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Genomics is the study of genomes of organisms. Genome is the complete sequence of genetic material of an organism that is passed from one generation to the next generation of the organism. DNA serves as genetic material in organisms except in some viruses where RNA serves as genetic material. The genome harbors complete genetic blueprint of the organism. It contains information that controls the development, phenotypic attributes and characteristics of the organism. The study of genome sequence of an organism provides comprehensive information about genetic characteristics of an organism.

The most advanced DNA sequencing technique i.e. massively parallel sequencing of short segments of fragmented DNA and bioinformatics reconstruction of the genome sequence by alignment to standard reference sequence or de novo alignment-based genome reconstruction, has revolutionized the study of genomics. This has enabled fast and economical sequencing of entire genomes of an organism.

There are immense research opportunities in genomics. Genomic analysis enables identification of genetic elements responsible for essential characteristics in crops and animals which can be harnessed to breed better varieties and strains to achieve more quality and increase production. Comparative genomics enables the study of evolutionary relationship among living organism. Many cancer genomic studies have identified cancer driver events responsible for carcinogenesis such as mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, chromosomal copy number alterations etc. In personalized cancer therapeutics cancer genomics can serve to identify therapeutically targetable genetic alterations in the cancer tissues and selection of cancer genotype specific personalized treatment strategies. One such advanced therapeutic strategy is personalized neoantigen peptide vaccine tailored to the mutational characteristics of patient cancer tissue.

Transcriptome is a complete set of RNAs produced by the cells of an organism. RNAs perform the second step in the central dogma of molecular biology i.e. to carry genetic information encoded in DNA genetic material to ribosomes in the form of transcribed RNA molecule, to be translated to protein in ribosome assembly. RNAs are unstable and are rapidly synthesized and degraded according to the needs of the cells as a result of response to changes to its environments, growth, metabolic activity, specialized cell function etc.

Different cell signaling pathways drive activation or suppression of target genes in response to signaling cascade. These signaling pathways activate or inactivate transcription factors that are responsible for expression of genes in the form of mRNAs.

Techniques used for the study of transcriptome include mRNA microarrays and RNAseq analysis. RNAseq analysis is the most advanced method which can be used for parallel quantification of gene expression by sequencing of coding and non-coding RNA in cells/tissues at nucleotide level sequence resolution.

Research possibilities in trasciptomics are vast. Bulk tissue RNAseq has been utilized in cancer study to profile gene expression patterns in different subtypes and grades of cancer. Single cell transcriptomics provides gene expression snapshots of a tissue at single cell resolution addressing the need for analysis of complex tissue architectures such as brain tissue or cancer tissue microenvironment. Spatial transcriptomics helps in mapping gene expression patterns in different organs, tissues and cells which has immense potential to elucidate the cell division and behavior during normal development of organism and disease condition. Comparative transcriptomics has been utilized in the study of gene expression changes in diseased/cancer tissues as compared to normal tissues.

Proteome is a complete set of proteins produced by the cells of an organism. Proteins are the functional effector molecules of the genetic information encoded in DNA. Proteins are synthesized on ribosomes by translation of the information carried by mRNA molecules. Proteins are dynamically synthesized when needed and degraded immediately after no longer needed by the cells. Thus, cellular proteome is in a constant state of flux and depends on cellular needs according to the need for growth, environmental conditions, metabolism etc.

Proteomic studies generate and utilize data generated from mass spectrometry analysis, X-ray or NMR crystallography, and protein microarrays. These data provide information about presence or abundance of particular protein peptides, 3D structure of the protein, and expression status of the protein respectively. Protein function depend on its three-dimensional structure which in turn is dependent on amino acid sequence which is determined by genetic material DNA nucleotide sequence. The structure of the protein determines its activity and ability to function as structural protein, enzyme or signaling molecule. Some proteins interact/bind to other proteins or specific DNA regions to carry out their normal functions.

There are vast research possibilities in the proteomics field. There are millions of different types of proteins produced by living organisms. Identification of these proteins and elucidation of their structure and function is needed for our understanding of biological world. This also provides economic opportunities by identifying special proteins with industrial applications such as enzymes. Proteomics analysis is also assuming a greater role in medical research. Mutations in DNA which could be germline or somatic, as in cancer, can impact the structural characteristics of the protein molecules. By studying the impact of these mutations on the structure and function of protein we can devise novel therapies. Many drugs have been discovered based on their ability to bind to specific protein molecules in their active sites. Study of protein-protein interactions and protein-drug interaction is also an active field of research.

Importance of study of protein-protein interaction in disease mechanism research

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