Anjali Kumari Singh

Repetitive sequences in the genome serve as hotspots for genetic variation. Repeat expansions in the coding regions of the gene could result in single amino acid homorepeat (HR) expansions in the corresponding protein, which has been linked to several neurodegenerative and developmental disorders. Although these hypermutable elements are detrimental, about 15% of the eukaryotic proteins contain homorepeats, indicating that HRs could have physiological functions. Accumulating evidences from various research groups, including ours, suggest that HRs are functionally versatile and might be involved in diverse processes such as gene expression regulation, signalling and cell-cell communication. However, how HRs affect cellular functions in various biological contexts remains unknown.

Accumulation of genetic variation also facilitates rapid adaptation of pathogens to host, leading to evolution of pathogenicity, virulence and drug resistance. HRs contribute to rapid adaptability in two ways (i) genetically, by accelerating accumulation of standing genetic variation and (ii) biochemically, by facilitating molecular interactions across diverse pathways and rewiring molecular networks. While isolated studies link protein HRs with different biological roles in pathogens, a comprehensive systems-wide understanding of the role of HRs in facilitating pathogenicity is lacking.
 

My Ph.D. studies involve and integrate many aspects of biology to obtain a systems-level understanding of the context-dependent physiological roles of eukaryotic HRs in host and pathogen physiology. I will undertake computational and/or experimental studies spanning Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology, Comparative Genomics and Molecular Biology.