Arun Goyal
arungoyl[AT*]iitg.ac.in
Research Areas:
Molecular Biology, Protein Engineering, Structural and Functional Proteomics of Carbohydrate active enzymes and other industrially important microbial enzymes
Area of Research:
Molecular Biology, Protein Engineering, Rational Enzyme Engineering, 3-Dimensional Structure (In silico, crystal and solution) and Function analysis of enzymes and their industrial (Biorefinery, therapeutic, food, Pulp and paper) applications.
A. Molecular, structure and functional analysis of Enzymes.
B. Microbial conversion of cellulosic agrowaste to bioethnol using recombinant cellulases and hemicellulases and microbial cultures for bioethanol production.
II) At Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal I was involved in various projects:
III) At BISR, Jaipur, I worked on a project on Microbial Biodiversity of saline lakes and desert regions of Rajasthan, India. The aim was to selectively screen the enzymes of bioprocess importance such as hydrolases (lipase, protease, xylanases and cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase) from the isolates. We isolated few strains from soil samples of Asia's largest salt lake (Sambhar Lake), capable of growing at high pH and at saturating concentrations of salt.
IV) I worked on Molecular Genetics of RNA at WSU, Detroit. I was involved in determination of structural and functional relationship of the 790 loop and 1400-1500 regions of 16S ribosomal RNA of E. coli. The 790 loop is a conserved hairpin located between positions 786 and 796 of 16S rRNA and is required for ribosomal function. With the development of a method for `instant evolution' in which random mutagenesis and in vitro selections were used to identify both structural and functional features of 790 loop and 1400-1500 bp regions. I performed the random mutations at 1401, 1404, 1497 and 1500 positions of 16S rRNA in pWK1 plasmid separately and then random mutations at all four positions together in pRNA123 plasmid. I accomplished the transfer of nine single 790-loop mutants of 16S rRNA from plasmid pRNA122 to pRNA123, to study the functional aspects of ribosome.
V) At OSU, Columbus, I worked on purification of a newly identified methyl branched chain fatty acid synthesising enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Mycobacterial cell wall contains a variety of lipids with many types of multiple methyl-branched fatty acids. The aim was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of these lipids and to test their possible functions in the host-pathogen interaction. I was involved in the purification of a mycocerosic acid synthase, identification of products generated, seeking the identity of the gene that encodes the synthase in the genomic data bank using the protein sequence and in determining the biochemical and functional consequences of knocking out of this gene. The results would help identify the cell wall lipids critical for pathogenesis that might be suitable targets for new antimicrobial drugs.
VI) At UCD, Dublin, I investigated co-operative behaviour of hybrid hexamers of different mutant forms of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Clostridium symbiosum. Hybrid hexamers were constructed by in vitro subunit hybridisation. Clostridial GDH is an allosteric enzyme and is hexameric and has only one type of subunits. This implies that allosteric effects are mediated by interactions among six identical subunits. To study this defined inter-subunit hybrids were constructed in which some of the subunits were functionally disabled with respect to substrate binding or catalysis. The results demonstrated that it is possible to dissect the basis of allosteric interaction in GDH by constructing hybrid hexamer approach.
VII) In doctoral research at IIT Kanpur, I worked on dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F. I discovered a new medium for the maintenance of culture and a new medium for higher production of enzyme. I developed a simple and effective method for purification by fractionation using polyethylene glycol 400. The total amino acid composition of dextransucrase was determined. I established for the first time by chemical modification studies using pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, o-phthalaldehyde and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid that a lysine residue present at the active site is essential for enzyme activity.
VIII) In M.Tech. project at IIT Delhi, I worked on isolation and purification of coenzymes NADH and ATP from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. I developed a method to isolate and purify these adenine coenzymes. The cells were permeabilised by ether for the recovery of coenzymes. The purification was carried out by affinity-ultrafiltration technique using alcohol dehydrogenase and hexokinase for NADH and ATP respectively, as affinity molecules.
1995 Ph.D. Chemistry (8.33/10.0) (worked on Microbiology and Enzymology), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
1989 M.Tech. Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology (6.96/10.0), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.
1988 M.Sc. Chemistry, (6.82/10.0), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.
1986 B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry (70.6%) Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi.
1983 12th Class, Delhi Senior School Cetificate Examination, CBSE New Delhi (75.0%) Ramjas Senior Secondary School No. 5, New Delhi.
1981 10th Class, Delhi Secondary School Examination, CBSE New Delhi (72.6%), Ramjas Senior Secondary School No. 5, New Delhi.
Feb 2022- Feb 2025 Adjunct Faculty, School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam.
Feb 2017- Mar 2017 Visiting Fellow (UGC), Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh for 2 weeks (Feb-Mar, 2017)
Dec 2015 – contd. Professor HAG (Higher Administrative Grade), Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam
Jun 2015 - Jul 2015 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
May 2015- May 2015 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Dec 2014 - Dec 2014 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Jun 2014 - Jul 2014 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Jun 2014 - Jun 2014 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Mar 2013 - Nov 2013 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Dec 2009 - Dec 2015 Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.
Oct 2012 - Oct 2012 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.
May 2011 - Jun 2011 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Jun 2010 - Jul 2010 Visiting Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Plovdiv University, Bulgaria.
Apr 2009 - Feb 2013 Head, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.
May 2004 - Nov 2009 Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.
May 2005 - Apr 2006 Vice-Chairman, Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2006.
Aug 2003 - May 2004 Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
Sep 2001 - Aug 2003 Post-doctoral Scholar at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), Lisbon,
Portugal, sponsored through i) 6 year (2001-2007) scholarship awarded by Foundation of Science and Technology
(FCT), Portugal and ii) Interdisciplinary Center for Investigation in Animal Health (CIISA) at FMV, Lisbon.
Sep 2000 - Aug 2001 Post-doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), Lisbon, Portugal.
Feb 2000 - Jun 2000 Scientist, Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Scientific Research (BISR), Jaipur, India.
Feb 1999 - Sep 1999 Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University (WSU), Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Nov 1998 - Feb 1999 Visiting Scholar, Neurobiotechnology Center, Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Jan 1996 - Oct 1998 Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
Involved in teaching courses at IIT Guwahati.
Sep. 2003 - contd. Involved in teaching BTech, MTech and PhD courses.
Sep. 2003 - contd Taught 18 different courses singly or sharing in last 18 years.
Ph.D. courses (number of times taught)
M.Tech. courses (number of times taught)
B.Tech. courses (number of times taught)
1. Neha Singh, Karan Kumar, Arun Goyal and Vijayanand Suryakant Moholkar "Ultrasound-assisted biodiesel synthesis by in situ trans-esterification of microalgal biomass: Optimization and kinetic analysis", Algal Research . DOI.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2021.102582, Vol.61, 102582, P.P - , (2022)
2. Premeshworii Devi Maibam and Arun Goyal* "Approach to an efficient pretreatment method for rice straw by deep eutectic solvent for high saccharification efficiency", Bioresource technology. DOI.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127057, Vol.351, 127057, P.P - , (2022)
3. Parmeshwar Vitthal Gavande, Priyanka Nath, Krishan Kumar, Nazneen Ahmed, Carlos M.G.A. Fontes and Arun Goyal* "Highly efficient, processive and multifunctional recombinant endoglucanase RfGH5_4 from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 v3 for recycling lignocellulosic plant biomasses", International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. DOI.10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.059, Vol.209 part A, , P.P 801-813 , (2022)
4. Krishan Kumar, Shubha Singh, Kedar Sharma and Arun Goyal "Computational modeling and Small-angle X-ray scattering based structure analysis and identifying ligand cleavage mechanism by processive endocellulase of family 9 glycoside hydrolase (HtGH9) from Hungateiclostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405.", Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling. DOI.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107808, Vol.103, , P.P 1-13 , (2021)
5. Kaustubh Chandrakant Khaire, Vijayanand Suryakant Moholkar, Arun Goyal. "Bioconversion of sugarcane tops to bioethanol and other value added products: An overview.", Materials Science for Energy Technologies.. DOI.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2020.12.004, Vol.4, , P.P 54-68 , (2021)
1. Kishan Jaiswal, Kedar Sharma, and Arun Goyal " Computational analysis of putative ?-L-arabinofuranosidase of family 30glycoside hydrolase from Ruminococcus flavefaciens.", International Conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Health (BSAEH-2021, April 04-08, 2021, MNIT, JAIPUR, Rajasthan, India.. Vol., , P.P - , (2021)
2. Kaustubh Chandrakant Khaire, Vijayanand Suryakant Moholkar and Arun Goyal "Alkaline pretreatment and RSM based recombinant enzymatic saccharification of sugarcane tops for production of bioethanol.", International Conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Health (BSAEH-2021, April 4-8, 2021, MNIT, JAIPUR, Rajasthan, India. . Vol., , P.P - , (2021)
3. Yumnam Robinson Singh, Abhijeet Thakur, Carlos M. G. A. Fontes and Arun Goyal " Expression, purification and biochemical characterization of a recombinant putative glucuronoxylanase (CcGH30A) from Clostridium clariflavum.", International conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Health (BSAEH), April 4-0, 2021, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.. Vol., , P.P - , (2021)
4. Jebin Ahmed, Krishan Kumar, Carlos M. G. A. Fontes and Arun Goyal "Cloning, expression, purification and biochemical characterization of pectin acetyl esterase (CtPae12B) a family 12 carbohydrate esterase from Clostridium thermocellum. ", International conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Health (BSAEH), April 04-08, 2021, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. . Vol., , P.P - , (2021)
5. Kedar Sharma, Abhijeet Thakur and Arun Goyal " Molecular characterization of endo ?-1,4 xylanase (PsGH10B) from Pseudopedobacter saltans and its application in the production of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides.", International Conference on Bioengineering solutions for Healthcare, Food Energy and Envrionement, April 9-10, 2021, IIT Jodhpur. . Vol., , P.P - , (2021)
1. Mayur Agrawal, Rishikesh Shukla, *Arun Goyal (2009) “The mutant of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-640 giving higher production of dextran” (Indian Patent Office, Appl No. 5/KOL/2010 dated Jan 02, 2010)