User:SRC

Swapnil R. Chhabra

Current Research Projects

Protein Complex Analysis Project (PCAP)

Environmental Stress Pathway Project (ESPP)

Research Summary

Most cellular processes are carried out by a host of different proteins interacting with each other usually in the form of complexes. Our interest in studying protein complexes lies in elucidating the workings of Desulfovibrio vulgaris, a sulfate reducing bacterium that has been found to exist in several DOE waste sites. Complete characterization of this organism is underway through two large projects funded by the DOE - ESPP (Functional Genomics) and PCAP (Protein Complexes). As part of the microbiology core of the Protein Complex Analysis Project (PCAP) our current goal is to develop a technological platform for creating a library of D.vulgaris mutant strains expressing tagged proteins. Attachment of tags will allow us to selectively isolate interacting partners associated with target proteins and thereby identify roles of individual proteins and protein complexes in this sulfate reducing bacterium.

Background

Education

• Postdoctorate, Sandia National Labs, Livermore, 2002-2005
• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 2002
• B.S. Chemical Engineering, University Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai (Bombay), 1997

Publications

1. S.R. Chhabra, K. N. Parker, D. Lam, W. Callen, M. A. Snead, E.J. Mathur, J.M. Short and R.M. Kelly, “β-Mannanases from Thermotoga spp.” 2001. Method Enzymol. 330:224-238.
2. K.N. Parker, S.R. Chhabra, D. Lam, W. Callen, M. A. Snead, E.J. Mathur, J.M. Short and R.M. Kelly, “β-Mannosidase from Thermotoga spp.” 2001. Method Enzymol. 330:238-246.
3. K.N. Parker, S.R. Chhabra, D. Lam, W. Callen, M. A. Snead, E.J. Mathur, J.M. Short and R.M. Kelly, “Galactomannanases Man2 and Man5 from Thermotoga species: Growth physiology on galactomannans, gene sequence analysis and biochemical properties of recombinant enzymes” 2001. Biotechnol Bioeng. 75:322-333.
4. S.R. Chhabra, K.R. Shockley, D.E. Ward and R.M. Kelly, “Regulation of endo-acting glycosyl hydrolases in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima grown on glucan- and mannan- based polysaccharides” 2002. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:545-554.
5. S.R. Chhabra and R.M. Kelly, “Biochemical characterization of Thermotoga maritima endoglucanase Cel74 with and without a carbohydrate binding module (CBM).” 2002. FEBS Lett. 531: 375-380.
6. K.R. Shockley, D.E. Ward, M.A. Pysz, S.R. Chhabra, S.B. Conners and R.M. Kelly, “Regulation of proteolysis in hyperthermophilic microorganisms” 2002. Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc. 224: 034-BIOT.
7. S.R. Chhabra, K.R. Shockley, S.B. Conners, K. Scott, R.D. Wolfinger and R.M. Kelly, “Carbohydrate-induced differential gene expression patterns in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima” 2003. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 7540-7552.
8. K. R. Shockley, D.E. Ward, S.R. Chhabra, S.B. Burns, C.I. Montero and R. M. Kelly, “Differential expression of stress, protease and glycosidase genes in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus during heat shock from 90-105°C” 2003. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 2365-2371.
9. S.R. Chhabra, K. R. Shockley, S. B. Conners, K. Scott, R. D. Wolfinger and R. M. Kelly, “Glycoside Hydrolases from the Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Thermotoga maritima: Physiological & Biotechnological Aspects” 2003. Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc. 225: 109-BIOT.
10. M.A. Pysz, C.I. Montero, S.R. Chhabra, R.M. Kelly and K.D. Rinker, “Significance of Polysaccharides in Microbial Physiology and the Ecology of Hydrothermal Vent Environments” 2004. Geophysical Monograph Series: The Subsurface Biosphere at Mid-Ocean Ridges. 144.
11. D.A. Comfort, S.R. Chhabra, S.B. Conners, C-J Chou, K.L. Epting, M.R. Johnson, K.L. Jones, A.C. Sehgal and R.M. Kelly, “Strategic Biocatalysis with Hyperthermophilic Enzymes” 2004. Green Chem. 9: 459-465.
12. S.B. Conners, C.I. Montero, D.A. Comfort, K.R. Shockley, M.R. Johnson, S.R. Chhabra,and R.M Kelly, “Prediction of carbohydrate transport and utilization regulons in the hyperthermophilic bacterium thermotoga maritima through the use of carbohydrate-specific transcriptional response. 2005. Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc. 229: 387-BIOT.
13. D.Yu, J.V. Volponi, S.R. Chhabra, J.C. Brinker, A. Mulchandani and A.K. Singh, “Aqueous sol-gel encapsulation of genetically engineered Moraxella sp. cells for the detection of organophosphates” 2005. Biosens. Bioelect.. 20 (7): 1433-1437.
14. S. Pathak, B.A. Simmons, S. R. Chhabra, J. R. McElhanon and P. M. Dentinger, “Surface Patterning of Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacterial Cells Using a Small Hydrophobic Molecule” 2005. Sensor Lett. 3(2): 157-160.
15. S.M. Burns, C.I. Montero, M.R. Johnson, D.A. Comfort, K.R. Shockley, S.R. Chhabra and R.M. Kelly, “An expression driven approach to the prediction of carbohydrate transport and utilization regulons in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima.” 2005. J. Bacteriol. 187: 7267-7282.
16. S.R. Chhabra, Q. He, K.H. Huang, S.P. Gaucher, E.J. Alm, Z. He, M.Z. Hadi, T.C. Hazen, J.D. Wall, J. Zhou, A.P. Arkin and A.K. Singh, “Global Analysis of Heat Shock Response in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough.” 2005. J. Bacteriol. 188: 1817-1828.

Presentations

To be added...