Pokharel Yuba Raj

Associate Professor (SG)

PhD (Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea, 2009)

Cancer Biology Laboratory Click to visit ....Laboratory

Contact Details

yrp(at)sau.ac.in , yubaraj54(at)hotmail.com

South Asian University ,Rajpur Rd, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110068

Profile

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: –

Present: Associate Professor, Cancer Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology, South Asian University, South Asian University, Rajpur Road, New Delhi-110068, India
Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) -3rd April 2017-2nd April 2020, South Asian University.
Assistant Professor- 3rd Oct 2012 to 2nd April 2017, South Asian University.
Post-Doctoral Fellow at College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea from March 2009-September 2009 in Brain Korea 21 Project.
Post-Doctoral Fellow at Finish Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku Finland, Oct. 2009- September. 2012.

Qualifications

PhD in Pharmacology from Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea , in 2009 February
M.Sc. in Botany from Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu Nepal , in 1995

Research Interests

Research Interests: Our Laboratory focuses on the overarching themes of cancer biology, molecular mechanisms of disease progression, diagnosis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The laboratory’s research interests encompass understanding the molecular basis of breast cancer pathogenesis, investigating the role of specific proteins in cancer stemness and progression, developing new anticancer drugs based on both synthetic and natural compounds, and exploring the genetic underpinnings of cancer through the use of cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology:

Development of rapid diagnostic test kits for Measles and Rubella: We are actively working to achieve the RDT kits for MR detection and confirmation using CRISPR/Cas12 b gene editing tools.
Exploration of exosomal biogenesis and cancer pathogenesis: We are investigating the role of Prostate Tumor Overexpression 1 (PTOV1) in the horizontal transfer of bioactive molecules via exosomes in breast cancer cells. Our focus is on understanding how PTOV1 influences the exosomal landscape to promote tumor progression and the implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Cancer pathogenesis, stemness and metastasis: Our work on NONO/p54nrb seeks to elucidate its role in maintaining breast cancer stem cells and facilitating tumor metastasis. Understanding the molecular pathways regulated by p54nrb will provide insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cancer stemness and potential targets for therapy.
Utilization of CRISPR/Cas9/Cas12 b for cancer research: We leverage CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to investigate the function of novel cancer biomarkers and their role in tumorigenesis. This approach is crucial for validating potential targets for cancer therapy and understanding the complex molecular interactions in cancer.
Development of anticancer agents: We are actively engaged in the synthesis and evaluation of novel compounds with anticancer potential, including thiosemicarbazone derivatives and artemisinin-based drugs. By improving the pharmacological properties of these compounds, we aim to develop more effective and less toxic cancer treatments.

Recent Publications

Pandey V, Punniyamoorthy S, Pokharel YR. Emerging Roles of SPT5 in Transcription. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2023 Oct 23;57(5):395-408. doi: 10.33594/000000665. PMID: 37876219

Shahi N, Yadav PN, Chaudhary U, Saad M, Mahiya K, Khan A, Shafi S, Pokharel YR. 5-Methoxyisatin N(4)-Pyrrolidinyl Thiosemicarbazone (MeOIstPyrd) Restores Mutant p53 and Inhibits the Growth of Skin Cancer Cells, In Vitro. ACS Omega. 2023 Aug 24;8(35):31998-32016. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03824. PMID: 37692215; PMCID: PMC10483675.

Lone BA, Siraj F, Sharma I, Verma S, Karna SKL, Ahmad F, Nagar P, Sachidanandan C, Pokharel YR. Non-POU Domain-Containing Octomer-Binding (NONO) protein expression and stability promotes the tumorigenicity and activation of Akt/MAPK/β-catenin pathways in human breast cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal. 2023 Jun 27;21(1):157. doi: 10.1186/s12964-023-01179-0. PMID: 37370134; PMCID: PMC10294335.

Aakula A, Isomursu A, Rupp C, Erickson A, Gupta N, Kauko O, Shah P, Padzik A, Pokharel YR, Kaur A, Li SP, Trotman L, Taimen P, Rannikko A, Lammerding J, Paatero I, Mirtti T, Ivaska J, Westermarck J. PP2A methylesterase PME-1 suppresses anoikis and is associated with therapy relapse of PTEN-deficient prostate cancers. Mol Oncol. 2023 Jun;17(6):1007-1023. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13353. Epub 2023 Apr 18. PMID: 36461911; PMCID: PMC10257411.

Khan A, Naaz F, Basit R, Das D, Bisht P, Shaikh M, Lone BA, Pokharel YR, Ahmed QN, Parveen S, Ali I, Singh SK, Chashoo G, Shafi S. 1,2,3-Triazole Tethered Hybrid Capsaicinoids as Antiproliferative Agents Active against Lung Cancer Cells (A549). ACS Omega. 2022 Sep 1;7(36):32078-32100. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03325. PMID: 36119972; PMCID: PMC9476207.

Haider K, Sharma S, Pokharel YR, Das S, Joseph A, Najmi AK, Ahmad F, Yar MS. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and in silico studies of indole-tethered pyrazoline derivatives as anticancer agents targeting topoisomerase IIα. Drug Dev Res. 2022 Nov;83(7):1555-1577. doi: 10.1002/ddr.21976. Epub 2022 Jul 27. PMID: 35898169.

Khanal LN, Sharma KR, Pokharel YR, Kalauni SK. Phytochemical Analysis and In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Different Solvent Extracts of Beilschmiedia roxburghiana Nees Stem Barks. ScientificWorldJournal. 2022 Mar 26;2022:6717012. doi: 10.1155/2022/6717012. PMID: 35378792; PMCID: PMC8976643.

Tyagi W, Pandey V, Pokharel YR. Membrane linked RNA glycosylation as new trend to envision epi-transcriptome epoch. Cancer Gene Ther. 2023 May;30(5):641-646. doi: 10.1038/s41417-022-00430-z. Epub 2022 Feb 8. PMID: 35136215.

Naaz F, Ahmad F, Lone BA, Khan A, Sharma K, IntzarAli, ShaharYar M, Pokharel YR, Shafi S. Apoptosis Inducing 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Conjugates of Capsaicin: Their In Vitro Antiproliferative and In Silico Studies. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2021 Oct 21;12(11):1694-1702. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00304. PMID: 34795858; PMCID: PMC8591727.

Pathak A, Pandey V, Raj Pokharel Y, Devaraji V, Ali A, Haider K, Saad S, Dewangan RP, Siddiqui N, Shahar Yar M. Pharmacophore based drug design and synthesis of oxindole bearing hybrid as anticancer agents. Bioorg Chem. 2021 Nov;116:105358. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105358. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34544029.

Bhattarai N, Kumbhar AA, Pokharel YR, Yadav PN. Anticancer Potential of Coumarin and its Derivatives. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(19):2996-3029. doi: 10.2174/1389557521666210405160323. PMID: 33820507.

Karna SKL, Lone BA, Ahmad F, Shahi N, Pokharel YR. Knockdown of CSNK2ß suppresses MDA-MB231 cell growth, induces apoptosis, inhibits migration and invasion. EXCLI J. 2020 Sep 7;19:1211-1226. doi: 10.17179/excli2020-2363. PMID: 33013272; PMCID: PMC7527516.

Lone BA, Ahmad F, Karna SKL, Pokharel YR. SUPT5H Post-Transcriptional Silencing Modulates PIN1 Expression, Inhibits Tumorigenicity, and Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2020 Sep 23;54(5):928-946. doi: 10.33594/000000279. PMID: 32961044.

Singh NK, Kumbhar AA, Pokharel YR, Yadav PN. Anticancer potency of copper(II) complexes of thiosemicarbazones. J Inorg Biochem. 2020 Sep;210:111134. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111134. Epub 2020 Jun 11. PMID: 32673842.

Chhetri DR, Chhetri A, Shahi N, Tiwari S, Karna SKL, Lama D, Pokharel YR. Isaria tenuipes Peck, an entomopathogenic fungus from Darjeeling Himalaya: Evaluation of in-vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant potential of its mycelium extract. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Jun 11;20(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-02973-w. PMID: 32527241; PMCID: PMC7291650.

Ahmad F, Sarder A, Gour R, Karna SKL, Arora P, Kartha KPR, Pokharel YR. Inhibition of prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) by anhydrodihydroartemisinin (ADHA) through caspase-dependent pathway. EXCLI J. 2020 May 11;19:613-619. doi: 10.17179/excli2020-1331. PMID: 32483407; PMCID: PMC7257247.

Naaz F, Ahmad F, Lone BA, Pokharel YR, Fuloria NK, Fuloria S, Ravichandran M, Pattabhiraman L, Shafi S, Shahar Yar M. Design and synthesis of newer 1,3,4-oxadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole based Topsentin analogues as anti-proliferative agent targeting tubulin. Bioorg Chem. 2020 Jan;95:103519. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103519. Epub 2019 Dec 23. PMID: 31884140.

Gour R, Ahmad F, Prajapati SK, Giri SK, Lal Karna SK, Kartha KPR, Pokharel YR. Synthesis of novel S-linked dihydroartemisinin derivatives and evaluation of their anticancer activity. Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Sep 15;178:552-570. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.018. Epub 2019 Jun 7. PMID: 31216504.

Karna SKL, Ahmad F, Lone BA, Pokharel YR. Knockdown of PTOV1 and PIN1 exhibit common phenotypic anti-cancer effects in MDA-MB-231 cells. PLoS One. 2019 May 13;14(5):e0211658. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211658. PMID: 31083670; PMCID: PMC6513092.

Lone BA, Karna SKL, Ahmad F, Shahi N, Pokharel YR. CRISPR/Cas9 System: A Bacterial Tailor for Genomic Engineering. Genet Res Int. 2018 Sep 18;2018:3797214. doi: 10.1155/2018/3797214. PMID: 30319822; PMCID: PMC6167567.

Awards & Honours

Awards & Honours

COVID-19 Warrior Award (राष्ट्र योद्धा सम्मान:2020) by Patrakar Bharati for the contribution to the fight against COVID-19 at South Asian University.
Best Poster Award for presenting “CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout for PIN1 in HEK293 cells displays the role of PIN1 in the regulation of p38/JNK MAPK pathway.” 5th South Asian Biotechnology Conference, Organised by South Asian University, New Delhi, March 14-16, 2019.
RULA Research Peace Award 2019 in International Innovative Research in Cancer Research by The World Research Council and United Medical Council.
Young Investigator Award for presenting “Screening of phytochemicals and evaluation of artemisinin derived synthetic derivatives for their anti-inflammatory properties.” International Society of Biological Applications in Nepal, 1st July 2016
Brain Korea 2021 Fellow from February 2009 to September 2009, Chosun University, Gwangju Korea
Finish Institute of Molecular Medicine Fellow from October 2009 to September 2012, Turku Finland.
Best Foreign Young Scientist Award, Chosun University, Gwangju Korea 2007
Korean Research Fellowship, Feb. 2005 to Jan. 2009.

Research Grants

1. "Research and Development of Measles and Rubella Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) Kits" Funded by US CDC and WHO)

2. "Investigating and validation of the molecular mechanism of UNANI medicines in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis" funded by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH India.

3. “Role of Prostate Tumor Overexpression 1(PTOV1) in Horizontal Transfer of Bioactive Molecules via Exosomes in Breast Cancer Cells and its Clinical Implication." funded by ICMR EMR Adhoc Project.

4. “Analysis of EGFR mutations in lung cancer patients in Nepalese population”, Institute for South Asian Studies – South Asian University.

5. “Identification of Pin1 interacting protein CSNK2B as a novel prostate cancer biomarker for future cancer therapy”, South Asian University Intramural grant.

Patents

Synthesis of novel S-linked dihydroartemisinin derivatives and evaluation of their anticancer activity- Indian Patent No-201911014241

Last Updated : 16 Jul 2024