Akash Bhattacharya

Experience

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  University of Michigan

  Jan 2008 - Nov 2009

  Graduate Student Research Assistant

  Studied the structure and dynamics of the Hsp70 chaperone protein system. Understanding this protein system led to a better understanding of the critical role of dynamics in large protein interaction systems.Projects:DOCTORAL RESEARCH – STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF CHAPERONE PROTEINS: My doctoral research was on structural and dynamical studies on Hsp70 chaperone proteins. Thesis title: A NMR Investigation of structure and allostery in the Hsp70 chaperone system. These are molecules fundamental to the growth and regulation of almost all proteins. These results were communicated in PNAS (2011). The projects I was involved with are outlined below:1. I have studied how the ATPase fragment of a particular chaperone protein (T. Thermophilus DnaK) moves and rearranges its constituent domains as it turns over ATP. This helps to better understand how different parts of the molecule communicate with one another: a process called allostery. I have used residual dipolar coupling NMR to obtain structural information about the system. Analysis was using REDCAT (Valafar group) and in-house computing packages. 2. I have studied the interaction of full length E.coli Hsp70, and DnaJ (co-factor) by using paramagnetic relaxation NMR. For this system, I made selective mutations by PCR, used different expression systems and also explored column- chromatography techniques for analysis and purification. This led to substantial experience in molecular biology/biochemistry strategies.3. DOCTORAL RESEARCH – DEVELOPING NOVEL NMR TECHNIQUES TO STUDY LARGE PROTEINS: I developed a new NMR experiment to study residual dipolar coupling (RDCs) for large proteins. This allows us to study how different fragments of such proteins move and re-orient themselves with respect to each other as the proteins operates through its enzymatic cycle. I applied this experiment to the Hsp70 bacterial chaperone system. Show less

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  Rutgers University

  Jan 2010 - Nov 2011

  Postdoctoral Researcher

  Studied the interaction of various molecular chaperone systems in bacteria by NMR spectroscopy. This work helps to explain the mechanism of protein quality control in cells.Project: COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF BACTERIAL CHAPERONE PROTEINS: I have studied the complex structure of Trigger Factor and SecB. Trigger Factor is the first ribosome-associated bacterial chaperone which processes nascent proteins, and SecB is part of the Sec translocase system which transports preproteins to cell membranes. The techniques used include PCR/cloning to design fragments of Trigger Factor and NMR experiments to determine structure. Show less

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  UTHSCSA

  Dec 2011 - Jul 2018

  Postdoctoral Research Scientist

  Summary: I study the interaction of mammalian proteins with HIV - trying to find structural insights into infection pathways which have been discovered by biochemistry and genetics. Structural information that we find could be a foundation for downstream drug design. I also work in Neuroscience and Oncology related projects.Projects:1. A MOLECULAR VIEW OF RETROVIRAL INFECTION: The HIV capsid is a critical determinant of viral infection: X-Ray Crystallography, fluorescence spectroscopy and ultracentrifugation used to determine promiscuous binding spots on the HIV-1 capsid (PNAS 2014). 2. HIV restriction by nucleotide starvation: Elucidating the enzymatic mechanism of anti HIV-1 restriction factor SAMHD1 using NMR, X-Ray crystallography, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Ultracentrifugation. Nature Scientific Reports (2016), Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016), Retrovirology (2013).3. Anti-HIV drug discovery: We have tested a novel drug-candidate (3G11), which inhibits HIV-1 replication in human cell line MT-2. This drug inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Chem. Biol. & Drug Design (2016).4. Molecular Dynamics Studies of Allostery in large proteins: Investigating the role of dynamics in large anti-HIV enzymes (SAMHD1 complex). My results have uncovered novel information flow pathways which reveal the structural basis of regulation of this protein. Proteins, Structure, Function & Bioinformatics (2017)5. CALMODULIN MODULATED KCNQ CHANNELS: Elucidating the structure of Calmodulin bound to KCNQ channel fragments and observing Ca+2 induced structural rearrangements using NMR spectroscopy. Show less

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  Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

  Jan 2016 - now

  Reviewer

  Reviewer for scientific journal articles for the Elsevier Journal Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysicshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00039861

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  PLOS ONE

  Jan 2016 - now

  Reviewer

  Reviewer for scientific manuscripts submitted to the journal Plos ONE (specialization: Biophysics)http://journals.plos.org/plosone/

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  Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

  Aug 2016 - now

  Guest Editor

  Guest Editor for a special issue on “MicroRNA Regulation of Oxidative Stress” to be published by the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

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  St. Mary's University

  Aug 2017 - May 2018

  Adjunct Professor

  Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physics (Fall 2018 and Winter 2019)Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology (Winter 2019)

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  St. Mary's University

  Aug 2018 - Oct 2018

  Visiting Assistant Professor

  Taught General and University Physics I & II Theory and Lab.

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  Beckman Coulter

  Oct 2018 - now

  Senior Application Engineer

  I work on developing new applications of AUC in protein biophysics and quality control, pharmaceutical products and materials sciences.