Protein-Interaction Analysis Laboratory (PIAL)
PIAL focuses on understanding how cellular function of human proteins is altered upon interaction with viral proteins or DNA. Molecular analysis of the mechanism of action of proteins has a direct application to drug discovery.
Molecular biology, protein structure-function analysis, human cell culture, in vitro screening of protein-interaction inhibitors, and, computational docking, are routinely used to study the protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions of interest.
An 'encounter complex' formed between HIV-1 integrase enzyme and human transcriptional co-activator LEDGF/p75 (PMID 28610923) revealed a hot-spot for design of inhibitors of this crucial human-HIV interaction. A new anti-HIV molecule binding to the hot-spot disrupts the interaction and inhibits infection (PMID 29405651). One-of-a-kind user-adaptable software REMP for assisting mutagenesis during protein structure-function analysis developed by the lab can be downloaded here.
PhD position
With a valid JRF: Contact the principal investigator via email along with a copy of your JRF certificate (CSIR/ UGC/ DBT-category 1..etc). Mention 'PhD position' in the subject of the email. JRF-based admissions are open through out the year.
With GATE qualification: Apply against institute-level advertisement https://www.iith.ac.in/phdadmissions/.
About principal investigator : N K Raghavendra
Integrated PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
Postdoctoral from Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Industry (past) employment : At Lupin research park, Pune, MH, India.
Academic (current) employment: Faculty at IIT Hyderabad
Email: raghunk [at] bt.iith.ac.in
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4q0QnuIAAAAJ&hl=en
Belief: "Discovery is not based simply on knowledge and technical skill. One must have logical observation and synthesize ideas using imagination & intuition".
