Research Groups
Mammalian Biology: Malaria
Research Interests and Description
Staff Research Scientist: Renu Tuteja
Group Leader: Virander Chauhan
Group MembersResearch Interests
Malaria parasite, parasite biology, nucleic acid metabolism, translation, protein translocation, unwinding.
Description of Research
In order to understand the basic biology of the malaria parasite we are working on the enzymes (helicases) involved in nucleic acid metabolic pathways. Helicases catalyze the unwinding of duplex nucleic acids. We have reported that these are feasible novel drug targets for malaria control. In the recent past using bioinformatics analysis we have reported the existence of a number of helicases in the Plasmodium falciparum genome. Recently we have characterized a novel RNA helicase (PfU52) and the results suggest that this enzyme is involved in splicing. Using bioinformatics analysis we have shown the existence of the parasite specific UvrD helicase in the P. falciparum genome and this enzyme is not present in the human host. Further work on the characterization of this interesting enzyme is in progress. We have identified and functionally characterized the main components of the eIF4F complex i.e. eIF4E, eIF4A and eIF4G and PABP from P. falciparum. We are also working on the characterization of components of protein translocation pathways from P. falciparum. The studies on the characterization of catalytic subunit of signal peptidase complex (SPC) PfSP21 show that it is modulated by phosphorylation. PfSP21 dsRNA specifically inhibits the growth of P. falciparum in culture and this inhibition is due to the decrease in the amount of endogenous PfSP21 protein. These findings suggest that PfSP21 is essential for the growth and survival of the parasite. The studies on the characterization of other components of protein translocation pathway are in progress.
Recent Publications
Tuteja, R. A Method to Inhibit the Growth of Plasmodium falciparum by Double-Stranded RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing of Helicases Methods Mol. Biol. In press
Tuteja, N., Ahmad, P., Panda, B.B., Tuteja, R. Genotoxic Stress in Plants: Shedding Light on DNA Damage, Repair and DNA repair helicases. Mutat Res. 681, 134-149
Shankar, J., Pradhan, A., Tuteja, R. 2008. Isolation and characterization of Plasmodium falciparum UAP56 homologue: evidence for the coupling of RNA binding and splicing activity by site-directed mutations. Arch Biochem Biophys. 478, 143-153
Pradhan, A., Hussain, M.E., Tuteja, R. 2008. Characterization of replication fork and phosphorylation stimulated Plasmodium falciparum helicase 45. Gene, 420, 66-75
Shankar, J., Tuteja, R. 2008. UvrD helicase of Plasmodium falciparum. Gene, 410, 223-233
