Research Interests:

My research interests are in the field of gene regulation and functional genomics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have recently emerged as important and key regulators of gene expression. I am interested in cloning and characterization of new miRNAs from indigenous plants. We are also working on isolation and characterization of novel tissue specific/wound-specific promoters, using T-DNA tagging in Arabidopsis , with the ultimate aim of better regulation of transgene expression. Other research activities include using molecular markers for phylogenetic studies and mapping genes of economic importance in chickpea.

Selected Publications:

1. Sunkar, R., Girke, T., Jain, P. K., and Zhu, J-K. (2005) Cloning and characterization of microRNAs from rice. Plant Cell 17: 1397-411.

2. Navani, N. K., Jain, P. K., Gupta, S., Sisodia, B. S. and Kumar, S. (2002). A set of cattle microsatellite DNA markers for genome analysis of riverine buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ). Animal Genetics 33:149-154 .

3. Sharma, V. K., Jain, P. K., Maheshwari, S C. and Khurana, J P. (1999). Changes in phosphorylation status of wheat plastid polypeptides as influenced by light, calcium and cyclic AMP. J. Plant Biochem. and Biotech. 8:87-92

4. Jain, P. K., Kochhar, A., Khurana, J. P. and Tyagi, A K. (1998). The psbO gene for 33-kDa-precursor polypeptide of the oxygen-evolving complex in Arabidopsis thaliana – Nucleotide sequence and control of its expression. DNA Res. 5:221-228

5. Sharma, V. K., Jain, P. K., Maheshwari, S. C. and Khurana, J. P. (1997). Rapid blue light induced phosphorylation of plasma membrane associated proteins in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Phytochemistry 44:775-780

6. Sharma, V. K., Jain, P. K., Malik, M. K., Maheshwari, S. C. and Khurana, J. P. (1997). Light- and calcium-modulated phosphorylation of soluble fractions from young, dark-grown wheat seedlings. Phytochemistry 44: 781-786

7. Khurana, J. P., Kochhar, A. and Jain, P. K. (1996). Genetic and molecular analysis of light regulated plant development. Genetica 97:96-108

8. Sharma, V. K., Jain, P. K., Maheshwari, S. C. and Khurana, J. P. (1995). Regulation of phosphorylation of wheat mitochondrial proteins by divalent cations. J. Plant Biochem. Biotech. 4:91-95.

Email : jainpmb@rediffmail.com