Yojana Rai
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My research project
Tuberculosis tackled by quantum physics: Spin dynamics in isoniazidIsoniazid (INH) is one of the oldest synthetic drugs and has been used as the frontline treatment of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) since 1950s. INH is activated in the cell walls of Mtb bacteria by the catalase-peroxidase KatG to generate InhA, a strong inhibitor of Mtb. The mechanism of the activation is still unclear; however, some studies suggest that KatG oxidises INH forming isonicotinoyl radical (INA•) which then reacts with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to form INA-NAD adduct. This adduct is of inerest to us because it is speculated that magnetic isotope effects (MIE) driven by quantum coherent spin dynamics may play a role in the reaction involving INA•/NAD• radical pair. The goal of this project is to study the INA•/NAD• radicals and any spin effects that might be responsible in the INA-NAD adduct formation.
Supervisors
Isoniazid (INH) is one of the oldest synthetic drugs and has been used as the frontline treatment of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) since 1950s. INH is activated in the cell walls of Mtb bacteria by the catalase-peroxidase KatG to generate InhA, a strong inhibitor of Mtb. The mechanism of the activation is still unclear; however, some studies suggest that KatG oxidises INH forming isonicotinoyl radical (INA•) which then reacts with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to form INA-NAD adduct. This adduct is of inerest to us because it is speculated that magnetic isotope effects (MIE) driven by quantum coherent spin dynamics may play a role in the reaction involving INA•/NAD• radical pair. The goal of this project is to study the INA•/NAD• radicals and any spin effects that might be responsible in the INA-NAD adduct formation.