
Dr. Prashant Misra
Principal Scientist
Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division (PSA)
CSIR – Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu – 180001
Email: pmisra[at]iiim[dot]res[dot]in
Bio Sketch
Dr. Prashant Misra carried out his Ph.D. studies as CSIR-JRF and SRF at Plant Gene Expression Lab, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute in the area of Plant Molecular Biology, and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in Botany on the topic entitled “Metabolic Engineering of Non-leguminous Plants for Biosynthesis of Isoflavones”by Lucknow University, Lucknow. He has a basic training in the tools and techniques of plant molecular biology e.g. molecular cloning, gene expression analysis, transgenic plant development, plant tissue culture, bioinformatics etc. He has been recipients of Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral Fellowship for carrying out research work at Technical Universtity of Munich, Munich (Germany).
He Joined CSIR-IIIM in the year 2012. His research interest is mainly centred on understanding of molecular regulation of plant secondary metabolism in medicinal and aromatic plants. Currently, the primary focus of his research activities is on the investigation of the gene regulatory networks in the glandular trichomes. His group studies diverse aspects of plant secondary metabolism such as transport of secondary metabolites and transcriptional regulation of plant secondary metabolism by using modern tools and techniques of molecular biology including next-generation sequencing. The overall aim of his research activities is to develop knowledge base for application in the area of modulation of biosynthesis of plant natural products.
Education
| Degree | Subjects | University | Qualifying Year |
| Ph.D. | Botany |
Lucknow University Place of work: CSIR-NBRI |
2011 |
| M.Sc. | Botany |
Lucknow University
|
2004 |
| B.Sc. | Zoology, Botany, Chemistry |
Lucknow University
|
2001 |
Position Held
| Position Held | Period | Organization |
| Principal Scientist | 18th December 2021 to till date | CSIR-IIIM |
| Senior Scientist | 18th December 2017 to 17th December 2021 | CSIR-IIIM |
| Scientist | 18th December 2012 to 17th December 2017 | CSIR-IIIM |
Area of Expertise
- The major areas of expertise include plant molecular biology, transgenic plants, plant secondary metabolism, plant tissue culture and transcriptomics. With this expertise, our research work is focussed on the following lines:
- Understanding molecular basis of regulation of plant secondary metabolism in medicinal and aromatic plants.
- Molecular biology of plant glandular trichomes
- Elucidation and metabolic engineering of pathways involved in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites
4.Glycoengineering of protein glycosylation machinery through CRISPR Cas based genome editing
Projects
- Glycoengineering of Nicotiana tabacum using CRISPR Cas based genome editing: Glyco-optimization for humanized therapeutic protein production in plants (DBT-Funded project, GAP2167; Completed). (Assets)
- Genome editing for crop improvement (CSIR-Mission Project, MMP025301)
- Identification of molecular regulators of glandular trichome development in the family Lamiaceae (CSIR-FBR, FBR020306)
- CSIR Mission mode project proposal “Bioresource Conservation and Prospection
- CSIR-Aroma Mission (HCP0007)
- Genome editing for the development of Nicotiana tabacum glandular trichomes as a platform for the production of high-value ditepenoids (GAP3176) funded by ANRF under the CRG scheme
Selected List of Publications
- Fayaz M, Angmo T, Katoch K, Majeed A, Kundan M, Wajid MA, Pal K, Misra P* (2025) The promoter regions of CBDAS and PT genes of cannabinoid biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa respond to phytohormones and stress-related signals. Planta. doi: 10.1007/s00425-025-04709-x.
- Sharma P, Wajid MA, Pal K, Fayaz M, Majeed A, Yadav AK, Singh D, Bhat S, Bhat WW, Misra P* (2025) Functional characterization of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) genes from Monarda citriodora establishes the key role of McDXS2 in specialized terpenoid biosynthesis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109961.
- Wajid MA, Sharma P, Majeed A, Bhat S, Angmo T, Fayaz M, Pal K, Andotra S, Bhat WW, Misra P* (2024). Transcriptome-wide investigation and functional characterization reveal a terpene synthase involved in γ-terpinene biosynthesis in Monarda citriodora. Functional and Integrative Genomics. 26;24(6):222
- Sharma P, Wajid MA, Fayaz M, Bhat S, Nautiyal AK, Jeet S, Yadav AK, Singh D, Shankar R, Gairola S, Misra P*(2023). Morphological, phytochemical, and transcriptome analyses provide insights into the biosynthesis of monoterpenes in Monarda citriodora. Planta 258(3):49. doi: 10.1007/s00425-023-04207-y.
- Fayaz M, Kundan M, Gani U, Sharma P, Wajid MA, Katoch K, Babu V, Gairola S, Misra P*. (2023) Identification of Lipoxygenase gene repertoire of Cannabis sativa and functional characterization of CsLOX13 gene. Plant Science 334:111780. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111780
- Gani U, Nautiyal AK, Kundan M, Rout B, Pandey A, Misra P*. (2022) Two homeologous MATE transporter genes, NtMATE21 and NtMATE22, are involved in the modulation of plant growth and flavonol transport in Nicotiana tabacum. Journal of Experimental Botany 73(18):6186-6206.
- Nautiyal AK, Gani U, Sharma P, Kundan M, Fayaz M, Lattoo SK, Misra P* (2020) Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights Into Metabolic and Gene Regulatory Networks in Trichomes of Nicotiana tabacum. Plant Molecular Biology 102(6):625-644.
- Rather GA, Sharma A, Pandith SA, Kaul V, Nandi U, Misra P*, Lattoo SK (2018) De novo transcriptome analyses reveals putative pathway genes involved In biosynthesis and regulation of camptothecin in Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham) Mabb. Plant Molecular Biology 96, 1–2, 197–21
- Pandey, A†., Misra P†., Khan, M.P., Swarnkar, G., Tewari, M.C., Bhambhani, S., Trivedi, R., Chattopadhyay, N. and Trivedi, P.K. (2013) Co-expression of Arabidopsis transcription factor, AtMYB12, and soybean isoflavone synthase, GmIFS1, genes in tobacco leads to enhanced biosynthesis of isoflavones and flavonols resulting in osteoprotective activity. Plant Biotechnology Journal12(1):69-80. (†Joint first author)
- Misra P, Pandey A, Tewari M, Chandrashekhar K, Siddhu OP, Asif MH, Chakrabarty D, Singh PK, Nath P, Trivedi PK and Tuli R (2010) Modulation of transcriptome and metabolome by AtMYB12 transcription factor leads to insect tolerance. Plant Physiology152, 2258-2268.
Awards and Honours
- CSIR JRF and SRF
- Alexander von Humboldt fellowship
Other recognitions:
- Reviewing for prestigious international journals such as Plant Cell Reports, Industrial Crops and Products, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Biology, New Phytologists, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Plant Growth Regulation, Plant Journal, Scientific Reports, BMC Plant Biology, Plant Science, etc..
- Recognized as review Editor on the Editorial Board of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, part of the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers in Genetics and Frontiers in Plant Science.
- Editor, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (JMAPS)
- Recognized as Ph.D. examiner of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Kashmir University, Srinagar, India, JNU, New Delhi
- Member, committee member in the Accreditation panel of National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCS TCP), constituted by DBT
Current lab members
| Photo | Name | Research Area | Position |
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Dr. Aasim Majeed | Cannabinoid biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa | DBT-RA |
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Dr. Kajal Katoch | Genetic transformation and molecular biology of Cannabis sativa | National Postdoc Fellow(ANRF-NPDF) |
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Dr. Ritika Mansotra | Molecular regulation of monoterpene biosynthesis | Project Associate II |
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Dr. Shweta Shekahr | Glandular trichome biology of Nicotiana tabacum | Research Associate I |
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Tsering Angmo | Genome editing of terpenoid biosynthesis related genes |
UGC- SRF PhD Scholar AcSIR 10BB21A37013 |
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Koushik Pal | Genome editing of genes displaying trichome specific expression |
UGC- SRF PhD Scholar AcSIR 10BB22A37022 |
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Sonali Andotra | Regulation of plant secondary metabolism in glandular trichomes |
UGC-SRF PhD Scholar AcSIR
|
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Urvashi | Molecular basis of cannabinoid biosynthesis regulation |
CSIR-JRF PhD Scholar AcSIR |
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Zaiba Younes | Molecular basis of cannabinoid biosynthesis regulation |
CSIR-JRF PhD Scholar AcSIR |
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Kulsoom Shafeeq | Molecular basis of Glanduar trichome development | Project Associate I |
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Lokesh Ashogan | Genetic transformation of Cannabis sativa | Project Associate I |
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Suvriti Sharma | Molecular biology of Shikhonin biosynthesis | JRF |
Lab Alumni
| Photo | Name | Research Topic | Current Position |
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Dr. Abhishek Nautiyal | Identification & characterization of transcription factor genes expressing in trichomes of Nicotiana tabacum |
Govt. Tissue Culture Lab. Department of Horticulture & Food Processing, Lucknow, India Ph.D. Awarded (2022) |
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Dr. Umar Gani | Identification and functional characterization of MATE transporter genes in the context of flavonoid transport in Nicotiana tabacum |
Postdoctoral fellow at Volcani Institute Agricultural Research Organization, Israel Ph.D. awarded (2022) |
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Dr. Maridul Kundan | Identification and molecular characterization of R2R3-MYB family transcription factor genes from Cannabis sativa |
Ph.D. awarded (2023) |
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Dr. Priyanka Sharma | Identification and characterization of genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis in Monarda citriodora. |
Project Scientist National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute (NABI), Mohali Ph.D. awarded (2024) |
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Dr. Mohd Fayaz | Identification and molecular characterization of R2R3-MYB family transcription factor genes from Cannabis sativa |
Research Associate, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore Ph.D. awarded (2024) |
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Dr. Mir Abdul Wajid | Molecular characterization of terpene synthases and cytochrome P450 genes in the context of monoterpene biosynthesis in Monarda citriodora | Ph.D. awarded (2025) |
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