PALLABI SENGUPTA
Umeå University, Bose Institute Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, West Bengal State University, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College
Research areas: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology · DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry · Metal complexes synthesis and properties · Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
0000-0002-1413-9412
About
I am highly interested in the structural organization of non-classical nucleic acids in the GC-rich genomic motifs and their cellular functions, in particular, their dysfunction in cancer, and in designing therapeutic strategies aiming at modulating their activity in cells.
My PhD research was focused on the structural analyses of G-Quadruplex (G4) motifs within oncogene promoters and long non-coding RNA and understanding their roles in transcription and stemness regulation. During my PhD, I have elucidated the intricate communication between G4 and various transcription factors, highlighting their central roles in regulating cellular homeostasis and in crucial processes like apoptosis, cancer stemness, and metastasis. My work unraveled many unprecedented aspects of G4's structural prerequisites and their properties, revealing the key determinants that govern their interaction with ligands and proteins - a fundamental concept behind designing successful drug strategies.
My current post-doctoral project involves detailed insights into the Cytosine-rich complementary strands of G-Quadruplex DNA that give rise to i-motif structures. I am investigating their spatiotemporal dynamics upon protein interactions and the molecular mechanism underlying i-motif-mediated genomic instability. Given that i-motif DNA is still in its infancy in the field of nucleic acid research, I am currently involved in developing and refining methods to discern the physiological factors that drive their formation in vivo, as well as to identify the proteins that regulate their cellular dynamics. Besides i-motif, I am currently interested in the abundance and organization of G4s within organelle and understanding their potential role in cellular pathways.
Employment
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Umeå University Postdoctoral fellow2023 - Present
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Umeå University Wenner-Gren Postdoctoral fellow2021 - 2023
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Bose Institute Department of Biophysics PhD graduate student2016 - 2021
Education
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Bose Institute M.Sc in Life Sciences (Specialization: Biophysical Chemistry)2013 - 2015
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West Bengal State University M.Sc. in Zoology (Specialization: Molecular oncology and advanced immunology)2011 - 2013
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Acharya Prafulla Chandra College B.Sc (Hons) in Zoology; Major: Chemistry and Botany2008 - 2011
Projects & Funding
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Structural dynamics of two intercalated-motif-forming domains in cell cycle regulation iNEXT discovery grant2023 - Present
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Tracking the co-existence of G-quadruplex and i-motif DNA structures in cellular homeostasis Wenner-Gren Foundations2021 - 2023
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CSIR Travel Grant Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
Publications (29)
- Mechanistic insights into PCBP1-driven unfolding of selected i-motif DNA at G1/S checkpoint Save
- Proviral NUP153 binding to viral proteins and RNA regulates structural-nonstructural protein ratios in orthoflavivirus infection Save
- The cellular landscape of i-motifs: genomic insights, methodological challenges, and the road ahead Save
- CRISPR-Cas9 Targeting of G-Quadruplex DNA in ADH1 promoter Highlights its role in Transcriptome and Metabolome Regulation Save
- CRISPR-Cas9 targeting of G-Quadruplex DNA in ADH1 promoter highlights its role in transcriptome and metabolome regulation Save
- Switchable tetraplex elements in the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K promoter: micro-environment dictated structural transitions of G/C rich elements Save
- G-quadruplex structural dynamics at MAPK12 promoter dictates transcriptional switch to determine stemness in breast cancer Save
- Long non-coding intergenic RNA, LINC00273 induces cancer metastasis and stemness via miRNA sponging in triple negative breast cancer Save
- A beginner’s handbook to identify and characterize i-motif DNA Save
- A new G-quadruplex-specific photosensitizer inducing genome instability in cancer cells by triggering oxidative DNA damage and impeding replication fork progression Save
- Promoter G-quadruplex favours epigenetic reprogramming-induced atypical expression of ZEB1 in cancer cells Save
- Targeting Oncogene Promoters and Ribosomal RNA Biogenesis by G-Quadruplex Binding Ligands Translate to Anticancer Activity Save
- The Molecular Tete-a-Tete between G-Quadruplexes and the i-motif in the Human Genome Save
- Inosine 5′-diphosphate, a molecular decoy rescues Nucleoside diphosphate kinase from c-MYC G-Quadruplex unfolding Save
- 4′-Guanidinium-modified siRNA: a molecular tool to control RNAi activity through RISC priming and selective antisense strand loading Save
- 4′-Guanidinium-modified siRNA: a molecular tool to control RNAi activity through RISC priming and selective antisense strand loading (vol 55, pg 9112, 2019) Save
- The tumor suppressor FBXO31 preserves genomic integrity by regulating DNA replication and segregation through precise control of cyclin A levels Save
- Traces of statistical learning in the brain's functional connectivity after artificial language exposure Save
- SMAR1 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and prevents colorectal cancer progression Save
- Site-specific amino acid substitution in dodecameric peptides determines the stability and unfolding of c-MYC quadruplex promoting apoptosis in cancer cells Save