Rashmi Agrata
Postdoctoral Fellow,
Komander Lab- Ubiquitin Signaling Division,
WEHI, Australia
Research Interest
My current research work focuses on understanding the role of conformational changes of proteins in their functions. Stereo-specificity of protein-protein interactions is crucial for downstream activities by proteins. Any kind of substitution to the residue(s) that may perturb the catalytically-active conformation of the enzyme(s)/protein complexes exerts a drastic effect on a signaling pathway.
I am currently studying how subtle changes in conformational dynamics of proteins associated with the ubiquitination pathway alter their functions. Interestingly, pathogens utilise this as a strategy to hijack host responses during infection by modifying proteins to alter their conformational dynamics. In my PhD work under Ranabir Das, I am trying to gain molecular insights into ubiquitin-inactivation during bacterial infection by Shigella and Burkholderia. In an integrative approach to understanding the system, I have contributed to the biophysical studies and biochemical assays of proteins.
List of Publications
Deamidation disrupts native and transient contacts to weaken the interaction between UBC13 and RING-finger E3 ligases
Research Projects during MSc-PhD (2015- 2023)
UBC13 deamidation by Shigella flexneri disrupts its native and transient interactions with TRAF6 to impair ubiquitination
Ubiquitin deamidation by Burkholderia pseudomallei perturbs catalytic conformations in the ubiquitination pathway
Burkholderia pseudomallei infects human and causes melioidosis by suppressing ubiquitination. We employed NMR spectroscopy, MD simulation and biochemicals assays to investigate the molecular mechanism of the same.
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Check out our poster
Research Projects during BSc (2012-2015)
Gargi College, University of Delhi, India
Characterization of a Novel Human Protein Expected to be Involved in Signal Transduction
p-ISSN 2454-4582, e-ISSN 2454-7808, Volume 2, Issue 3; July-December, 2016 pp. 211-215
The study conducted by Dr Poonam Sharma and Dr Jasvinder Kaur at Gargi College, University of Delhi under DBT-Star College Scheme
Understanding Amino Acid Propensities in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs)
This was a short project designed to inculcate the concept of structure-function paradigm during a two-month summer internship at Tezpur University, Assam, India with Dr Anupam Nath Jha
Teaching Experience
Protein: Structure to Function
Teaching Assistant
PSF (Autumn-2021)
NCBS-TIFR
Feedback sytems in biology
Organiser and Instructor
9th Lecture Series in Advanced Biology, 2022
NCBS-TIFR
Talks and Posters
Ubiquitins, Autophagy and Disease, CSHL
April 25-29, 2023 | CSHL, USA
Poster Presentation
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Ubiquitin & Ubls in health and diseases, EMBO
Sep 09-13, 2022 | Cavtat, Croatia
Title: Ubiquitin deamidation alters conformational dynamics of E2~Ub conjugate to hijack host ubiquitination
Best Poster Presentation Award
Speaker at NMRS India Student Webinar
July 14, 2021 | IISc Bangalore, India (Virtual)
Topic: Bacterial Strategies in Hijacking Ubiquitin Pathway
Ubiquitin, Autophagy and Diseases, CSHL (Virtual)
April 27-30, 2021 | CSHL, USA
Poster Presentation
Invited Speaker for interaction with school students
Oct 22, 2020│Pennslyvania, USA (Online)
Topic: Importance of growth mindset in a scientist's life
Invited Speaker for a webinar
Sep 19, 2020│DSR, NIT Trichy, India
Title: One charge to rule them all
LMB-UNIGE Graduate Life Sciences Symposium 2020 (Virtual)
July 8-10, 2020 | MRC, UK
Title: UBC13 deamidation by Shigella flexneri disrupts its native and transient interactions with TRAF6 to impair ubiquitination
Best Poster Presentation Award
7th Ubiquitin & Friends Symposium (Virtual)
May 14-15, 2020 │ Vienna Biocenter Ubiquitin Club, Austria
Title: UBC13 deamidation by Shigella flexneri disrupts its native and transient interactions with TRAF6 to impair ubiquitination
Best Short Talk Award
8th Proteasome & Autophagy Congress
April 25-27, 2018 │ Clermont-Ferrand, France
Title: Understanding the mechanism underlying Ubiquitin deamidation by Burkholderia
Best Poster Presentation Award
Celebrating Diversity in Biology- NCBS Annual Talks
Jan 3-5, 2018│NCBS-TIFR, Bangalore, India
Title: Understanding the mechanism underlying Ubiquitin deamidation by Burkholderia
Best Poster Presentation Award
Structure Across Scales
Oct 7-8, 2017 │ NCSB-TIFR, Bangalore, India
Poster Presentation
Biotikos
Jan 19-20, 2015│Biotechnology Society, TERI University, New Delhi, India
Title: Characterisation of an uncharacterised human protein expected to play a role in signal transduction
Best Poster Presentation Award
Mentored by
Postdoc Mentor
WEHI, Australia
2023- present
PhD Thesis Advisor
NCBS-TIFR, India
(2016-2023)
PhD Thesis Advisory Committee
NCBS-TIFR, India
(2016-2023)
PhD Thesis Advisory Committee
NCBS-TIFR, India
(2016-2023)
BSc Project Advisor
Gargi College, University of Delhi, India
(2013-2015)
Summer Internship Program
Tezpur University, India
(May-June 2014)
Mentored
BYU-WEHI Summer Intern
2024
WEHI, Australia
Lab Rotation Student
GS2016
NCBS-TIFR, India
Lab Rotation Student
GS2017
NCBS-TIFR, India
Lab Rotation Student
GS2019
NCBS-TIFR, India