Suman Kundu

Biography

Ph.D. Banaras Hindu University 1999 M.Phil. / M.Tech. PG University of Calcutta 1994 UG University of Calcutta 1992

Research Interest

The laboratory is dedicated to the structural and molecular understanding of protein stability, amyloidosis, protein-protein & protein-ligand interactions and structure-function relationship in proteins. The ubiquitous nature of a new class of hemoglobins in plants, the presence of novel hemoglobins in the microbial world, and the discovery of new hemoglobins in humans and other vertebrates have bolstered the hemoglobin research over the last few years. The main focus of the laboratory is the investigation of novel algal, plant, bacterial and animal hemoglobins involving techniques like laser flash photolysis, stopped-flow spectrometry, FTIR and EPR spectroscopy, site directed mutagenesis, computational biology and X-ray crystallography. Emphasis is on deciphering the mechanism of regulation of ligand binding in novel hemoglobins in general. The goal is to be a part of the effort to set up a ‘biophysical fingerprint’ for novel hemoglobins that can help assign physiological functions. Other related proteins like hemoglobin reductases and heme oxygenases are being simultaneously investigated for a better understanding of the function(s) of the novel globins. Stability, aggregation and amyloidosis related to classical and novel hemoglobins as well as hemoglobin based artificial blood substitutes is being studied as well. Comprehensive knowledge accumulated by hemoglobin researchers world-wide may be useful in improving oxygen transport and storage in mammalian circulatory systems, nitrogen fixing efficiency in plants, sensing and response to hypoxic conditions, scavenging efficiency under stress, understanding pathological of implications of hemoglobin amyloids and our ability to use heme protein based blood substitutes. The latter is currently being pursued fervently in the laboratory because of its translational value in medicine. The laboratory is also focused on the spectroscopic and mass spectrometric characterization/screening of hemoglobin Faculty Details proforma for DU Web-site www.du.ac.in Page 2 disorders with a goal to set up a simple, fast, economic, reliable diagnostics for such disorders using very small amounts of samples. The laboratory also aims to seek structural insight of human dopamine -hydroxylase (DBH), a drug target for complex traits. We proposed the first three-dimensional structure of DBH by In silico techniques. This is helping detailed investigation of structure-function relationship in this important enzyme and has laid a platform for rational therapeutic drug design. The laboratory is currently focused on the discovery of potential small molecules against DBH to combat cardiovascular diseases. Attempts are also being made to design potent molecules to combat cancer, malaria and leishmaniasis as well. Structure-based rational drug discovery and design will be the major emphasis of the laboratory in the foreseen future.