Beena Pillai
Scientist-G |
Decision Unit 5: Functional Biology
Professor |
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
Beena Pillai is interested in the interplay of non-coding RNAs and transcription factors in establishing gene expression patterns that drive neuronal development and function.
Specific Interests
- Non-coding RNA–target networks in neurogenesis and brain development in mice and zebrafish
- Neuro-inflammation resulting from polyglutamine expansion in neurodegenerative diseases
- Novel nerve regeneration factors from earthworm
Her lab has identified affected long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and the gene regulatory networks they target during neurodegeneration. Her group has shown that knockdown of a single microRNA in mouse brain can lead to neuronal apoptosis and ataxia-like phenotype. In zebrafish, she also showed that non-coding RNAs inherited through the gametes can modify brain development.
Several aspects of non-coding RNA mediated gene regulation including maternal inheritance, neural cell differentiation and anti-HIV1 miRNAs have been studied earlier. A novel genomics and bioinformatics program is on earthworm regeneration to isolate factors that can enhance mammalian neurogenesis.
Selected Publications
All Citations →- A novel antisense lncRNA, ARBAG harboring an RNA destabilizing GWAS variant for C-peptide dictates the transcript isoforms of GABRA6 in cerebellum. Bandesh K, Pal M, Balakrishnan A, Gautam P, Jha P, Tandon N, Pillai B, Bharadwaj D. Hum Mol Genet. 2023 Sep 16;32(19):2929–2939.
- A Novel Cis-Regulatory lncRNA, Kalnc2, Downregulates Kalrn Protein-Coding Transcripts in Mouse Neuronal Cells. Pal M, Chaubey D, Tanwar M, Pillai B. Noncoding RNA. 2023 Jan 13;9(1):7.
- Early life stressful experiences escalate aggressive behavior in adulthood via changes in transthyretin expression and function. Rawat RS, Bhambri A, Pal M, Roy A, Jain S, Pillai B, Konar A. Elife. 2022 Oct 13;11:e77968.
- Neev, a novel long non-coding RNA, is expressed in chaetoblasts during regeneration of Eisenia fetida. Singh Patel S, Zunjarrao S, Pillai B. J Exp Biol. 2020 Apr 16;223(Pt 8):jeb216754.
- Interferon mediated neuroinflammation in polyglutamine disease is not caused by RNA toxicity. Bhambri A, Pinto A, Pillai B. Cell Death Dis. 2020 Jan 2;11(1):3.