicing factor SRSF1. We demonstrate here that the recruitment of CREBBP and SRSF1 to nSBs is Sat3-dependent, and that loss of Sat3 transcripts relieves the heat-shock-induced transcriptional repression of a few target genes. Conversely, forced expression of Sat3 transcripts results in the formation of nSBs and transcriptional repression even without a heat shock. Our results thus provide a novel insight into the regulatory role for the Sat3 transcripts in heatshock- dependent transcriptional repression. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Fulltext

Journal of Cell Science

Human satellite-III non-coding RNAs modulate heat-shockinduced transcriptional repression

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine documented and practised since 1500 B.C., follows a systems approach that has interesting parallels with contemporary personalized genomic medicine approaches to the understanding and management of health and disease. It is based on the trisutra, which are the three aspects of causes, features and therapeutics that are interconnected through a common organizing principle termed ‘tridosha’. Tridosha comprise three ascertainable physiological entities; vata (kinetic), pitta (metabolic) and kapha (potential) that are pervasive across systems, work in conjunction with each other, respond to the external environment and maintain homeostasis. Each individual is born with a specific proportion of tridosha that are not only genetically determined but also influenced by the environment during foetal development. Jointly they determine a person’s basic constitution, which is termed their ‘prakriti’. Development and progression of different diseases with their subtypes are thought to depend on the origin and mechanism of perturbation of the doshas, and the aim of therapeutic practice is to ensure that the doshas retain their homeostatic state. Similarly, western systems biology epitomized by translational P4 medicine envisages the integration of multiscalar genetic, cellular, physiological and environmental networks to predict phenotypic outcomes of perturbations. In this perspective article, we aim to outline the shape of a unifying scaffold that may allow the two intellectual traditions to enhance one another. Specifically, we illustrate how a unique integrative ‘Ayurgenomics’ approach can be used to integrate the trisutra concept of Ayurveda with genomics. We observe biochemical and molecular correlates of prakriti and show how these differ significantly in processes that are linked to intermediate patho-phenotypes, known to take different course in diseases. We also observe a significant enrichment of the highly connected hub genes which could explain differences in prakriti, focussing on EGLN1, a key oxygen sensor that differs between prakriti types and is linked to high altitude adaptation. Integrating our observation with the current literature, we demonstrate how EGLN1 could qualify as a molecular equivalent of tridosha that can modulate different phenotypic outcomes, where hypoxia is a cause or a consequence both during health and diseased states. Our studies affirm that integration of the trisutra framework through Ayurgenomics can guide the identification of predisposed groups of individuals and enable discovery of actionable therapeutic points in an individualized manner. © 2016, Indian Academy of Sciences.

Journal of Genetics

Genomic insights into ayurvedic and western approaches to personalized medicine

Single formulation based delivery of probiotic-drug combination is envisioned as a superior therapeutic delivery modality for the diseases like Crohn's diseases, ulceritive colitis and Recurrent Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhoea (RCDAD). Keeping this perspective in mind, here we have developed natural gum [using a combination of aqueous solution of xantham gum (X) and guar gum (G)] modified sunflower oil based emulsion gels for the delivery of probiotics-drugs combination. FT-IR analysis and fluorescence microscopy together confirmed the formation of oil-in-water type emulsion gel by physical gelation in presence of the physical gelator sorbitan monopalmitate (SM). Other studies (XRD, DSC, mechanical properties and disintegration study) revealed that the variation in relative proportion of the two gums has a sporadic but significant effect on the physico-chemical properties of the gel. Post storage viability of commercially used probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp 299v) at different storage conditions (4 °C, −20 °C, −196 °C) was found higher in the emulsion gels with respect to the control. Moreover, the gels were found suitable for sustained delivery of metronidazole (the lipophilic drug often used with Lp 299v). In conclusion, the natural gum modified emulsion gel may be used as a delivery system for the probiotic-drug combination. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Natural gum modified emulsion gel as single carrier for the oral delivery of probiotic-drug combination

An efficient and regioselective synthetic route to naphthoquinone/naphthoquinol-carbohydrate hybrids has been developed. It is based upon anionic annulation of 3-nucleofugalphthalides with an acrylate appended sugar moiety. In each of the annulations studied, the arene-carbohydrate hybrids were obtained in good to excellent yields. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthetic naphthoquinone/naphthonol-carbohydrate hybrids were evaluated against the human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), and a few of them were found to exhibit potent anticancer activity against the cell line. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

Regioselective synthesis of naphthoquinone/naphthoquinol-carbohydrate hybrids by [4 + 2] anionic annulations and studies on their cytotoxicity

We show here that computer game players can build high-quality crystal structures. Introduction of a new feature into the computer game Foldit allows players to build and real-space refine structures into electron density maps. To assess the usefulness of this feature, we held a crystallographic model-building competition between trained crystallographers, undergraduate students, Foldit players and automatic model-building algorithms. After removal of disordered residues, a team of Foldit players achieved the most accurate structure. Analysing the target protein of the competition, YPL067C, uncovered a new family of histidine triad proteins apparently involved in the prevention of amyloid toxicity. From this study, we conclude that crystallographers can utilize crowdsourcing to interpret electron density information and to produce structure solutions of the highest quality. © 2016 The Author(s).

Nature Communications

Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

Accumulation of misfolded and abnormal proteins generates probably a common and complex pathomechanism in various neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Prion) and in aging. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), neuroinflammation appears in the form of T-lymphocyte infiltration, presence of reactive astroglial and microglial cells. Most likely, end stage of this toxic cascade results in death of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. More than 10 different genetic causes of familial ALS are known; but still it is a challenge to prevent the loss of descending motor tracts by suppressing the degeneration of motor neurons. This chapter will focus on the precise understanding of neuroinflammatory responses in molecular pathomechanism of ALS and it also discusses new potential therapeutic strategies to improve neuroprotection and to alleviate proteotoxicity in ALS linked motor neurodegeneration. © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016.

Inflammation: The Common Link in Brain Pathologies

Molecular and cellular insights: Neuroinflammation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Cancer is one of the major life-threatening diseases among human beings. Developing a simple, cost-effective and biocompatible approach to treat cancers using ultra-low doses of light is a grand challenge in clinical cancer treatments. In this study, we report for the first time that nano-sized graphene oxide (GO) exhibits single-photon excitation wavelength dependent photoluminescence in the visible and short near-infrared (NIR) region, suitable for in vivo multi-color fluorescence imaging. We also demonstrate in both in vitro and in vivo experiments to show that nano GO can sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen to exert combined nanomaterial-mediated photodynamic therapeutic (NmPDT) and photothermal therapy (NmPTT) effects on the destruction of B16F0 melanoma tumors in mice using ultra-low doses (~0.36 W/cm2) of NIR (980 nm) light. The average half-life span of the mice treated by the GO-PEG-folate-mediated NmPDT effects is beyond 30 days, which is ~1.8 times longer than the mice treated with doxorubicin (17 days). Overall, the current study points out a successful example of using GO-PEG-folate nanocomposite as a theranostic nanomedicine to exert simultaneously in vivo fluorescent imaging as well as combined NmPDT and NmPTT effects for clinical cancer treatments. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.