Home > Bioscience and Biotechnology > Mrinal Kumar Maiti
Research & Development activities of Molecular Genetics & Transgenesis Laboratory can be grouped into three major domains.
(A) Metabolic engineering of plants, fungi and algae for qualitative and quantitative improvement of storage-lipids: This program aims to improve the quality and quantity of storage-lipids for edible purpose and biodiesel applications. Genetically modified Brassica juncea and Oryza sativa have been developed for seed-specific expression of transgenes to achieve the nutritionally desirable fatty acid profile in mustard oil and rice bran oil, respectively. We are also working on increasing the storage-lipid productivity in these two crops. Our group has isolated a few oleaginous fungi including yeasts from plant and rhizosphere, and characterized certian critical genes for increasing the lipid productivity. Currently, metabolic engineering of microalgae is being pursued to develop algal strains with enhanced lipid productivity.
(B) Functional genomics of rice crop for improved productivity and grain quality: Our aim is to improve the grain productivity and low/no arsenic-accumulating rice grains. Transgenic rice lines with improved agronomic traits (e.g., semi-dwarfism, tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses) have been developed. We have generated transgenic rice plants with reduced arsenic and cadmium content in grains. Furthermore, our research group is also involved in genomics-supported screening of aromatic rice cultivars with superior yield-attributing traits to be grown in local agro-climatic zones.
(C) Bioprospecting of endophytic microbes for animal health care, plant growth promotion and biocontrol against phytopathogens: We are exploring the laboratory-isolated endophytic fungi (obtained from parts of edible plants and medicinal plants) for identification of metabolites having bioactive properties, such as antimicrobial, quorum sensing inhibitory and antioxidant. We are also working on the genomics and metagenomics of endophytic bacteria and fungi to understand the plant growth promoting features and biocontrol activities against phytopathogens and stored grain pathogens, so as to develop biotechnological strategies for improving plant health and minimize post-harvest loss.
Characterization of an alcohol acetyltransferase GcAAT responsible for the production of antifungal volatile esters in endophytic Geotrichum candidum PF005 by Mitra M., Singh R. , Ghissing U. , Das A. K., Mitra A. , Maiti M. K. Microbiological Research 260 - (2022)
Engineering an oleaginous yeast Candida tropicalis SY005 for enhanced lipid production by Chattopadhyay A., Gupta A. , Maiti M. K. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol 104 8399-8411 (2020)
Impact of seed-transmitted endophytic bacteria on intra- and inter-cultivar plant growth promotion modulated by certain sets of metabolites in rice crop by Krishnamoorthy A., Agarwal T. , Kotamreddy J. N., Bhattacharya R. , Mitra A. , Maiti T. K., Maiti M. K. Microbiological Research 126582- (2020)
Expression of rice MATE family transporter OsMATE2 modulates arsenic accumulation in tobacco and rice. by Das N., Bhattacharya S. , Bhattacharyya S. , Maiti M. K. Plant Mol. Biol. 98 101-120 (2018)
Rice matrix metalloproteinase OsMMP1 plays pleiotropic roles in plant development and symplastic-apoplastic transport by modulating cellulose and callose depositions. by Das P. K., Biswas R. , Anjum N. , Das A. K., Maiti M. K. Scientific Reports 8 1-16 (2018)
Identification of alternatively spliced transcripts of rice phytochelatin synthase 2 gene OsPCS2 involved in mitigation of cadmium and arsenic stresses by Das N., Bhattacharya S. , Bhattacharyya S. , Maiti M. K. Plant Mol. Biol. 94 167-183 (2017)
Enhanced cadmium accumulation and tolerance in transgenic tobacco overexpressing rice metal tolerance protein gene OsMTP1 is promising for phytoremediation by Das N., Bhattacharya S. , Maiti M. K. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 105 297-309 (2016)
Molecular characterization of a novel isolate of Candida tropicalis for enhanced lipid production by Dey P., Maiti M. K. J. Appl. Microbiol. 114 1357-1368 (2013)
Comparative lipid profiling of two endophytic fungal isolates- Colletotrichum sp. and Alternaria sp. having potential utilities as biodiesel feedstock by Dey P., Banerjee J. , Maiti M. K. Bioresour. Technol. 102 5815-5823 (2011)
Functional role of rice germin-like protein1 in regulation of plant height and disease resistance by Banerjee J., Maiti M. K. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 394 178-183 (2010)
Enhanced Lipid Production by Genetically Engineered Algal Strain : Scale up Cultivation and Engineering for Co-Production of Value-added isoprenoids - DBT PAN IIT Center for Bioenergy : Phase II DBT, NEW DELHI
Deciphering the crosstalk between very long-chain fatty acids and phytohormones regulating the bolder seed size and early flowering phenotypes in Fatty acid elongase 1-knockdown and -knockout Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) lines Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Susamoy Sarkar
Area of Research: Algal Biotechnology
Manali Das
Area of Research: Metabolic Engineering
Neelesh Patra
Area of Research: Plant Molecular Biology
Shivangi Agrawal
Area of Research: Nutraceuticals biotechnology
R Som Dutt
Area of Research: Microbial Production of Biofules
Sachin Maji
Area of Research: Nutraceuticals biotechnology
Krishan Gourav Behera
Area of Research: Plant Molecular Biology
Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury
Area of Research: Enzymes for biosynthesis of high-value oleochemicals
Arnab Mukherjee
Area of Research: Plant Molecular Biology
Sayari Mukherjee
Area of Research: Algal Biotechnology and Biorefinery
Akanksha Singh
Area of Research: Algal Biotechnology
Lisa Ghosh
Area of Research: Algal Biotechnology