Protein-Interaction Analysis Laboratory (PIAL)
PIAL focuses on understanding how cellular function of human proteins is altered upon interaction with viral proteins or DNA. It is essential to work out the molecular details of the mechanism of action of proteins that form the basis for drug discovery.
Addressing a biological question needs converging of several techniques, in PIAL : 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.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
The first step : An 'encounter complex' formed between HIV-1 integrase enzyme and human transcriptional co-activator LEDGF/p75 (BBRC 28610923) revealed a hot-spot for design of inhibitors of this crucial human-HIV interaction.
Disrupting interaction : A new anti-HIV molecule binding to the hot-spot, revealed by the encounter complex, disrupts the interaction and inhibits infection (CBDD 29405651).
As you like it : One-of-a-kind user-editable (no coding required) software REMP (SoftwareX 100881) for assisting mutagenesis in protein structure-function analysis, can be downloaded here for standalone use.
Not so obvious : What if Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds double stranded DNA? (BBRC 153020)
OPEN position
If you are interested in a PhD position in PIAL, contact the principal investigator via email (raghunk[at]bt.iith.ac.in) 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.
N K Raghavendra (principal investigator)
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
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".
