Rakesh K Mishra

Biography

Academic background: Obtained M.Sc. (Chemistry) in 1981 and Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) in 1986 from the University of Allahabad. Research experience: 1986-1988, postdoctoral research non-B DNA conformations and DNA topolgy at Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. 1988-1992, worked at Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad as scientist and studied transcription initiation in prokaryotes, chemical recognition and cleavage of DNA. 1992-1996, antisense oligonucleotide mediated knock down against protozoan parasites at the University of Bordeaux, France and small nucleolar RNAs in Xenopus oocytes to study their role in rRNA maturation at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, USA. 1996 to 2001, Chromatin organization and regulation of homeotic gene complex of Drosophila melanogaster at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. 2001- Joined CCMB and working on: -Comparative and functional genomics of non-coding DNA -Organization and regulation of Hox complexes: the evolutionary logic of anterior-posterior body axis formation in animals -Epigenetic regulation and development Elected fellow of: J.C. Bose Fellowship Indian Academy of Sciences National Academy of Sciences, India Indian National Academy of Sciences Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences

Research Interest

In complex organisms, identical genome is packaged in cell type specific manner during embryonic development - one genome gives rise to multiple epigenomes - that determine the cell type specific expression pattern of genes and cellular identity. Once this packaging is achieved by an intricate developmental program, the chromatin structure is maintained during subsequent cell divisions by epigenetic cellular memory mechanisms. Using Drosophila as our major model organism, we are investigating molecular mechanisms of these processes. We use genetic, cell biology, biochemical and bioinformatics approaches to investigate evolutionarily conserved features of genome organization, chromatin structure and epigenetic regulation of genes during embryonic development. We also investigate functional relevance of non-coding sequences of complex genomes, in particular the repetitive part, in nuclear architecture, chromatin organization and gene regulation. Taking comparative genomics approach we study molecular basis of the functional features of chromatin level regulatory elements like chromatin domain boundary and cellular memory elements.