TIFR Annual Report, 1991 - 1992

Neurobiology Drosophila-flight muscles, chemosensory genes, collaboration with IMCB, Singapore for gustation behaviour, olfE gene associated with learning and memory, neural uptake of horseradish peroxidase technique used to identify sensory fibres, serine proteases, IP3 pathway; Drosophila neuroanatomy- Transmission Electron Microscope used to study development during pupation, synaptogenesis, femur glomerulus; Molecular neurobiology-(E. coli) cloned human potassium channel cDNA, collaboration with P.Balaram from IISC to design synthetic voltage sensitive polypeptide using computer simulations; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology- (Moss- F. hygrometrica), auxin studies, chloronema and caulonema cells , protein kinase, hydrophobic interaction chromatography used, nitrate reductase; Glycolytic and shunt pathway-(S.pombe- yeast)particulate fructokinase, PDC2 pyruvate decarboxylase; Malarial Parasite-(Plasmodium falciparum, P.vivax, P. knowlesi, mouse model used) CS antigen; Protein folding- Barstar globule, NMR spectrum analysis; Highlights : O.Siddiqi-Goyal prize for life sciences, Aryabhatta medal from Indian National Science Academy; J.Udgaonkar- Young Associate of Indian Academy of Sciences; 'Sushi cooker' fabricated for screening; Collaboration with W.Chia at IMCB,Singapore; neural uptake of horseradish peroxidase technique used to identify sensory fibres; Collaboration with P. Balaram at IISC; J. Udgaonkar visited Stanford University- Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship; Summary : After several years of study after the isolation of the olfE gene, it was found to be important for memory and learning.