WELCOME

Our research is focused on 1) Development of 'target' and 'small molecule' profiling systems for specific applications 2) Modeling Folding-Unfolding mechanism of proteins and 3) development of peptide based bio-nano assemblies and devices. The following script is intended to give an overview of the research area we are broadly interested in, so that it will be helpful for prospective research students interested to work with us.
Chemo-informatics-Chemical Proteomics: The property of small molecules binding to target proteins to perturb their functions has been amply exploited to produce therapeutic agents for treatment of various diseases. Understanding the full target spectrum of a drug molecule is critical to exploit the complete 'therapeutic potential' and 'toxicity' of a molecule. Our research focuses on two aspects of this drug-target interaction; 1) Simplification and abstraction of principal components responsible for pharmacological behavior, and express it in lesser dimensions for high throughput similarity search and 2) a comprehensive systems biology approach in mapping, signaling and metabolic pathways.
Computational Biology: Understanding the molecular mechanism of protein mis-folding can help in therapeutic intervention of diseases resulting from mis-folding and aggregation, improve kinetic stability of industrial and therapeutic proteins and have better directives while designing proteins de novo. In collaboration with Prof. Chris Bystroff of RPI New York, we have designed a computational protocol for complete pathway engineering of small two-state and large multi-state proteins. Computational experiments to develop a consensus hypothesis for the physical basis of protein kinetic stability is in progress.
Peptide based Bio-nano Systems: Controlled and directed self assemblies of nano-structures provide the key for fabrication of novel nano-materials and devices. Peptide based nano tubes and their assemblies have the scope for numerous chemical modifications helping to the design of molecules with pre-defined functions, and more importantly they may be bio-compatible. Short designed peptides can form assemblies in the form of tubes, spheres, fibrils and tapes in nano-scopic dimensions, and has demonstrated applications in bio-sensors, tissue engineering and development of antibacterial agents. We plan to design a series of unnatural peptides that can form nano-scale structural assemblies with characteristic mechanical and chemical properties.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. Protein Barcoding 2. Conformational directives for protein folding. 3. New Linux Distro for Bio-molecular modeling and simulations

Vibin Ramakrishnan

Assistant Professor

IIT Guwahati

Ph: +91 361 258 2227

Fax: +91 361 258 2249

Email:vibin@iitg.ernet.in

1N 104 N Block

Biotech Building

IIT Guwaahti

India - 781039

Masters: CUSAT

Ph.D: IIT Bombay

Post Doc: RPI New York

Bio-nanotechnology

Computational Biology

Biophysics

Protein Chemistry

BT 205: Biophysics

BT 310: Bioinfo. & Comp. Bio

Ph.D Students: 4

Research Asst.: 1

M. Tech Students: 1

B.Tech Students: 4

First Floor, N Block,

Dept. of Biotechnology

1. Proteins (2012) 80, 920-934

2. Sc. Hort. (2012) in press

3. Mol. Info. (2010) 29, 773-779

4. Syst. Syn. Biol (2010) 4, 247-256

5. J. Phys. Chem B ( 2009) 113, 16435

6. Str. Biol. Comp. Biophys/ (2008)

7. Biopolymers (2006) 83, 537-145

8. J. Phys. Chem B ( 2009) 113, 16435

9. Biopolymers (2005) 78, 96-105

10. J. Am. Chem Soc (2004) 126, 16332

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11, Biophys. J S (2004) 86, 621

12. Prot. Sci. S 92005) 14, 105

13. Prot. Sci. S (2007)

14. Biophys. J S (2008) 94, 195

Research at Molecular Informatics & Design (MID) Laboratory

Department of Biotechnology

Indian Institute of Technology

Guwahati 781039. India

www.iitg.ac.in/vibin

MID@IITG: WHERE IDEAS GRADUATE