Dr. Ashwani Sharma

Most of the biological processes are governed by macromolecular complexes of defined composition and organization, which perform specific functions acting as molecular ensembles. Understanding a biological process is essentially an interpretation of the cross-talk between its various components. My main scientific interest lies in deciphering the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying protein-protein interactions involved in complex cellular processes. Microtubules are the major eukaryotic cytoskeletal elements which organize mitotic spindle during cell division and form the core of cellular organelles like centrioles and cilia/flagella. I am currently using biophysical, biochemical and structural methods to understand how microtubule associated proteins and drugs regulate microtubule structure and properties.

• Novartis Freenovation Grant
  Sharma A, Olieric N

  (2017)

  https://www.novartis.ch/de/unsere-medizin/forschungsfoerderung/freenovation/freenovation-gewinner-2017#ui-id-1=2

• EMBO Long Term Fellowship
  (2012)

• Quinolin-6-Yloxyacetamides are microtubule destabilizing agents that bind to the colchicine site of Tubulin.
  Sharma A, Sáez-Calvo G, Olieric N, de Asís Balaguer F, Barasoain I, Lamberth C, Díaz J, Steinmetz M

  International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 18(7), 1336 (2017).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071336

• Triazolopyrimidines Are Microtubule-Stabilizing Agents that Bind the Vinca Inhibitor Site of Tubulin.
  Saez-Calvo G, Sharma A, Balaguer FA, Barasoain I, Rodriguez-Salarichs J, Olieric N, Munoz-Hernandez H, Berbis MA, Wendeborn S, Penalva MA, Matesanz R, Canales A, Prota AE, Jimenez-Barbero J, Andreu JM, Lamberth C, Steinmetz MO, Diaz JF

  Cell Chemical Biology 24, 737 (2017).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.CHEMBIOL.2017.05.016

• Centriolar CPAP/SAS-4 Imparts Slow Processive Microtubule Growth.
  Sharma A, Aher A, Dynes NJ, Frey D, Katrukha EA, Jaussi R, Grigoriev I, Croisier M, Kammerer RA, Akhmanova A, Gönczy P, Steinmetz MO.

  Developmental Cell 37(4), 362-376 (2016).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2016.04.024.

• Crystal Structures of the Human Doublecortin C- and N-terminal Domains in Complex with Specific Antibodies.
  Burger D, Stihle M, Sharma A, Di Lello P, Benz J, D'Arcy B, Debulpaep M, Fry D, Huber W, Kremer T, Laeremans T, Matile H, Ross A, Rufer AC, Schoch G,Steinmetz MO, Steyaert J, Rudolph MG, Thoma R, Ruf A.

  J Biol Chem. 291(31, 16292-306 (2016).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M116.726547.

• Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of C-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM-3) of human ELAV-type RNA-binding protein 3 (ETR-3).
  Kashyap M, Sharma A, Bhavesh NS.

  Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 69(Pt 10), 1107-09 (2013).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1744309113023439.

• Utility of anion and cation combinations for phasing of protein structures.
  Sharma A, Yogavel M, Sharma A.

  J Struct Funct Genomics. 13(3), 135-43 (2012).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10969-012-9137-3.

• Fatty acid induced remodeling within the human liver fatty acid-binding protein.
  Sharma A, Sharma A.

  J Biol Chem. 286(36), 31924-8 (2011).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.270165.

• Structural insights into thioredoxin-2:a component of malaria parasite protein secretion machinery.
  Sharma A, Sharma A, Dixit S, Sharma A.

  Scientific Reports 1:179, (2011).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00179.

• Crystal structure of soluble domain of malaria sporozoite protein UIS3 in complex with lipid.
  Sharma A, Yogavel M, Akhouri RR, Gill J, Sharma A.

  J Biol Chem. 283(35), 24077-88 (2008).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M801946200.

• Role of Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related anonymous protein in host-cell interactions.
  Akhouri RR, Sharma A, Malhotra P, Sharma A.

  Malar J. 7:63, (2008).

  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-7-63.