Prof. Amer Jamil

Position & Department: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences

Research Interests: Investigation of several medicinal plants for antimicrobial proteins/peptides active against different pathogenic fungal and bacterial stains. Genes responsible for expression of such antimicrobial proteins/peptides (under induced and non-induced conditions) are being investigated by RT-PCR and ddPCR techniques. We have extended this area by completing a collaborative research project with University of North Carolina, USA to investigate medicinal plants for bioactive (anticancer, antiviral and antimicrobial) genes and proteins/peptides (by proteomic approach). We are also working molecular interaction of several polyadenylation factors with each other, and with other aspects of mRNA biogeneis in eukaryotes in collaboration with the Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, USA. Purification, characterization and kinetic studies of industrially important enzymes obtained from various microorganisms and Isolation of their genes. Gene expression studies: Gene expression in different plants under salt stress conditions and after laser treatment. We have also completed a project on DNA barcoding of Northern and Cholistan desert area medicinal plants from USAID-IFPRI. Hundreds of genes have been deposited in GenBank.