Profile
Functional Genomic Analysis of Secondary Metabolic Pathways for Production of Berberine alkaloids and Flavonoids In the post-genomic era, integrated analysis of comprehensive gene expression (transcriptome) and metabolic profiling (metabolome) has been successful in plant functional genomics. Deep transcriptome technology, also known as RNA-seq, provides whole transcriptome expression profiles of selected plant tissues or cells, thereby permitting the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics in any plant species. The present study would utilize deep transcriptomics combined with targeted metabolic profiling to identify candidate genes and factors associated with secondary metabolite production of berberine alkaloids and flavonoids from plants like Berberis sp./Zanthoxylum sp. and Polygonum sp. respectively, and capsaicinoids and carotenoids from Capsicum sp.
Current Focus Areas
1. Identification of both high and low yielding phenotypes and their metabolic characterization for target compounds
2. Characterization of the transcriptome for identification of candidate genes and gene clusters related to the target pathways
3. Gene expression studies of the represented transcriptome and association analysis
4. Development of the identified species as a potential product for the industry
Selected Publications
• Devi M. L., Singh M. B., Sharma K.C., Rajashekhar Y., Mishra A., Das S. (2023)“Volatile Compound Profile Analysis of Seasonal Flower, Fruit, Leaf, and Stem of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. from Manipur Using HS-SPME-GC-MS”. Chemosensors. 11, 273. [doi.org/10.3390/ chemosensors11050273]
• Metabolic engineering of plant secondary metabolites: Prospects and its technological challenges
• Wahengbam E. D., Devi C. P., Sharma S. K., Roy S. S., Maibam A., Ningombam A., Bhupenchandra I., Singh L.K., Devi Y. P., Thokchom S., Khaba C. I., Singh N. B., Rajashekar Y., Das S. (2023) “Reactive oxygen species turnover, phenolics metabolism, and some key gene expressions modulate postharvest physiological deterioration in cassava tubers”. Frontiers in Microbiology. [doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1148464].
• Singh N. B., Devi M. L., Biona T., Sharma N., Das S., Chakravorty J., Mukherjee P. K., Rahjashekar Y. (2023) “Phytochemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from the Leaves of Artemisia vulgaris L. Molecules 2023, 28, 2279. [https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052279]
• Pukhrambam P.D., Devi K. K., Maibam C., Mutum R.D., Devi M. L., Das S. (2024) “Phenolics and flavonoids from Polygonum posumbu and comparision of flavonoid compounds content in different tissues (leaves, stems and roots)”. Fitoterapia 174 105864.