Subhas C. Biswas , Ph.D.

Chief Scientist
Cell Biology & Physiology
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Research Interest

The prime focus of the laboratory is to understand the disease pathogenesis in model systems of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and develop new diagnostic and therapeutic targets based on cutting edge technology. My group uses primary cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons, astrocyte, stereotaxic toxin infused rodents for both AD and PD and the latest transgenic model (5xFAD) to delineate pathologic mechanisms and to screen specific drug candidates. We have also established a state of art facility for neuro-behavioural studies in which all kinds of cognitive behaviours can be computed.

Notably, we have idenified several key signalling pathways and pro-apoptotic molecules which play a vital role in neurodegeneration in models of AD.

Main findings of my group are:

  1. Transcription factor FoxO3a is a major player which mediates the death of neurons by directly inducing pro-apoptotic genes such as Bim, Puma and Bmf
  2. The intricate regulation of Puma expression by transcription factors c-Jun, FoxO3a and p53
  3. Tribbles psedokinase 3 induces both apoptosis and autophagy and mediates neuron death in AD
  4. Aberrant activation of Cell division cycle 25A (Cdc25A) and Cyclin dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) lead to neuron death and novel synthetic Cdk4 and Cdc25A inhibitors significantly protect neurons against insults relevant to AD and PD
  5. Identification of several cytokines such as TIMP-1 and ICAM-1 released from activated astrocytes which confer neuroprotection and ameliorates cognitive behaviours in rodent models of AD
  6. Value addition of Parker Robinson’s poly-herbal product, Medha-plus which ameliorates Alzheimer’s pathology and improved learning and memory of rodent models of AD.

Credentials

  • 2017 - current Senior Principal Scientist CSIR-IICB
  • 2013 - 2017 Principal Scientist CSIR-IICB
  • 2009 - 2013 Senior Scientist CSIR-ICB
  • 2004 - 2009 Research Assistant Professor, Columbia University, New York, USA
  • 1998 - 2004 Post-Doctoral Research Scientist Columbia University New York, USA
  • 1997 - 1998 Assistant Professor, University of Agricultural , Sciences, Karnataka    
  • 1992 - 1998 Ph.D. (Neuroscience) IICB, Jadavpur University
  • 1990 - 1992 M.Sc. (Animal Biochemistry) NDRI, Karnal, Haryana
  • 1985 - 1990 B.V.Sc. &A.H. BCKV, Mohanpur, W.B.

Patents & Publications

  1. Pandit P, Das L, Das AK, Dolui S, Saha S, Pal U, Manda A, Chowdhury J, Biswas SC and Maiti NC (2023). Single point mutations at the S129 residue and their effect on α-synuclein structure, aggregation, and neurotoxicity. Front Chem.11: 1145877. IF – 5.545
  2. Pramanik SK, Sanphui P, Das AK, Banerji B, Biswas SC (2023). Small-Molecule Cdc25A Inhibitors Protect Neuronal Cells from Death Evoked by NGF Deprivation and 6-Hydroxydopamine. ACS Chem Neurosci. 14(7):1226-1237. IF – 5.78
  3. Bhattacharyya P, Biswas A, Biswas SC (2023). Brain-enriched miR-128: Reduced in exosomes from Parkinson's patient plasma, improves synaptic integrity, and prevents 6-OHDA mediated neuronal apoptosis. Front Cell Neurosci. 16:1037903. IF – 6.147
  4. Paidi RK, Sarkar S, Ambareen N, Biswas SC (2022). Medha Plus - a novel polyherbal formulation ameliorates cognitive behaviors and disease pathology in models of Alzheimer’s disease. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 151, 113086. IF- 7.419
  5. Guha S, Paidi RK, Goswami S, Saha P, Biswas SC (2022). ICAM-1 protects neurons against Amyloid-β and improves cognitive behaviors in 5xFAD mice by inhibiting NF-κB. Brain Behav Immun. 100:194-210. IF- 19.2
  6. Saha A, Salem S, Paidi RK, Biswas SC. BH3-only proteins Puma and Beclin1 regulate autophagic death in neurons in response to Amyloid-β (2021). Cell Death Discov. 2021 7(1):356. doi: 10.1038/s41420-021-00748-x. IF- 5.241
  7. De D, Mukherjee I, Guha S, Paidi RK, Chakrabarti S, Biswas SC, Bhattacharyya SN. Rheb-mTOR activation rescues Aβ-induced cognitive impairment and memory function by restoring miR-146 activity in glial cells (2021). Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 24:868-887. IF- 7.032
  8. Das H, Sarkar S, Paidi RK, Biswas SC. Subtle genomic DNA damage induces intraneuronal production of amyloid-β (1-42) by increasing β-secretase activity (2021). FASEB J.35:e21569. IF- 4.966
  9. Sarkar S, Biswas SC (2021). Astrocyte subtype-specific approach to Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Review. Neurochem Int. 145:104956. IF- 3.994
  10. Mahapatra A, Sarkar S, Biswas SC, Chattopadhyay K (2020). Modulation of α-Synuclein Fibrillation by Ultra-small and Biocompatible Gold Nanoclusters. ACS Chem Neurosci. Accepted. IF- 4.348
  11. Bhattacharyya P, Biswas SC. (2020). Small non-coding RNAs: do they encode answers for controlling SARS-CoV-2 in the future? Front. Microbiol. 11:571553. IF - 4.075
  12. Saha P, Guha S, Biswas SC. (2020). P38K and JNK pathways are induced byamyloid-β in astrocyte: implication of MAPK pathways in astrogliosis in Alzheimer’s disease. Mol Cell Neurosci. 108:103551. IF - 3.182
  13. Biswas S, Das H, Das U, Sengupta A, Dey Sharma R, Biswas SC, Dey S. (2020). Smokeless tobacco induces toxicity and apoptosis in neuronal cells: a mechanistic evaluation. Free Radic Res. 54:477-496. IF – 2.77
  14. Mukherjee C, Saleem S, DAS S, Biswas SC, Bhattacharyya D. (2020). Human placental laminin: Role in neuronal differentiation, cell adhesion and proliferation. J Biosci. 45:93. IF – 1.65
  15. Lahiri D, Mondal R, Deb S, Bandyopadhyay D, Shome G, Sarkar S, Biswas SC. (2020). Neuroinvasive potential of a primary respiratory pathogen SARS-CoV2: Exploring the underrecognized. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 14:1053-1060. IF – 2.7
  16. Mondal R, Lahiri D, Deb S, Bandyopadhyay D, Shome G, Sarkar S, Paria SR, Thakurta TG, Singla P, Biswas SC. (2020). COVID-19: Are we dealing with a multisystem vasculopathy in disguise of a viral infection? J Thromb Thrombolysis. 5:1-13. IF – 3.07
  17. Saha P, Sarkar S, Kumar PR, Biswas SC. (2020). TIMP-1: a key cytokine released from activated astrocytes protects neurons and ameliorates cognitive behaviours in a rodent model of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Behav Immun. 87:804-819. IF – 6.3
  18. Sanphui P, Das A, Biswas SC. (2020). Forkhead Box O3a requires BAF57, a subunit of chromatin remodeler SWI/SNF complex for induction of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (Puma) in a model of Parkinson’s disease. J Neurochem. 154:547-561. IF- 4.87
  19. Gharami K, Biswas SC. (2020). Glutamate treatment mimics LTP- and LTD-like biochemical activity in viable synaptososme preparation. Neurochem Int. 134:104655. IF- 3.994
  20. De D, Bhattacharjee P, Das H, Kumar KS, Biswas SC, Bhattacharyya D (2019). Destablization of β-amyloid aggregates by thrombin derived peptide: plausible role of thrombin in neuroprotection. FEBS J. 287:2386-2413. IF- 4.739
  21. Mahapatra A, Sarkar S, Biswas SC, Chattopadhyay K (2019). An aminoglycoside antibiotic inhibits both lipid-induced and solution-phase fibrillation of α-synuclein in vitro. Chem Commun (Camb) 55:11052-11055. IF- 6.164
  22. Mondal P, Saleem S, Sikder S, Kundu TK, Biswas SC, Roy S (2019). Multifunctional transcriptional coactivator PC4 is a global co-regulator of p53-dependent stress response and gene regulation. J Biochem. 166:403-413. IF- 2.23
  23. Akhter, R., Saleem, S, Saha, A. and Biswas, S C (2018). The pro-apoptotic protein Bmf co-operates with Bim and Puma in neuron death induced by β-amyloid or NGF deprivation. Mol Cell Neurosci 88:249-257. IF- 3.182
  24. Saleem, S and Biswas, S C (2017). Tribbles Pseudokinase 3 Induces Both Apoptosis and Autophagy in Amyloid-β-induced Neuronal Death. J Biol Chem 292: 2571-2585. IF- 4.01
  25. Biswas, S. C.; Sanphui, P.; Chatterjee, N.; Kemeny, S.; Greene, L. A. (2017). Cdc25A phosphatase: a key cell cycle protein that regulates neuron death in disease and development. Cell Death Dis 8: e2692. IF- 5.965
  26. Chatterjee, N.; Sanphui, P.; Kemeny, S.; Greene, L. A; Biswas, S. C. (2016). Role and regulation of Cdc25A phosphatase in neuron death induced by NGF deprivation or β-amyloid. Cell Death Discovery 2: 16083.
  27. Akhter, R., Sanphui, P., Das, H., Saha, P. and Biswas, S. C. (2015). The regulation of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis by JNK/c-Jun pathway in β-amyloid-induced neuron death. J Neurochem 134:1091-1103. IF- 3.842
  28. Saha, P. and Biswas, S. C. (2015). Amyloyd-β induced astrocytosis and astrocyte death: Implication of FoxO3a-Bim-caspase3 death signaling. Mol Cell Neurosci 68:203-211. IF- 3.597
  29. Biswas, A., Kurkute, P., Saleem, S., Jana, B., Mohapatra, S., Mondal, P., Adak, A., Ghosh, S., Saha, A., Bhunia, D., Biswas, S. C. and Ghosh S. (2015). Novel hexapeptide interacts with tubulin and microtubules, inhibits Aβ fibrillation, and shows significant neuroprotection. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:1309-1316. IF- 4.348
  30. Akhter, R., Sanphui, P. and Biswas, S. C. (2014). The essential role of p53 Upregulated Modulator of Apoptosis and its regulation by FoxO3a transcription factor in β-amyloid induced neuron death. J Biol Chem 289:10812-10822. IF- 4.651
  31. Sanphui, P., Pramanik, S.K., Chatterjee, N., Moorthi, P., Banerji, B., and Biswas, S. C. (2013). Efficacy of Cyclin dependent kinase 4 inhibitors as potent neuroprotective agents against insult relevant to Alzheimer’s disease. PloS One 8(11):e78842. IF- 3.73
  32. Zareen, N. Biswas, S. C. Greene, L.A. (2013). A feed-forward loop involving Trib3, Akt and FoxO mediates death of NGF-deprived neurons. Cell Death Differ 20(12):1719-1730. IF- 8.371
  33. Sanphui, P., Biswas, S.C. (2013). FoxO3a is activated and executes neuron death via Bim in response to beta-amyloid. Cell Death Dis 4:e625. IF- 6.044
  34. Banerji, B., Pramanik, S.K., Sanphui, P., Nikhar, S., Biswas, S.C. (2013). Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of novel triazolo-benzoxazepine as new anticancer agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 82: 401–409. IF- 2.469
  35. Biswas, S.C., Zhang, Y., Iyirhiaro, G., Willett, R.T., Rodriguez Gonzalez, Y., Cregan, S.P., Slack, R.S., Park, D.S., Greene, L.A. (2010). Sertad1 plays an essential role in developmental and pathological neuron death. J Neurosci 30(11):3973-3982. IF- 7.271
  36. Biswas, S. C., Buteau, J., and Greene, L.A. (2008). Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) diminishes neuronal degeneration and death caused by NGF deprivation by suppressing Bim induction. Neurochem Res 33(9):1845-1851. IF- 2.26
  37. Biswas, S. C., Shi, Y., Sproul, A. A. and Greene, L.A. (2007). Pro-apoptotic Bim induction in response to NGF deprivation requires simultaneous activation of three different death signaling pathways. J Biol Chem 282(40):29368-29374. IF- 5.581
  38. Biswas, S. C., Shi, Y., Vonsattel, J. G., Leung, C.L., Troy, C.M. and Greene, L.A. (2007). Bim is elevated in Alzheimer disease neurons and is required for beta- amyloid induced neuronal apoptosis. J Neurosci 27(4):893-900. IF- 7.49
  39. Greene, L.A., Liu, D. X., Troy, C.M. and Biswas, S. C. (2007). Cell Cycle Molecules Define A Pathway Required For Neuron Death In Development And Disease. BBA-Mol Basis Dis 1772(4):392-401. IF- 4.041
  40. Malagelada, C., Ryu, E., Biswas, S. C., Verince, J. L. and Greene, L.A. (2006). RTP801 is selectively elevated in Parkinson brain substantia nigral neurons and mediates death in cellular models of Parkinson disease. J Neurosci 26(39): 9996-10005. IF- 7.453
  41. Biswas, S. C., Liu, D. X. and Greene, L. A. (2005). Bim is a direct target of a neuronal E2F-dependent apoptotic pathway. J Neurosci 25(37): 8349-8358. IF- 7.506
  42. Biswas, S. C., Ryu, E., Park, C., Malagelada, C., and Greene, L. A. (2005). PUMA and p53 play required roles in death evoked in a cellular model of Parkinson disease. Neurochem Res 30(6/7): 839-845. IF- 2.187
  43. Liu, D.X., Biswas, S.C. and Greene, L.A. (2004). B-Myb and C-Myb play required roles in neuronal apoptosis evoked by nerve growth factor deprivation and DNA damage. J Neurosci 24(40): 8720-8725. IF- 7.907
  44. Greene, L.A., Biswas, S.C., and Liu, D.X. (2003). Cell cycle molecules and vertebrate neuron death: E2F at the hub. Cell Death Differ 11(1): 49-60. IF- 7.008
  45. Biswas, S.C., and Greene, L.A. (2002). NGF down-regulates the BH3-only protein BIM and suppresses its pro-apoptotic activity by phosphorylation. J Biol Chem 277(51): 49511-49516. IF- 6.696
  46. Biswas, S.C., Dutt, A., Baker, M.W., Macagno, E.R. (2002). Association of the Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase HmLAR1 with Enabled in Hirudo medicinalis. Mol Cell Neurosci 21(4): 657-670. IF- 4.519
  47. Sarkar S., Biswas S.C., Chatterjee O., Sarkar P.K. (1999). Protein kinase A linked phosphorylation mediates triiodothyronine induced actin gene expression in developing brain. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 67(1): 158-164. IF- 2.309
  48. Pal U., Biswas S.C., Sarkar P.K. (1997). Regulation of actin and its mRNA by thyroid hormones in cultures of fetal human brain during second trimester of gestation. J Neurochem 69(3): 1170-1176. IF- 4.969
  49. Biswas S.C., Pal U., Sarkar P.K. (1997). Regulation of cytoskeletal proteins by thyroid hormone during neuronal maturation and differentiation. Brain Res 757(2): 245-253. IF- 2.409
  50. Biswas S.C., Singh D., Pandey R.S. (1995). Subcellular distribution of oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes in goat ovary. Indian J Exp Biol 33(10): 785-787. IF- 1.195

 

Book Chapter:

  1. Sarkar S, Guha S, Biswas SC (2022). Role of reactive Astrocytes in Alzheimer’s Disease in The Biology of Glial Cells: Recent Advances. Springer Nature. Singapore.
  2. Ambareen N, Sarkar S, Saha A, Biswas SC (2022). Autophagy: Role in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Avenues in Alzheimer’s Disease: Recent Findings in Pathophysiology, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Modalities. The Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.
  3. Sanphui P, Saha A, Biswas SC (2019). RNAi-Mediated Silencing of FOXO Factors. Methods Mol Biol. 1890:131-140. 

 

List of Patents:

  1. Hexapeptide for neuroprotection against a beta toxicity. Surajit Ghosh, Atanu Biswas, Batakrishna Jana, Saswat Mohapatra, Subhash Chandra Biswas, Suraiya Saleem, Prasenjit Mondal, Anindyasundar Adak, Subhajit Ghosh, Abhijit Saha, Debmalya Bhunia. U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. (2017), US 20170253631 A1 20170907.[Granted]
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