Research

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We are interested in production of value-added compounds (including biofuel and biodiesel) in plants and algae. Our goal is to produce genetically engineered plant cells and use these cells as factories for production of biofuel and biodiesel. Some of the specific projects are described below.
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Astrobiology research (Collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

We are interested in studying gene expression in microorganisms in planetary analog sites. Using RNAseq, and other tools of bioinformatics, we are studying differential expression of genes under various environmental stressful conditions, with the ultimate goal of of exploring possibilities of life on Mars and Europa (Jupiter's moon).
Collaborator: Dr. Scott Perl, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Genetic engineering of
E. coli and cyanobacteria to produce biofuel compounds

We performed metabolic engineering of E. coli and Nostoc Punctiformii for production of methyl butenol, a potential biofuel compound.

Bioengineered 6:1, 1--9; January/February 2015

Mol Biotechnol (2014) 56:516–523

Understanding molecular biology of ‘diesel-like’ fuel production in ‘diesel tree’

Copaifera officinalis or copaiba is a tropical tree known for production of terpene hydrocarbons. Nobel laureate Calvin named this tree the ‘diesel tree’ for its production of diesel-like hydrocarbons. We are interested in understanding the cellular physiology of this tree. An expressed sequence tag (EST) library was analyzed by our lab from copaiba saplings. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants were produced with several of the diesel tree genes from the diesel tree cDNA library. We would like to over-express the diesel tree genes in algae and plants and evaluate the potentials of the transgenic plants to be used as sources of alternative fuels. We plan to sequence the genome of this plant using next generation sequencing technology. All ESTs were submitted to GenBank. This project was featured as cover story in the journal Plant Biotechnology.

Gene expression analysis in biofuel tree Paulownia elongata

Using RNAseq technology we are investigating on genes upregulated in the biofuel tree Paulownia elongata under various abiotic stressful conditions. View our publication in the Bioethanol journal.
Collaborator: Dr. Nirmal Joshee, Fort Valley State University, Georgia
This project is funded by United States Department of Agriculture

Plasmid vector construction

We routinely construct plasmid vectors with various reporter genes and these vectors could be used for genetic transformation of plants.

Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment
DOI:10.1080/13102818.2015.1065711

Biochemical analyses of volatiles produced by kerosene tree

We identified various volatiles including terpenes produced by Hymaneae courbaril (kerosene tree). Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses revealed production of several sesquiterpenes differentially produced under heat stress. A 2-D gel electrophoresis revealed differential expression of several proteins including heat shock proteins, oxygen evolving complex, histone proteins and photosynthetic proteins.
Collaborator: Dr. Jai Rohila

Atmospheric cleansing by plants

Work from this project was published in the Science Magazine. This work is a collaboration with National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO. Using real-time PCR we have identified various genes, which are differentially expressed in poplar trees during environmental stresses. We have shown that when plants are environmentally stressed they adjust their metabolism and remove atmospheric pollutants at a faster rate.

Metabolic engineering of Nostoc: Production of phytol, a potential 'drop-in ready' biofuel