Dr Prashant Mohan Pawar
Associate Professor
  • PhD at Umea Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea Sweden
  • Post-doc at Purdue University, West lafayette, USA
  • DST INSPIRE Faculty at RCB, Faridabad
prashant[dot]pawar[at]rcb[dot]res[dot]in
Lab website: https://prashantpawar1986.wixsite.com/website

The focus of my laboratory is to understand plant cell wall biosynthesis and remodeling. The current work involves several main areas in the plant cell wall biology to achieve the long-term goal of in planta cell wall engineering for effective bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to value-added products.
1. Identification and characterisation of plant cell wall esterases and transferases: 


The maintenance of balanced polysaccharide O-acetylation is necessary for plant growth and development, which is governed by Golgi, plasma membrane and/or cell wall-localized acetyl transferases and acetyl esterases. However, the exact molecular and biochemical mechanism behind cell wall acetylation and its role in cell wall metabolism are currently elusive. Our aim is to identify and functionally characterise these enzymes to elucidate their role in polysaccharide stability and interaction within cell wall components. To achieve this, we employ transcriptomic, metabolomics (untargeted and targeted), proteomics, forward and reverse genetics approaches.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39542838/
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.09.16.613205v1.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-022-01275-8.


2. Understanding the transcriptional regulation of plant cell wall remodelling:

 
Plant cell wall continuously remodels during development as well as stress, which can be regulated by several transcription factors. We are investigating the role of MYBs/NACs/VNDs transcription by forward and reverse genetics approaches. Also, employing Chip-seq, co-immunoprecipitation, yeast two/one-hybrid to identify and validate targets of these transcription factors to elucidate the overall mechanism of cell wall homeostasis.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.01.630977v1.


3. The role oligosaccharides (OS) in cell wall remodeling: 


OSs are crucial immune signalling molecules acting as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Our recent data revealed that they may assist in cell wall remodelling during growth and stress. However, the presence and role of OSs in vivo is not well known or established.  Therefore, we are isolating OS from intact plants as well in vitro and characterising them by analytical tools. Further, we are studying the comparative effects of different OS on cell wall composition and plant immunity. Moreover, we are studying the genetic basis of OS generation, perception and turnover by analysing the cell wall of normal and modified/ mutant plants. Overall, this holistic approach will help to elucidate OS-dependent response, its turnover/recycling mechanism and additional targets which could be used to engineer the cell wall.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-023-01391-z.


4. Engineering the cell wall structure to reduce the complexity of lignocellulosic biomass


Plant cell walls can be utilised for the generation of value-added products (bioethanol). However, harsh chemical and costly enzymatic treatment is required to convert lignocellulosic biomass to saccharides. In planta modification of individual cell wall components may improve the saccharification process, but the gains from the process are not significant. Our lab is extensively working on modifying the cell wall composition that are based on experiences gained from above strategies and also by heterologously expressing cell wall degrading enzymes in plants. Our aim is to develop plants with “smart cell wall” by stacking different cell wall traits and analysing the effect on plant growth, defence, and polysaccharide processing.
https://biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13068-024-02513-5 
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00380

 

  • Dr Shouvik Das

    MK Bhan Fellow

  • Lavi Rastogi

    Senior Research Fellow

  • Deepika Singh

    Senior Research Fellow

  • Rajan Kumar Sah

    Senior Research Fellow

  • Bhagwat Dewangan

    Senior Research Fellow

  • Anant Mohan Sharma

    Junior Research Fellow

  • Harshita Sahoo

    Junior Research Fellow

  1. DBT Energy Bioscience Overship Fellowship (Relinquished)
  2. DST INSPIRE Faculty
  • Patent no : WO2013137810A1, Genetically modified plants having improved saccharification properties. USA, Europe.

Selected Publications

  1. Singh D, Zhao H, Gupta SK, Kumar Y, Kim J, Pawar PA-M. Characterization of Arabidopsis eskimo1 reveals a metabolic link between xylan O-acetylation and aliphatic glucosinolate metabolism. Physiologia Plantarum (2024).
  2. Chaudhari AA, Sharma AM, Rastogi L, Dewangan BP, Sharma R, Singh D, Sah RK, Das S, Bhattacharjee S, Mellerowicz EJ, Pawar PA-M*: Modifying lignin composition and xylan O-acetylation induces changes in cell wall composition, extractability, and digestibility. Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod 2024, 17(1):73.
  3. Dewangan BP, Gupta A, Sah RK, Das S, Kumar S, Bhattacharjee S, Pawar PA-M*: Xylobiose treatment triggers a defense-related response and alters cell wall composition. Plant Mol Biol, 2023, 113(6):383-400.
  4. Rastogi L, Chaudhari AA, Sharma R, Pawar PA-M*: Arabidopsis GELP7 functions as a plasma membrane-localized acetyl xylan esterase, and its overexpression improves saccharification efficiency. Plant Mol Biol 2022, 109(6):781-797.
  5. Pawar PA-M, Ratke C, Balasubramanian VK, Chong SL, Gandla ML, Adriasola M, Sparrman T,Hedenstrom M, Szwaj K, Derba-Maceluch M et al: Downregulation of RWA genes in hybrid aspen affects xylan acetylation and wood saccharification. New Phytol 2017, 214(4):14911505.

All Publications

  1. Chaudhari AA, Sharma AM, Rastogi L, Dewangan BP, Sharma R, Singh D, Sah RK, Das S, Bhattacharjee S, Mellerowicz EJ, Pawar PA-M*: Modifying lignin composition and xylan O-acetylation induces changes in cell wall composition, extractability, and digestibility. Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod 2024, 17(1):73.
  2. Dewangan BP, Gupta A, Sah RK, Das S, Kumar S, Bhattacharjee S, Pawar PM-A (2023). Xylobiose treatment triggers a defence-related response and alters cell wall composition. Special issue on Plant Cell Wall Dynamics in Plant Molecular Biology, 113 (6):383-400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-023-01391-z.
  3. Dutta H, K MS, Aski MS, Mishra GP, Sinha SK, Vijay D, C TM, Das S, Pawar PA-M*, Mishra DC et al: Morpho-biochemical characterization of a RIL population for seed parameters and identification of candidate genes regulating seed size trait in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). Front Plant Sci 2023, 14:1091432.
  4. Dutta H, Mishra GP, Aski MS, Bosamia TC, Mishra DC, Bhati J, Sinha SK, Vijay D, C TM, Das S, Pawar PA-M* et al: Comparative transcriptome analysis, unfolding the pathways regulating the seed-size trait in cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). Front Genet 2022, 13:942079.
  5. Rastogi L, Chaudhari AA, Sharma R, Pawar PA-M*: Arabidopsis GELP7 functions as a plasma membrane-localized acetyl xylan esterase, and its overexpression improves saccharification efficiency. Plant Mol Biol 2022, 109(6):781-797.
  6. Rastogi L, Singh D, Sah RK, Chaudhari AA, Pawar PA-M* (2021). Enhancement of Biomass for Deconstruction. In: Nidhi Adlakha, Rakesh Bhatnagar, Syed Shams Yazdani (Eds.) Biomass for Bioenergy and Biomaterials (1st ed). CRC Press. doi.org/10.1201/9781003158486.
  7. Thapliyal G, Vemanna RS, Pawar PA-M*, Barthwal S, Meena RK, Pandey S, Bhandari MS: First record of off-season flowering in Populus deltoides from India: paradigm of climate change indicator. Int J Biometeorol 2020, 64(9):1629-1634
  8. Wang Z, Pawar PA-M*, Derba-Maceluch M, Hedenstrom M, Chong SL, Tenkanen M, Jonsson LJ, Mellerowicz EJ: Hybrid Aspen Expressing a Carbohydrate Esterase Family 5 Acetyl Xylan Esterase Under Control of a Wood-Specific Promoter Shows Improved Saccharification. Front Plant Sci 2020, 11:380.
  9. Derba-Maceluch M, Amini F, Donev EN, Pawar PA-M*, Michaud L, Johansson U, Albrectsen BR, Mellerowicz EJ: Cell Wall Acetylation in Hybrid Aspen Affects Field Performance, Foliar Phenolic Composition and Resistance to Biological Stress Factors in a Construct-Dependent Fashion. Front Plant Sci 2020, 11:651.
  10. Pawar PA-M*, Schnürer A, Mellerowicz EJ, Rönnberg-Wästljung AC: QTL Mapping of Wood FT-IR Chemotypes Shows Promise for Improving Biofuel Potential in Short Rotation Coppice Willow (Salix spp.). BioEnergy Research 2018, 11(2):351-363.
  11. Pawar PA-M*, Ratke C, Balasubramanian VK, Chong SL, Gandla ML, Adriasola M, Sparrman T,Hedenstrom M, Szwaj K, Derba-Maceluch M et al: Downregulation of RWA genes in hybrid aspen affects xylan acetylation and wood saccharification. New Phytol 2017, 214(4):14911505.
  12. Pawar PA-M*, Derba-Maceluch M, Chong SL, Gomez LD, Miedes E, Banasiak A, Ratke C, Gaertner C, Mouille G, McQueen-Mason SJ et al: Expression of fungal acetyl xylan esterase in Arabidopsis thaliana improves saccharification of stem lignocellulose. Plant Biotechnol J 2016, 14(1):387-397.
  13. Pawar PA-M*, Derba-Maceluch M, Chong SL, Gandla ML, Bashar SS, Sparrman T, Ahvenainen P, Hedenstrom M, Ozparpucu M, Ruggeberg M et al: In muro deacetylation of xylan affects lignin properties and improves saccharification of aspen wood. Biotechnol Biofuels 2017, 10:98.
  14. Ratke C, Pawar PA-M*, Balasubramanian VK, Naumann M, Duncranz ML, Derba-Maceluch M, Gorzsas A, Endo S, Ezcurra I, Mellerowicz EJ: Populus GT43 family members group into distinct sets required for primary and secondary wall xylan biosynthesis and include useful promoters for wood modification. Plant Biotechnol J 2015, 13(1):26-37.
  15. Manabe Y, Verhertbruggen Y, Gille S, Harholt J, Chong SL, Pawar PA-M*, Mellerowicz EJ, Tenkanen M, Cheng K, Pauly M et al: Reduced Wall Acetylation proteins play vital and distinct roles in cell wall O-acetylation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 2013, 163(3):1107
  16. Pawar PA-M*, Koutaniemi S, Tenkanen M, Mellerowicz EJ: Acetylation of woody lignocellulose: significance and regulation. Front Plant Sci 2013, 4:118.
  1. Arunima Gupta
    Present position: Scientist R&D, Thermo Fisher Scientific
  2. Aniket Chaudhari (JRF)
    Present position: Project Associate, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur.
  3. Raunak Sharma
    Present position: PhD student at BITS Hyderabad.
  4. Apurva Gangal (JRF),
    Present position: PhD student at ICGEB, New Delhi
  5. Navdeep Kaur (JRF)
    Present position: PhD student at South Dakota Mines, USA
  6. Rahul Kumar (JRF)
    Present position: Meril Life Science, Assistant Manager in R&D, Genomics Lab.
  7. Mohmmad Mohsin (Trainee)
    Present position: PhD student at Jamia Hamdard
Dr Prashant Mohan Pawar
Associate Professor

Regional Centre for Biotechnology
NCR Biotech Science Cluster
3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway
P.O. Box No. 3, Faridabad - 121 001
Haryana (NCR Delhi), India
E-mail: prashant dot pawar at rcb dot res dot in
Phone: 91 129-2848712 

no text prashant[dot]pawar[at]rcb[dot]res[dot]in
no text 91 129-2848712

Accessibility Tools