Dr. Arunkumar Krishnan
Assistant Professor at IISER Berhampur
I am a computational biologist with a specialization in comparative and evolutionary genomics. My research focuses on analyzing and comparing genomic datasets to address research questions across both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. In prokaryotes, I am particularly interested in defense systems, examining them within an evolutionary framework. In eukaryotes, my work concentrates on the lineage-specific expansion of gene families and the evolution of signal transduction pathways.
Biography
Assistant Professor, IISER Berhampur (Since December 2020 onwards)
Postdoctoral Fellow, NCBI, NIH (2017 - 2020), Bethesda, Maryland, US. Dr. L Aravind's lab
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Queensland (2016 - 2017), Australia. Prof. Bernard Degnan's group
Ph.D. in Comparative Genomics (2011 - 2015), Uppsala University, Sweden. Prof. Helgi Schiöth's group
Honours and Awards
DBT Ramalingaswami Fellow (2021)
NIH Postdoctoral Felllowship (2017)
UQ Postdoctoral Fellow (2016)​
All
Since 2020
Citations
h-index
i10-index
2021
19
24
1279
16
21
Overview of my Research Contributions
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Characterized the functional architecture of the Dnd system, distinguishing the roles of the DndABCDE modification module and the DndFGH restriction module, and identifying DndFGH as a HerA/FtsK-dependent counter-invader system.
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Identified the role of HerA/FtsK translocases in bacterial defense, providing new insights into prokaryotic immunity.
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Identified lineage-specific expansions of Class-A GPCR subsets across 238 lophotrochozoan genomes, highlighting adaptations in chemosensory evolution.
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Establishment of deep events in the evolution of the ABC superfamily of P-loop NTPases and their functional radiation in RNA editing, translation, metabolism, DNA repair, and biological conflicts.
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Identification of multiple novel ABC ATPase-dependent counter-invader systems.
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Establishment of key events in the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) replication apparatus and the origin of the unusual plasmid-like features of kDNA.
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Unraveling the origin of the DNA binding domains (BHDs) involved in the unique DNA lesion-recognition of Nucleotide Excision Repair.
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Establishing the massive diversity of AID/APOBECs (for the first time outside of vertebrates) and their DNA/RNA editing roles as one of the basis of immune defense in various metazoan lineages.
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Identification of multiple novel clades, including highly divergent and secreted versions of AID-APOBECs in vertebrates.
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Elucidating the olfactory component in the genome of the Kiwi (fly-less bird) and Crown of Thorns Star-Fish (COTS: An Echinoderm).
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Elucidating the early emergence of Eph-ephrin-based cell-cell communication and its role in the evolution of metazoan multicellularity.
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Reconstructing the early origins and diversification of the G-protein coupled receptor signaling system