Ashok Kumar Jain | |
---|---|
Born | |
Citizenship | American |
Occupation(s) | Biotechnologist and academic |
Academic background | |
Education | B.S., Biological Sciences M.S., Plant Sciences Ph.D., Genetics and Plant Breeding |
Alma mater | Agra University |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Albany State University |
Ashok Kumar Jain is an American biotechnologist,molecular biologist,breast cancer researcher,and academic. He is a Professor at Albany State University. [1]
Jain is most known for his research in bioengineering plants to boost Vitamin C content by incorporating a gene from animal pathways. He developed an epigenetic breast cancer research program to understand the molecular interaction of dietary food toxins [especially Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs),produced during cooking meat products at high temperatures such as barbecue] and phytonutrients that people consume. His works have been published in academic journals,including the Journal of Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis and Cancer Letters . [2] He has been awarded multiple 'Researcher of the Year' awards from Albany State University. [3]
Jain completed his B.S. in Biological Sciences in 1976,followed by an M.S. degree in plant sciences in 1978 from Agra University. He received his Ph.D. Degree in 1983,from the same institution under the supervision of R. K. S. Rathore. His thesis titled Induction and Transference of Fertility Restoring Capability in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) studied enhancing wheat cultivars by transferring male fertility restoration genes from American strains to high-yielding Indian cultivars,while also developing improved strains with golden yellow grains with male fertility restoration capability. [4]
In his early career,Jain collaborated with the International Wheat Restorer Germplasm Screening Nursery to screen a universal pollen donner for hybrid seeds,involving 14 global partners,demonstrating that male fertility restoration genes in wheat are significantly affected by environmental conditions and growing seasons. In 1993,Jain joined Texas A&M University as a Visiting Scientist,later becoming a Research Associate there in 1995. [5] In 1996,he went to India to serve as Senior Research Officer and Program Leader in the Molecular Biology Division at CSRTI and returned to the U.S. in 1997 as a Research Associate at the University of Georgia,followed by an Associate in Research role at Florida A&M University from 1997 to 2003. [6] He subsequently transitioned to a Research Scientist position before joining Albany State University,where he was an Associate Professor from 2005 to 2010. In March 2021,Steve Wrigley,Chancellor of the University System of Georgia named him as USG Leadership Fellow,along with three other faculty from Albany State University. [3] At Albany State University,he has served as the Program Coordinator for the Biotechnology Concentration since 2009 and as the Premed Program Adviser since 2012. He has been a professor at Albany State University since 2010. [1]
In his early research,Jain investigated how introducing a rat gene for L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase into tobacco and lettuce plants increased their vitamin C production,demonstrating that a single gene from the animal pathway could enhance plant ascorbic acid levels. [7] In 1996,he developed a method for clonal propagation of Camptotheca acuminata by optimizing shoot formation with 6-benzyladenine and rooting with indole-3-butyric acid to improve mass propagation. [8] At Texas A&M University,he created a genomic DNA library of Mulberry,isolated and characterized the Mahmg1 gene coding for HMGR,and found its expression was regulated by environmental and developmental cues,influencing isoprenoid synthesis during mulberry growth. [9] Moreover,he also screened a cDNA library of Arabidopsis thaliana for genes encoding Strictosidine synthase (AtSS) and isolated,sequenced,and annotated three distinct genes based on their structural similarities. [10]
In 2001,Jain used a differential display to identify 43 peanut transcripts affected by drought,finding that some were suppressed or altered under stress,with specific transcripts showing potential as markers for drought tolerance. [11] Through his 2004 study,he characterized the peanut Gly-1 cDNA clone,revealing its glycinin protein with high sequence homology to other legumes,conserved domains,and specific expression during seed development. [12] He continued his research and showed that curcumin reduced PhIP-induced DNA damage and ROS production,and modified the expression of genes related to antioxidant responses,DNA repair,and tumor suppression in breast epithelial cells. [13]
Jain's research contributions also include developing the protocol for shoot organogenesis in mulberry and investigating the factors influencing the morphogenetic potential in callus cultures and regeneration. [14] He also investigated optimal conditions for inducing androgenic callus and embryo development from Morus indica microspores,examining the effects of temperature,kinetin pretreatment,and various media on callus formation and embryo development. [15] Moreover,he also examined how Mn2+ induced oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells,revealing that while Mn2+ decreased cell viability and caused significant DNA damage,pre-treatment with antioxidants effectively mitigated these harmful effects. [16]
Israel Hanukoglu is a Turkish-born Israeli scientist. He is a full professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Ariel University and former science and technology adviser to the prime minister of Israel (1996–1999). He is founder of Israel Science and Technology Directory.
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High-mobility group AT-hook 2,also known as HMGA2,is a protein that,in humans,is encoded by the HMGA2 gene.
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Krüppel-like factor 4 is a member of the KLF family of zinc finger transcription factors,which belongs to the relatively large family of SP1-like transcription factors. KLF4 is involved in the regulation of proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis and somatic cell reprogramming. Evidence also suggests that KLF4 is a tumor suppressor in certain cancers,including colorectal cancer. It has three C2H2-zinc fingers at its carboxyl terminus that are closely related to another KLF,KLF2. It has two nuclear localization sequences that signals it to localize to the nucleus. In embryonic stem cells (ESCs),KLF4 has been demonstrated to be a good indicator of stem-like capacity. It is suggested that the same is true in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
DNA-binding protein inhibitor ID-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ID1 gene.
Upstream stimulatory factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the USF1 gene.
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Zinc finger protein SNAI2 is a transcription factor that in humans is encoded by the SNAI2 gene. It promotes the differentiation and migration of certain cells and has roles in initiating gastrulation.
Prolactin-inducible protein also known as gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15),extra-parotid glycoprotein (EP-GP),gp17seminal actin-binding protein (SABP) or BRST2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PIP gene. It is upregulated by prolactin and androgens and downregulated by estrogen.
Krueppel-like factor 10 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KLF10 gene.
LIM domain transcription factor LMO4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LMO4 gene.
Zinc transporter SLC39A7 (ZIP7),also known as solute carrier family 39 member 7,is a transmembrane protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC39A7 gene. It belongs to the ZIP family,which consists of 14 proteins that transport zinc into the cytoplasm. Its primary role is to control the transport of zinc from the ER and Golgi apparatus to the cytoplasm. It also plays a role in glucose metabolism. Its structure consists of helices that bind to zinc in a binuclear metal center. Its fruit fly orthologue is Catsup.
JADE1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the JADE1 gene.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase LMTK1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the (AATK) gene.
Protein transport protein Sec16B also known as regucalcin gene promoter region-related protein p117 (RGPR-p117) and leucine zipper transcription regulator 2 (LZTR2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SEC16B gene.
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