Sudripta Das: Profile

Sudripta Das Photo

Sudripta Das

Plants

Designation/Position: Scientist-F
Department/Programme Name: Plant Bioresources
Phone: 0385-2446122, Ext: 213

Academic Qualifications
•    2011-12: Post-Doctoral Fellow in Noble Research Centre, Oklahoma State University, under Prof. Ramanjulu Sunkar
•    2001-2004: IFCPAR-CEFIPRA Post-Doctoral Fellowship and worked under Prof. David Tepfer at Lab. Rhizosphere, INRA, France
•    1992-1999: PhD, University of Calcutta, Kolkata under Prof. Sumita Jha
•    1990-1991: MSc Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
Experience
•    Presently: Scientist-F, IBSD, Imphal
•    June 2013: Scientist-E, IBSD, Imphal
•    February 2013-June 2013: Scientist-E, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat
•    April 2008-January 2013: Scientist-D, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat
•    January 2004-March2008: Scientist-C, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat

Awards & Fellowships

•    IFCPAR-CEFIPRA Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2001
•    DBT-CREST Award 2011
Memberships (Professional Associations / Societies)
•    Member of International Society for Plant Molecular Biology (ISPMB)
•    Member of International Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (IAPTC & B)

PhD’s Guided

Name                           Title of thesis                                            University                Status

 

Bornali Gohain             Designing a quality index for elite            Guwahati Univ          Awarded

                                    Camellia sinensis clones based on                                           2012

                                    molecular and gene expression studies

 

Sushmita Gupta           Study of Transcriptome Polymorphisms Guwahati Univ          Awarded

                                    and development of molecular markers                                    2012

                                    associated with drought tolerance for

                                    marker assisted selection in Camellia sinensis

 

Sourabh K Das             Analysis of a Polyploid Population in      Guwahati Univ         Awarded

                                    Tea Using Structural/ Functional                                                2013

                                    Genomic Techniques

 

Priyadarshini Bhorali   Identification of Molecular Markers          Guwahati Univ         Awarded

                                    Associated with Blister Blight                                                  2013

                                    (Exobasidium vexans) Disease in

Camellia sinensis

 

Tirthankar                    Identification of differentially                    Guwahati Univ          Awarded

Bandyopadhyay           expressed genes induced by infestation                                     2012

                                    with Helopeltis theivora in Camellia sinensis

(L.) O. Kuntze

 

Raju Bharalee               Generation, analysis and identification    Guwahati Univ         Awarded

                                    of Expressed Sequence Tags of differentially                             2012

                                    expressed genes of Camellia sinensis

(L.) O. Kuntze under abiotic stress

(drought) using suppression subtractive hybridization

 

Niraj Agarwala              Study and analysis of differentially           Guwahati Univ        Awarded

                                    expressed genes in tea (Camellia                                              2015

                                    sinensis (L).O.Kuntze) in response to

                                    Exobasidium vexans infection

 

H. Ranjit Singh             Transfer and analysis of defense              Guwahati Univ          Awarded

                                    genes for conferring resistance against                                   2015

                                    blister blight in Camellia sinensis (L).O.Kuntze

 

Parveen Ahmed            Development of Molecular Markers          Guwahati Univ           Awarded

                                    for Helopeltis resistance in Tea                                               2014

 

Prasenjit Bhagwati       Study of genetic variability related to       Guwahati Univ          Awarded

                                    pigmentation and flavour formation in                                     2015

                                    wild and cultivated tea germplasms

 

Neelakshi                     Decaffeinated Tea: Through                      Guwahati Univ          Awarded

Bhattacharyya              Gene Silencing                                                                        2016



Other Achievements
•    Member of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of National Institute of Malarial Research (NIMR-ICMR)

1.     Research theme photo

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2.    Verticals involved
Plant Resources


3. Research Area/Research Expertise
•    Plant Stress Biology
•    Molecular mechanisms of plant secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways


4. Research Summary
A. Current Research:
TITLE: 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 catechins. The obtained spatial and temporal datasets would be useful resources for further studies involving intermediate metabolites and novel compounds.
The application of systematic genome mining approaches in combination with functional analysis of candidate clusters offers enormous potential for unravelling of pathways, enzymes and chemistries related to production of berberine alkaloids and flavonoids from plants like Berberis sp./Zanthoxylum sp. and Polygonum sp. respectively.

B. Previous Notable Research:
TITLE: Allele Mining for Stress Resistance in Tea (DBT-Unit of Excellence)

To understand the gene networks that underlie tea stress and defense responses, it is necessary to identify and characterize the genes that respond both initially and as the physiological response to the stress or pathogen develops. We used PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization to identify Camellia sinensis genes that are differentially expressed in response to drought, fungal pathogen and infestation by green flies and thrips. We identified a total of 19,231 differentially expressed genes from sixteen stress cDNA libraries. RT-PCR analysis revealed that 45% of the stress-inducible genes are rarely transcribed in unstressed plants and 10% of them were not previously represented in Camellia expressed sequence tag databases. More than two-thirds of the genes in the stress cDNA collection have not been identified in previous studies as stress / defense response genes. Several stress-responsive cis-elements showed a statistically significant over-representation in the promoters of the genes in the stress cDNA collection. These include W-, F- and G-boxes, the JA inducible element, the abscisic acid response element and cysteine rich motif. The stress cDNA collection comprises a broad repertoire of stress-responsive genes encoding proteins that are involved in both the initial and subsequent stages of the physiological response to abiotic stress and pathogens. The degradome analysis using RNA-seq data suggests that regulation of the transcriptome is universally governed by specific small RNA target molecules which may be modulated. This set of stress-, pathogen- and positively regulated tea quality related genes is an important resource for understanding the genetic interactions underlying stress signaling and responses and may contribute to the characterization of the stress transcriptome through the construction of standardized specialized arrays.

       > For drought tolerance, Koomsung 29 was identified as the most tolerant among the germplasms so far characterized, which is also well characterised for its quality.

       > For blister blight tolerance, Phoobshering 1278 was resistant to blister blight disease and should be utilised for breeding of Darjeeling clones.

A.    Research Articles – Relevant publications

1. “Transgenic Tea Over-expressing Solanum tuberosum Endo-1,3-beta-D-glucanase Gene Conferred Resistance Against Blister Blight Disease” H. Ranjit Singh, Pranita Hazarika, Manab Deka & Sudripta Das. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter (2018) 36:107–122 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-017-1063-x.

2. “A Proteomic Approach to Evaluate the Effects of Endogenous Expression of Cryptogein Gene in Crypt Transgenic plants of Bacopa monnieriJ. Appl. Biotechnol Bioeng. (2017) 4(3): 100-104.

3. “Construction of a genetic linkage map and mapping of drought tolerance trait in Indian beveragial tea” Sapinder Bali, Vishnu Bhat, A Mamgain, Sudripta Das, S N Raina, A K Pradhan, S K Yadava and S Goel. Mol Breeding. 2015. 35:112. [DOI 10.1007/s11032-015-0306-5].

4. “Enhanced resistance to blister blight in transgenic tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) by overexpression of class I chitinase gene from potato (Solanum tuberosum)”. H. Ranjit Singh, Manab Deka and Sudripta Das. Funct Integr Genomics. 2015. [DOI 10.1007/s10142-015-0436-1].

5. “Molecular Landscape of Helopeltis theivora Induced Transcriptome and Defense Gene Expression in Tea”. Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay, Bornali Gohain, Raju Bharalee, Sushmita Gupta, Priyadarshini Bhorali, Sourabh Kumar Das, M C. Kalita and Sudripta Das. Plant Mol Biol Rep. 2014. [DOI 10.1007/s11105-014-0811-4].

6. “Molecular Analysis of Drought Tolerance in Tea by cDNA-AFLP Based Transcript Profiling”. (2013) Sushmita Gupta, Raju Bharalee, Priyadarshini Bhorali, Sourabh K. Das, Prasenjit Bhagawati, Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay, Bornali Gohain, Niraj Agarwal, Parveen Ahmed, Sangeeta Borchetia, M. C. Kalita, A. K. Handique, Sudripta Das. Mol. Biotechnol. 53:237–248 [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-012-9517-8].

7.“Biochemical evaluation…….. catechin rich genotypes” (2013). S. K. Das, S. Sabhapandit, G. Ahmed and Sudripta Das. Biochem Genetics. June 2013, Volume 51, Issue 5-6, pp 358-376 [DOI: 10.1007/s10528-013-9569].

8. “Identification of Differentially……………Suppression Subtractive Hybridization” A Das, Sudripta Das and T K Mondal. (2012). Plant Mol Biol Rep. 30:1088–1101.

9. “Understanding Darjeeling Tea Flavour on a Molecular Basis” Bornali Gohain, Sangeeta Borchetia, L.P. Bhuyan, A. Rahman, K. Sakata, M. Mizutani, B. Shimizu, G. Gurusubramaniam, R. Ravindranath, M. Hazarika and Sudripta Das. Plant Mol Biol. 78: 577-597 (doi:10.1007/s11103-012-9887-0). 2012.

10. “Identification of drought tolerant progenies in tea by gene expression analysis”. Sushmita Gupta, Raju Bharalee, Priyadarshini Bhorali, Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay, Bornali Gohain, Niraj Agarwal, Parveen Ahmed, Hemanta Saikia, Sangeeta Borchetia, MC Kalita, AK Handique and Sudripta Das. Funct Integr.Genomics (2012). 12: 543-563. [DOI: 10.1007 /s10142-012-0277-0].

B.     Books Authored – Recent First

Sushmita Gupta and Sudripta Das. Gene Networks Involved In Water Deficit Stress Response In Tea. 2012. Pages 264. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. ISBN: 978-3-659-29025-1.

C.    Book Chapters – Recent First

1.    Sudripta Das, S.C. Das and M. Hazarika. Global Tea Breeding: Achievements, Challenges and Perspectives - Breeding of the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) in India. (2012). Springer-Zhejiang University Press.

2.    Sudripta Das and Sumita Jha. Tissue culture of Cashew Nut. 2003. In: Prof. S. S. Bhojwani Commemorative Volume. Springer-Verlag.

3.    Sudripta Das and Sumita Jha. Strategies for improvement of Cashewnut through tissue culture. 1-7 (1995). In: Plant Tissue Culture, Islam, A.S. (ed), Oxford-IBH.

 

1.

Dr. Roseeta Mutum, DBT-PDF

Email: roseeta.5@gmail.com

Problem Addressing: Investigating and integrating the role of microRNAs in metabolite pathway of ethno-medicinally important plant Allium hookeri

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2.

Ms. Pukhrambam Premi Devi,  Senior Research Fellow

Email: premi.pukhrambam@gmail.com

Problem Addressing: Gene regulation study of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in Polygonum posumbu

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3.

Ms. Moirangthem Lakshmipriyari Devi, Junior Research Fellow

Email: lakshmipriyaridevi@gmail.com

Problem Addressing: Genomic and Biochemical Analysis of berberine and sanguinarine production in Zanthoxylum species of Manipur

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4.

Ms. Kh. Khedashwori Devi, Junior Research Fellow

Email: khkhedashwori@gmail.com

Problem Addressing – Characterization of Capsicum sp. of NE India for value addition

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5.

Ms. Khundrakpam Basanti, Laboratory Assistant

Email: buntylive@yahoo.com

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A.    Core/Internal
       a.    Present:

Sl. No.

Duration (From-To)

Title of Project/ Grant

PI/Co-PI

Funding Agency


1

2014-present

Functional Genomic Analysis of secondary metabolite pathways for production of flavonoids and berberine alkaloids

Sudripta Das (PI)

IBSD


 

      b.    Past:

Sl. No.

Duration (From-To)

Title of Project/ Grant

PI/Co-PI

Funding Agency


1

2017-2019

Demonstration and Capacity Building Programmes for Production of Naga Chilies by Modern Horticulture Technology at Farmers Field in Nagaland

Sudripta Das (PI)

IBSD


2

2017-2019

Demonstration of Sustainable Technologies for Protected and Open Cultivation of Important Vegetable Crops in Farmers Field and IBSD Mizoram

Sudripta Das (PI)

IBSD


 

B.    Extramural:
      a.    Present:

Sl. No.

Duration (From-To)

Title of Project/ Grant

PI/Co-PI

Funding Agency

1.

2019-2024

Conservation, propagation and mass multiplication of selected orchid species for developing bio-based entrepreneurship in North-East India

Co-Principal Investigator

DBT, GoI


2.

2020-2015

Earth BioGenome

Principal Investigator

DBT-International Funding


 

       b.    Past:

Sl. No.

Duration (From-To)

Title of Project/ Grant

PI/Co-PI

Funding Agency


1

2013-2017

Allele Mining for Stress Resistance in tea

Principal Investigator

DBT-Unit of Excellence


2

2011-2014

Identification and characterization of sequence based markers for genetic improvement of tea

Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)


3

2010-2013

Molecular documentation of Darjeeling Tea clones using DNA profiling

Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)


4

2010-2014

Tea Bioinformatics

Principal Investigator

MICT-DICT


5

2010-2013

Establishment of Institutional Biotech Hubs (IBT Hubs) by DBT under special programme for North Eastern States of India

Principal Investigator

DBT-NERBPMC


6

2008-2013

Abiotic and Biotic Stress Analysis for development of Stable Quality Genotypes

Principal Investigator

Tea Board 11th Plan


7

2006-2009

Characterization and enhancement of volatile flavour components and gene expression profiling in Darjeeling black tea infested by green fly and thrips

Principal Investigator

INDO-JAPAN Collaborative Project


8

2004-2009

Developing production system for tea polyphenols and their condensed products

Principal Investigator

CSIR-NMITLI


9

2007-2010

Production of terpenoids in untransformed and transformed cell and organ cultures in tea

Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)


10

2007-2010

Decaffeinated Tea: Through Gene Silencing

Principal Investigator

DST (GoI)


11

2007-2010

Development of transgenics for blister blight resistance in tea

Co-Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)


12

2006-2010

Development of integrated genetic linkage map and marker assisted selection in tea

Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)


13

2006-2010

Generation and analysis of Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) from Camellia species

Principal Investigator

DBT (GoI)