Danish Khan
Virginia Tech, Stanford University, Texas A&M University, Banaras Hindu University, Presidency University Kolkata
0000-0002-0650-3990
About
Danish Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech where his group studies ribosome-associated protein quality control pathways. Protein synthesis by the ribosome is a highly regulated and fundamental process that underpins all life. Ribosomes that stall during translation can diminish translational capacity of cells and produce incomplete, aggregation-prone proteins. Remarkably, cells can resume protein synthesis on the large ribosome subunits, independent of mRNA or the small ribosomal subunit. This process, known as "CAT tailing," involves template-independent addition of amino acids to the C-terminus of stalled nascent chains. CAT tails alter the chemical properties, function, and cellular fate of polypeptide chains that host them. The Khan Lab uses yeast and mammalian cell line models with CAT tailing reporters, in vitro reconstitution, microscopy, and mass spectrometry, to investigate the determinants and consequences of mRNA-independent protein synthesis.
Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Danish served as a postdoctoral research associate abs scientist at Stanford University, working under the mentorship of Professors Ron Kopito and Onn Brandman. Danish earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, where he used in vitro reconstitution, protein spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to study the Sec14 family of lipid signaling proteins. His work led to the identification of two distinct classes of Sec14 inhibitors and the discovery of a novel family of heme-binding lipid transfer proteins linking lipid signaling to oxidative stress response pathways.
He began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Presidency College in Kolkata, India, where he ranked second in his college and fourth in the university, followed by a Masters degree in Biotechnology from Banaras Hindu University, India. Beyond science, Danish has a strong interest in the intersection of law and biotechnology, frequently exploring related literature.
Employment
-
Virginia Tech Assistant Professor2025 - Present
-
Stanford University Post-Doctoral Research Associate2018 - 2025
-
Texas A&M University Graduate Student2013 - 2018
-
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Summer Research Fellow2011 - 2011
Education
-
Texas A&M University PhD2012 - 2018
-
Banaras Hindu University MSc2010 - 2012
-
Presidency University Kolkata BSc2007 - 2010
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.
Publications (15)
- Mechanical forces regulate the composition and fate of stalled nascent chains Save
- CRISPR activation of the ribosome-associated quality control factor ASCC3 ameliorates fragile X syndrome phenotypes in mice. Save
- A brief history of phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins: from the backwaters of cell biology to prime time in lipid signaling. Save
- Stalled translation by mitochondrial stress upregulates a CNOT4-ZNF598 ribosomal quality control pathway important for tissue homeostasis Save
- Mechanisms by which small molecules of diverse chemotypes arrest Sec14 lipid transfer activity Save
- ReporterSeq reveals genome-wide dynamic modulators of the heat shock response across diverse stressors Save
- Emerging Prospects for Combating Fungal Infections by Targeting Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Proteins Save
- Sis1 delivers the State of the Union Save
- Biophysical parameters of the Sec14 phospholipid exchange cycle – Effect of lipid packing in membranes Save
- A Sec14-like phosphatidylinositol transfer protein paralog defines a novel class of heme-binding proteins Save