Dr. Pankaj Bhardwaj

Biography

Dr. Pankaj Bhardwaj Assistant Professor Centre for Plant Sciences School of Basic and Applied Sciences Central University of Punjab 

Research Interest

 Molecular Genetics and Genomics Interested in finding out the various active gene networks in response to changing climatic conditions. Plant tolerance to a particular heavy metal is governed by inter-related network of physiological and molecular mechanisms and understanding of these mechanisms is an important aspect for developing plants as agents of phytoremediation. Induction of metal chelating proteins related to phytochelatins (γ-glutamylcysteinyl isopeptides), and/or metallothioneins, which by modifying the cell metabolism increases the level of cell tolerance to excess metal ions. Phytochelatins (PC) are synthesized enzymatically from glutathione (GSH) in response to heavy metals. These proteins play an important role in detoxification by sequestering metals in plant cells. Further the induction of heat shock proteins by heavy metals protects membranes and proteins. The main goal of my lab is to monitor the plant response to heavy metal accumulation in soil and to identify functional gene network linked to the heavy metal detoxification. In order to achieve this goal, we are studying the root and shoot transcriptome through expression profiling by NGS platform and subsequently differentially expressed peculiar genes in each species will be identified with real time PCR. Further expression pattern in the roots and shoots at gene levels will be quantified in response to heavy metal toxicity. Physiological features of an organism when combined with its transcriptome sequence can deliver a thorough perception of the concerned molecular mechanisms, including novel gene products. The sequencing technologies, with more sensitive and dynamic approach for detecting even less abundant transcripts, have greatly enhanced our understanding about the underlying plant and metal related traits and their adaptation strategies to different environments by comparing differentially expressed genes in the hyper-accumulators.