ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

and brain- indicating that they might play a crucial
role in normal functioning of these specialized
tissues. Studies are being carried out at NIN,
Hyderabad to characterize ELOVL4 with regard to
physicochemical, structural and functional
properties of the protein. Trans fatty acid not only
decreased Elvol4 expression but also affected the
structural integrity of retina in rats
Oxidative stress induced DNA damage in Intra
Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is being
investigated at IIT Kharagpur. A total of 72 ICSI cases
have been analysed to ascertain oxidative stress
induced DNA damage in ICSI. Results indicate that a
positive correlation exists between Reactive Oxygen
Species (ROS) and sperm morphology and its DNA
damage. Further, samples with higher ROS levels
appear to be unfavorable for pregnancy outcome.
Plant Molecular Biotechnology
Studies are being carried out at ICGEB, New Delhi
on Calcineurin B-like Protein (CBL) and CBLinteracting
protein kinases (CIPK) paradigm: Cloning
and characterization. The calcineurin mediated
signal transduction pathway in response to salinity
stress was analyzed. By using PCR approach
followed by pea cDNA library screening, full-length
cDNAs of both the CBL and CIPK have been cloned
and also purified the encoded proteins of 26 and 58
kDa, respectively. The genomic clones of CBL and
CIPK have also been cloned and found that CBL
contains nine introns while CIPK is intronless. The
CIPK protein has been characterized and shown to
contain autophosphorylation activity.
Nanobiotechnology
Targeted delivery of magnetic nanoparticles is a
highly desirable strategy for enhancing efficacy and
reducing unintended side effects and toxicity.
Receptor targets are especially suitable for such a
strategy. Folic acid is generally recognized as an
effective tumor targeting agent to conjugate with
nanoparticles. Scientists at IIT, Kharagpur made an
attempt to make folate-nanoparticle conjugate by
grafting folic acid through some biocompatible
101
nonpolymeric coupling agent. The design of such
folate-nanoparticle conjugate has many combined
advantages in view of its targeting functionality to
tumor cells. Figure below shows the log normal
distribution of folate conjugates along with particle
size histograms. The effective hydrodynamic dimeter
the synthesized folate conjugates was found to be 88
nm The attachment of folic acid was confirmed
through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
(FTIR). Figure below indicates the confocal image
showing the cellular uptake of folates in B96 Melonal
S0 cancer cell line. This result shows that the targeted
intra-cellular delivery of iron oxide-folate-FITC
nanoparticles has taken place via a receptor
mediated endocytosis.
One of the important aspects of the forthcoming
nanotechnology revolution is the use of DNA as a
structural material. Scientists at University of Madras,
Chennai are using biophysical techniques, chiefly Xray
crystallography, but also computer modelling, UV
spectroscopy and gel mobility, to study the structures
of DNA junctions, such as three-way and four-way
junctions, as well as unusual DNA packing modes
that lead to novel microstructures.
Confocal image of B96 cells showing intracellular
upatake of iron oxide nanoparticles
Research and Development