Professor
Office: ETAS-329G
Phone: 501-247 3248
Email: nali@ualr.edu
Education
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
Postdoctoral Training
Yale University
National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, NIH
Creighton University
National Institute for Medical Research, Medical Research Council, UK
Distinguished Honors
Editorial board member, Proteomics and Bioinformatics
Editorial board member, Annals of Carcinogenesis
Radiation Research Society Travel Award
President, Sigma Xi, the scientific research Society, Central Arkansas Chapter
The Northup Young Researcher Award, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Siemens Westinghouse Mentor Recognition Award by Siemens Foundation.
American Academy of Allergy and Immunology Travel Award
Wellcome Trust Fellowship Award, Wellcome Foundation, U.K.
Commonwealth Scholarship, British Council, U.K.
Teaching Interests (Courses Taught)
- Microbiology (BIOL 2401)
- Senior Biology Seminar (BIOL 4190)
- Recombinant DNA Methods and Applications (ASCI 7386)
- Signal Transduction and Regulation of Cell Function (ASCI 7399)
- Biomaterials Science and Applications (ASCI 7399)
Research Interests
My research encompasses interdisciplinary areas of biochemistry, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology and microbiology. Research interests are directed towards understanding receptor mediated signal transduction as well as intracellular signaling mechanisms in relation to environmental changes or disease states. These projects involve studies on the role of G-proteins and their receptors, second messengers such as inositol polyphosphates, cyclic nucleotides (cAMP, cGMP), protein kinases and phosphatases in regulation of cellular processes including apoptosis, the programmed cell death. Among inositol polyphosphate second messengers, we are particularly interested in higher inositol polyphosphates i.e. inositol polyphosphate pyrophosphates (IP7 and IP8) in relation to their metabolism, cellular levels under adverse conditions and their role in cellular processes. Emphasis is placed on subcellular compartmentalization, vesicular membrane trafficking, protein-protein interactions, and cellular regulation of apoptosis. My laboratory is also interested in bioinformatics and proteomics approaches in understanding evolutionary and phylogenic adaptations of genes in higher life forms relative to lower organisms. Biomedical engineering interests include development and characterization of novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications. We are also interested in NASA related research on counter measure approaches to biological effects of microgravity.
Current Graduate Students
Qudes Al-Anbaky, PhD Candidate, Role of Inositol polyphosphates in apoptosis in dictyostelium discoideum
Pooja Singh, PhD Student, Mechanisms of cellular oxidative stress induced apoptosis
Mohd Zubair, PhD Student, Heterogeneity in inositol polyphosphate phosphatases and their significance in regulation of cell function
Bryan White, PhD Student, Cellular uptake, distribution and interactions of functionalized nanomaterials with cell signaling mechanisms
Khulud Alotaibi, PhD Student, Characterization of Toxin producing bacterial isolates from clinical and food samples
Past Graduate Students
Khulud Alotaibi, MS., Graduated, spring 2017:
Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Clinical and Food Samples.
Ilham Khadim, MS., Graduated, spring 2017:
Encapsulation of Inositol Hexakisphosphate to Facilitate Cellular Entry and Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells.
Amjad Al-Janabi, MS., Graduated, spring 2016:
Effects of Helium-Neon Laser upon Photodynamic therapy based on 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Gold Nano-Particles Conjugates in MCF-7 Cells.
Surya Kilaparty, PhD., Graduated fall, 2016:
Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Resident Proteins in Mediation of Intrinsic Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis).
Samar Hassen, PhD., Graduated, fall 2012:
Studies on Mismatch Repair Proteins as Biomarkers for Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer.
Ziyad Al-Karakooly, PhD., Graduated, fall 2013:
Studies on Therapeutic Potential of Dichloroacetic Acid and He-Ne Laser in Cancer Treatment: Understanding the Mechanism of Action.
Ezat Mezal, PhD., Graduated, spring 2014:
Characterization of Salmonella Enterica Isolates from Food and Clinical Samples: Functionallity of Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) from Non-Typhi Salmonella Enterica.
Salwa M Albassas, MS., Graduated, spring 2012:
Expression of Multiple Inositol Polyphosphate Phosphatase Protein during Apoptosis and Osmotic Stress.
Janie Kelly, MS., Graduated, spring 2012:
A study of Minpp1 expression during DCA-induced apoptosis.
Rakhee Agarwal, PhD., Graduated, fall 2009.
Studies on Inositol Polyphosphates and their Role in Programmed Cell Death.
Selected Publications
Kilaparty, S. P., Agarwal, R., Singh, P., Kannan, K., & Ali, N. (2016). Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis accompanies enhanced expression of multiple inositol polyphosphate phosphatase 1 (Minpp1): a possible role for Minpp1 in cellular stress response. Cell Stress and Chaperones, Jul;21(4):593-608. doi: 10.1007/s12192-016-0684-6.
Al-Anbaky Q, Al-Karakooly Z, Kilaparty SP, Agrawal M, Albkuri YM, RanguMagar AB, Ghosh A, Ali N. Cytotoxicity of Manganese (III) Complex in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line Is Mediated by the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species Followed by Mitochondrial Damage. Int J Toxicol. 2016 Jul 26. pii: 1091581816659661.
Hassen S, Ali AA, Kilaparty SP, Al-Anbaky QA, Majeed W, Boman BM, Fields JZ, Ali N Interdependence of DNA mismatch repair proteins MLH1 and MSH2 in apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 412, 297-305, 2016.
Ali, N. Polyphenols and Bionanoparticle Combinations as Neuroprotective and Anticarcinogenic Agents: A Potential Neuropharmacological Solution to Combat Cerebral Stroke and Cancer. Particulate Science and Technology. 33, 406-411, 2015.
Surya P. Kilaparty, Awantika Singh, William H. Baltosser and Nawab Ali. Computational Analysis Reveals a Successive Adaptation of Multiple Inositol Polyphosphate Phosphatase1 in Higher Organisms through Evolution. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 10: 239-250. 2014.
Mezal, EH, Sabo, A., Khan, MA, Ali, N., Stefanova, R. and Khan A.A. Isolation and molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis from poultry house and clinical samples during 2010. Food Microbiology. 38:67-74. 2014.
Samar Hassen, Nawab Ali and Parimal Chowdhury. Molecular signaling mechanisms of apoptosis in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2012 Jun 15;3(3):71-9. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v3.i3.71.
Alimohammadi M, de Silva K, Ballu C, Ali N, Khodakovskaya MV. Reduction of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate affects the overall phosphoinositol pathway and leads to modifications in light signaling and secondary metabolism in tomato plants. J Exp Bot. 63(2): 825-835, 2012.
Hassen S, Boman BM, Ali N, Parker M, Somerman C, Ali-Khan Catts ZJ, Ali AA, Fields JZ. Detection of DNA mismatch repair proteins in fresh human blood lymphocytes – towards a novel method for Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Syndrome) screening. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 21;30 (1); 100, 2011.
Agarwal, R. Hassen, S., and Ali, N. Changes in Cellular Levels of Inositol Polyphosphates during Apoptosis. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 345; 61-68, 2010.
Agarwal R., Mumtaz H., Ali N. Role of inositol polyphosphates in programmed cell death. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 328; 1-2, 155-65. 2009.
Mahmood M, Karmakar A, Fejleh A, Mocan T, Iancu C, Mocan L, Iancu DT, Xu Y, Dervishi E, Li Z, Biris AR, Agarwal R, Ali N, Galanzha EI, Biris AS, Zharov VP. Synergistic enhancement of cancer therapy using a combination of carbon nanotubes and anti-tumor drug. Nanomedicine (Lond). 4; 8, 883-93. 2009.
Mahmood, M. Casciano, D.A., Mocan, T., Lancu, C. Xu, Y., Mocan, L., Iancu, D.T., Dervishi, E., Li, Z., Abdalmuhsen, M., Biris, A.R., Ali, N., Howard, P., Biris, A.S. Cytotoxicity and biological effects of functional nanomaterials delivered to various cell lines. Journal of Applied Toxicology. 30;1, 74-83. 2009.
Xu, Y., Mahmood, M., Li, Z., Dervishi, E., Trigwell, S., Zharov, V.P., Ali, N., Saini, V., Biris, A.R., Lupu, D., Boldor, D., and Biris, A.S. Cobalt nanoparticles coated with graphitic shells as localized radio frequency absorbers for cancer therapy, Nanotechnology, 19, 435102 (9pp), 2008.
Gubrij, K.I., Wilkerson, J., Link, N., Kirby, J., Cornett, L.E., Ali, N. and Baeyens, D.A. Cloning and Characterization of an Oxytocin-like Receptor Expressed in the Shell Gland of the White Leghorn Chicken (Gallus gallus). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol., 14, 37-45, 2005.
Ahangar, R., Ali, N., Iqbal K. and Altmayer, K. Biodynamic Modeling and Simulation of Multistage Cell Mutations. DNA and Cell Biology, 23 (10), 625-633, 2004.
Cornett, L.E., Kirby, J.D., Vizcara, J.A., Ellison, J.F., Thrash, J., Mayeux, P.R., Crew, M.D., Jones, S.M., Ali, N., and Baeyens, D.A.: Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a vasotocin receptor subtype expressed in the pituitary gland of the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus): Avian homolog of the mammalian V1b-vasopressin receptor. Regul. Pept. 110, 231-291, 2003.
Wyse B. D., Ali, N., and Ellison, D. H.: Interaction with grp58 increases activity of the thiazide sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol., 282, F424-30, 2002.
Ali, N., Yousufzai, S.Y.K. and Abdel-Latiff, A.A.: Activation of particulate guanylate cyclase by adrenomedullin in cultured SV-40 transformed cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (SV-CISM-2) cells. Cell Signal. 12, 491-498, 2000.
Ali, N., Duden, R., Bembenek, M.E. and Shears S.B.: The interaction of coatomer with inositol polyphosphates is conserved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem. J., 310, 279‑284, 1995.
Ali, N., Craxton, A., Sumner, M. and Shears, S. B.: Effects of aluminum on the hepatic inositol polyphosphate phosphatase. Biochem. J. 305, 557‑561, 1995.
Shears, S.B., Ali, N., Craxton, A. and Bembenek, M.E.: Synthesis and metabolism of bis‑ diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate in vitro and in vivo. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 10489‑10497, 1995.
Ye, W., Ali, N., Bembenek, M. E., Shears, S. B. and Lafer, E. M.: Inhibition of clathrin assembly by high‑affinity binding of specific inositol polyphosphates to the synapse‑specific clathrin assembly protein AP‑3. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1564‑1568, 1995.
Ali, N., Craxton, A. and Shears, S. B.: Hepatic Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3‑phosphatase is compartmentalized inside endoplasmic reticulum. J. Biol. Chem. 268(9): 6161‑6167, 1993.
Ali, N., and Evans, W. H.: Priority targeting of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins to the bile canalicular (apical) plasma membrane of hepatocytes: Involvement of “late” endosomes. Biochem. J. 271: 193‑199, 1990.
Ali, N., Aligue, R., and Evans, W. H.: Highly purified bile canalicular vesicles and lateral plasma membranes isolated from rat liver on Nycodenz gradients: Biochemical and immunolocalization studies. Biochem. J. 271: 185‑192, 1990.
Ali, N., Milligan, G., and Evans, W. H.: Distribution of G‑proteins in rat liver plasma membrane domains and endocytic pathways. Biochem. J. 261: 906‑912, 1989.