Research
I am a protein structural biologist interested in intrinsically disordered proteins' (IDPs) structure and function. My current research focus in Hough lab is to study the interactions between the intrinsically disordered tail region of tubulin with other microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) by NMR spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. Post translational modifications (PTMs) of tubulin tail are the key mediator which generates diversity in microtubules (MT) functions. As a result, understanding the structure and functions of tubulin PTMs could provide a more differentiated view on the role of microtubules in both normal and diseased condition.
My previous research work has determined the transmembrane domain structure of CrgA membrane protein (PBD: 2MMU) from M.tuberculosis in lipid bilayer by solid state NMR spectroscopy. Also, I have worked with Toll-like receptors (TLR) immune signaling where we determined the novel interactions between TLR5 extracellular domain with the intrinsically disordered C-terminal tail region of HMGB1 by solution NMR spectroscopy. TLR5 when activated by HMGB1 causes neuropathic pain or allodynia in animal models.
Education
PhD. Molecular Biophysics, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University (2008-2014).
M.Sc. Biotechnology, Bangalore University,India, 2004-2006
B.Sc Biotechnology, Bangalore University, India, 2001-2004
Honors and Awards
2018: International Travel Award winner at American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB)-EMBO 2018 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
2016: Biophysical Society’s Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women (CPOW) 2016 Award, 60th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
2015: Finalist of Raymond Andrew Prize 2015 for best Thesis in the research of “NMR Spectroscopy” worldwide competition.
2014: Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC) Suraj P. Manrao Science Foundation Travel Award, Boston, USA
2014: FSU Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) Conference Presentation Grant
2012: Sigma-Aldrich Student Travel Award 2012 (ICMRBSXXV Conference in France).
2012: International Society of Neurochemistry (ISN) Poster Award, Implications for Health and Disease Subgroup (Biophysical Society Meeting), Hydrabad, India.
2009: Travel Grant for the US-Canada Winter School on Biological Solid State NMR
2008: Dean’s International Student Scholarship, FSU
2000: K.S. Rao Memorial certificate for securing highest score in Biological Science, Govt of India
2000: National Merit Scholarship in Science from Govt. of India
1998: National Merit Scholarship from Govt. of India
Previous Publications
*Das, N.; Dai, J.; Hung, I.; Zhou. H. X.; and Cross. T. A. “Structure of CrgA, a Cell Division Structural and Regulatory Protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in Lipid Bilayers”, PNAS, 112 (2), E119-26 (2014).
*Das, N.; Murray, D.T.; Miao, Y. and Cross, T.A., "Helical Membrane Protein Structure: Strategy for Success", For Advances in Biological Solid-State NMR: Proteins and Membrane Active Peptides, Royal Society of Chemistry 2014, DOI:10.1039/9781782627449-00353 (Book Chapter).
*Das, N.; Murray, D.T. and Cross, T.A., Lipid Bilayer Preparations of Membrane Proteins for Oriented and Magic-Angle Spinning Solid-State NMR Samples, Nature Protocols, 8 (11), 2256-70 (2013).
Murray, D.T ξ.; *Das, N ξ. and Cross, T.A., Solid State NMR Strategy for Characterizing Native Membrane Protein Structures, Accounts of Chemical Research, 46 (9), 2172-81 (2013). [*co-first authors]
Plocinski, P.; Arora, N.; Sarva, K.; Blaszczyk, E.; Qin, H.; *Das, N.; Plocinska, R.; Ziolkiewiz, M.; Dziadek, J.; Kiran, M.; Cross, T.A.; Madiraju, M. and Rajagopalan, Mycobacterium tuberculosis CwsA Interacts with CrgA and Wag31 and the CrgA-CwsA complex is involved in peptidoglycan synthesis and cell shape determination, J. Bacteriology, 194, 6398-6409 (2012)