Ronita Nag Chaudhuri

Biography

M.Sc., Ph.D in Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Genetics from Department of Biochemistry, Calcutta University, India, 2005.

Research Interest

Epigenetic regulation during DNA metabolic processes Genome of all living organisms faces constant assault from various endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging agents. The DNA damage repair mechanisms play a crucial role in prevention of both spontaneous and environmentally induced damages at the molecular level. Defects in DNA damage repair in mammalian cells may lead to increased cancer frequency, neurological abnormalities as well as growth and developmental defects, among others. Organization of DNA into nucleosomes and the higher order chromatin architecture affects regulation of nuclear functions, like DNA repair, transcription, etc. The compacted DNA is often refractory to the accessibility of site-specific nuclear factors that act during DNA metabolic processes. The chromatin however is dynamic in nature and plays an important role in modulating the access of these regulatory factors to the genetic template. A strict coordination of the opening and closing of chromatin is the key to ensure correct spatiotemporal regulation of the epigenetic code and maintenance of genomic stability. DNA repair process is no exception to this general rule and efficient chromatin accessibility is the underlying key for successful removal of DNA lesions. ï‚· Precise objective of our lab is to study the role of chromatin structure and function during DNA damage repair and transcription by analyses of histone structural mutants. Genetic and Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms during abiotic stress response in plants The genome of plants like other eukaryotes is organized into chromatin. Along with the genetic regulations, modulation of chromatin during various physiological processes including abiotic stress response is an extremely essential step. It is known that the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is an abiotic stress-responsive phytohormone. ABA-mediated responses involve downstream transcription factors such as Abscisic Acid Insensitive 3 (ABI3). Till date, the exact mechanism of ABI3 mediated stress tolerance is not known. The present research endeavor is taken to bring into light the genetic and epigenetic regulations involved in ABI3-mediated abiotic stress response pathway. ï‚· Precise objective of the lab is to decipher the genetic and epigenetic regulations involved in response to abiotic stress conditions. Research Fellows working under the Projects: Sonia Bedi (CSIR-Net Fellow): Genetic and Epigen